Network of Social Work Management Conference From Alternative Organization to Hierarchical Nonprofit: Implications for Management Theresa Anasti, MSW, PhD Oakland University Network of Social Work Management Conference San Diego, CA

Introduction to Problem Alternative/Collectivist organization (Rothschild-Whitt, 1979) Building upon identity politics and addressing inequality suffered by marginalized populations Available to groups of people that may lack resources and capital to form a more conventional organization What happens when these alternative organizations realize they have the capacity to transition to a more hierarchical organization? In order to start, I would like to first take the time to explain what is referred often as an alternative, or collectivist organization. Collectivist organizations, as discuseed by Nancy Rothschild-Whitt is characterized by a rejection of authority, presupposing the capacity of individuals to be able to engage in cooperative behavior. Collective organizations push forth the ideal of community rather than impersonality, and imposes

Research Questions How is organizational leadership perceiving the transition from an alternative organization, to a hierarchical organization? How does the transition to a hierarchical organizations support, or stifle, organizational innovation?

Setting Sex Workers Outreach Project-Chicago Advocates for decriminalization of the sex trade, and anti-criminalization broadly Peer support group/party organizer  Service providing organization Individual donations  Foundation grants Underground organization  501c3 nonprofit Sex radicals  Service providers/public health departments

Methods Fourteen month participant-observation (July 2015-September 2016) with SWOP- Chicago Part of a larger study on the institutional field of sex work and sex trafficking in Chicago Fifty-three interviews Nine with board members of SWOP-Chicago Thirty-eight with service providers Two with government employees Four with advocates for End Demand opposing end goal of SWOP-Chicago

Perceptions By Organizational Leadership Process of “excited tension” Disagreements and conflict Some left because of decreased focus on community building and activism More cohesive core group

Support Organizational Innovation Increased capital Financial Human Cultural(?) Increased legitimacy Funding came from foundations and individuals Made space for new organizations

Stifle Organizational Innovation Increased focus on services Increased hierarchy and bureaucracy—came to look like the other organizations they rejected Focus on obtaining funding Decreased cultural capital?

Implications for Practice How to provide services outside of a conventional organizational structure How to collaborate with these types of organizations who may have valuable insight into serving stigmatized populations due to the make up of the organization Human service organizations can be a crucial source of support for these types of alternative organizations

Limitations and future research Non-longitudinal case study—precludes generalizability Compare to other marginalized groups (homeless, drug users, mental health service recipients) Evaluate what it means that focus has shifted to more vulnerable sex workers

Future Research Sex workers have become a formidable organizing force—more research should be done with different sex worker groups across the US Focus has been on anti-trafficking groups, and content analysis of websites Participatory action research ”Nothing about us, without us”

Thank you! tanasti@oakland.edu