Cross-sectoral collaborations between nonprofit organizations and businesses: implications for organizations providing mental health rehabilitation services

Abstract

This article presents a case study of a community garden in Israel, the product of a collaboration between a Social Service Nonprofit Organization (SSNO) providing mental health rehabilitation services and a real-estate business firm. The study examines the inter-organizational dynamics of this collaboration, as well as its benefits and challenges for the SSNO and its service users, based on interviews with key figures, onsite observations, and document analysis. The results indicate that collaboration with business can offer SSNOs benefits in terms of financial resources and volunteers, but at the same time involves difficulties, which are intensified in the context of mental health SSNOs.