Internationalization in the non-profit sector

This thesis aims to create empirical evidence on applicability of international business research in non-profit sector. In order to investigate this complex phenomenon, it first studies five non-profit organizations using qualitative case study approach including semi-structured interviews with top executives from examined organizations, and second, using comparative analysis, critically compares empirical findings with existing international business research literature. In its first part, research focuses on examination of internationalization in non-profit sector from three perspectives – internationalization motives, key success factors, and relation between mission, vision, strategy and structure in international context. The thesis first provides practical implications on questions why non-profits expand abroad, how they succeed and offers recommendations on how they could improve their international strategy and structure. Secondly, it concludes that there are significant similarities between non-profit and for-profit organizations in internationalization context and therefore non-profits may employ international business concepts in order to improve their international strategy and success.