Exploring Efficiency Metrics in Nonprofits: A Case Study of Habitat for Humanity

This exploratory case study examines nonprofit efficiency by interviewing 36 leaders from Habitat for Humanity affiliates across diverse geographic locations in the United States, focusing on understanding efficiency from a practitioner’s perspective. Habitat for Humanity, composed of numerous nonprofits dedicated to housing, provided a rich context for this investigation. The study finds that while nonprofit practitioners use a diverse array of metrics to assess efficiency, many of these metrics do not accurately measure it, indicating a need for greater education around efficiency measurement. Additionally, the metrics cover diverse organizational areas, highlighting the importance of a multidimensional approach to efficiency assessment. The study suggests that aligning scholarly methods with practitioner needs and promoting a broader understanding of efficiency across multiple organizational dimensions could improve both theoretical and practical applications in nonprofit management.