Legitimacy in Non-Profit Organisations: Foundations, Challenges, and Strategic Approaches

Legitimacy is a vital yet underexplored determinant of non-profit survival, credibility, and influence. This article examines legitimacy as a multidimensional construct shaped by institutional alignment, ethical positioning, cultural resonance, and political context. Drawing on institutional theory and civil society scholarship, it analyses how non-profits negotiate legitimacy across democratic and authoritarian regimes, the Global North and South, and contested civic spaces. The paper distinguishes legitimacy from accountability, arguing that compliance mechanisms alone cannot guarantee trust or acceptance. Instead, legitimacy must be continuously earned through relational trust, ethical integrity, and alignment with societal values. By positioning legitimacy at the core of NGO research and practice, the article provides both a conceptual framework for scholars and actionable insights for practitioners seeking to sustain credibility and resilience in complex environments.