To make a real impact on how businesses are run, nonprofit groups need to connect with key players in the business world, like employees, investors, politicians, and the media. A study from the University of Eastern Finland found that nonprofits can sway these influencers in different ways.

“With a strategic confrontation and collaboration interaction model (SCCIM), nonprofit organizations can plan their strategy and figure out how to engage these important business partners effectively,” the researchers explain.

New ways of working

Nonprofit groups that advocate for specific causes work to safeguard, boost, and endorse interests, often suggesting new ways of doing things. They concentrate on matters like climate change, ecosystems, and biodiversity. They also help groups that may find it hard to speak up for themselves, like those who are vulnerable or marginalized. The study explored how these nonprofits, which often lack resources, can effectively push for their causes by influencing the practices of big international companies.

As global issues like climate change become more pressing, everyone is expected to pitch in by embracing more sustainable approaches. Some forward-thinking companies, guided by their stakeholders, promptly set new guidelines to take the lead in adopting sustainable practices.

“When nonprofit organizations work closely with these responsible businesses, it creates a chance to create excellent best practice examples,” the researchers conclude.

Thanks to the SCCIM, these effective methods can be shared with other companies, either through working together or by influencing them. Additionally, they can contribute to shaping better government policies.