The Impact of Adopting Social Responsibility for Non-Profit Organizations on Supporting Sustainable Economic Development: A Case Study of the Ensan Association in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56830/WRBA11202501Keywords:
Social Responsibility, Sustainable Economic Development, Standard of Living, Unemployment Rate, Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs), Ensan AssociationAbstract
The non-profit sector plays a pivotal role in achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, where it represents a potential economic opportunity for development. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify ways non-profit organizations (NPOs) can support sustainable economic development through community activities, leading to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030.
The Ensan Association in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was chosen as a case study due to its importance and influence in this sector. The study also aimed to identify the impact of Ensan Association’s social responsibility activities on sustainable economic development in the local community, focusing on two indicators: raising the standard of living of individuals and reducing unemployment rates in Saudi Arabia.
The study relied on a mixed methodology to collect data using questionnaires and interviews. Correlation analysis results showed a strong relationship between social responsibility activities and achieving the economic goals of sustainable development, namely raising the standard of living and reducing unemployment.
Simple regression results also showed that a one-unit increase in social responsibility activities leads to a significant improvement in these economic goals, which positively impacts sustainable economic development. Furthermore, the results of the multiple linear regression demonstrated strong statistical significance for the model, and the study confirmed the importance of NPOs’ social responsibility activities in supporting sustainable economic development.
Based on the study’s findings, it recommends empowering NPOs by developing specialized training programs for the most vulnerable groups and diversifying their funding sources to ensure sustainability. It also encourages decision-makers to adopt supportive policies and legislation that strengthen partnerships and secure investment to achieve sustainable development.
The non-profit sector plays a pivotal role in achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, where it represents a potential economic opportunity for development. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify ways non-profit organizations (NPOs) can support sustainable economic development through community activities, leading to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030.
The Ensan Association in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was chosen as a case study due to its importance and influence in this sector. The study also aimed to identify the impact of Ensan Association’s social responsibility activities on sustainable economic development in the local community, focusing on two indicators: raising the standard of living of individuals and reducing unemployment rates in Saudi Arabia.
The study relied on a mixed methodology to collect data using questionnaires and interviews. Correlation analysis results showed a strong relationship between social responsibility activities and achieving the economic goals of sustainable development, namely raising the standard of living and reducing unemployment.
Simple regression results also showed that a one-unit increase in social responsibility activities leads to a significant improvement in these economic goals, which positively impacts sustainable economic development. Furthermore, the results of the multiple linear regression demonstrated strong statistical significance for the model, and the study confirmed the importance of NPOs’ social responsibility activities in supporting sustainable economic development.
Based on the study’s findings, it recommends empowering NPOs by developing specialized training programs for the most vulnerable groups and diversifying their funding sources to ensure sustainability. It also encourages decision-makers to adopt supportive policies and legislation that strengthen partnerships and secure investment to achieve sustainable development.
References
Abad-Segura, E., & González-Zamar, M. D. (2021). Sustainable economic development in higher education institutions: A global analysis within the SDGs framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 294.
Algamadi, F. (2019). Role of Non-Profit Organizations in Riyadh in Achieving Sustainable Social Development in the Light of the Vision of Saudi Arabia 2030 Field Study. (Doctoral dissertation, King Saud University, KSA).
Alnwairan, T. (2021). Charity Work and its Role in Achieving Economic Development. 1-9.
https://doi.org/10.47340/MJEAS.V2I2.1.2021.
Alsani, M. (2023). The Role of Saudi Social Institutions through Entrepreneurship in Community Development according to Vision 2030. College Of Basic Education Research Journal, 19(1):385-404. doi: 10.33899/berj.2023.178050.
Care, T. C. (2023a). Beneficiary Services Regulation. Third Edition. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. : Available at: https://ensan.org.sa/.
Dahim, Y. M., Alshumrani, F. M., & Aleidi, Y. A. (2023). An overview of the non-profit sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 1445 AH / 2023 AD.
Dulkadiroglu, H. (2019). The role of nonprofit organisations for 2030 sustainable development goals.
In Chapter two. Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335222694.
Faulk, L., Kim, M., Derrick-Mills, T., Boris, E., Tomasko, L., Hakizimana, N., et al. (2021). Non-profit trends and impacts 2021. The Urban Institute.
Foundation., K. K. (2021). Saudi non-profit trends report: A sector in steady growth. Retrieved from , https://www.kkf.org.sa/media/ctbb4fi5/4-saudi-nonprofit-trends-report-2018.pdf.
Frees, E. W. (2010). Regression modeling with actuarial and financial applications. Cambridge University Press.
Habibi, I. (2024). The donor’s mind: Why people give to literacy and education non-profits.
Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1995). Multivariate Data Analysis. (3rd ed). New York: Macmillan.
Handiso, S. (2014). NGOs’ role in combating unemployment: The case of some selected non-profit organizations in Addis Ababa. International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship, 1 (9), 636-647.
Henna, E., & Mdiniso, J. (2023). Effectiveness of Non-Profit Organisations Operating in Enabling Environment That Alleviate Unemployment in Buffalo City Metropolitan. Open Journal of Social Sciences, https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2023.1112009.
Howard, R. (2023). Survival and growth of non-profit organizations: A mixed methods study on small, research focused non-profits in Washington. DC (Doctoral dissertation, Johns Hopkins University).
Jones, K. R., & Mucha, L. (2014). Sustainability assessment and reporting for nonprofit organizations: Accountability “for the Public Good” . VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 25(6), 1465–1482. https://doi.org/ 10.10.
King Khalid Foundation. (2023). Midterm report: Saudi non-profit sector trends 2023. Riyadh: King Khalid Foundation.
Mburu, E., & Mutundu, K. (2023). Non-Governmental Organizations and the Socio-Economic Wellbeing of Project Beneficiaries. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, https://doi.org/10.29322/ijsrp.13.02.2023.p13427.
Naguib, M. M., Afandy, A. H., & ELbagoury, A. A. (2022). The role of NGOs in combating poverty in developing countries: A comparative study and lessons learned. Arab Journal of Administration, 45(4), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.21608/AJA.2022.158121.1308.
Planken, B. (2013). Definitions of Social Responsibility. In: Idowu, S.O., Capaldi, N., Zu, L., Gupta, A.D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28036-8_476.
Salustri, A., & Viganò, F. (2017). The non-profit sector as a foundation for the interaction among the social economy, the public sector and the market. MPRA Paper 78113, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Sama, L. M., Stefanidis, A., & Horak, S. (2020). Business ethics for a global society: Howard Bowen’s legacy and the foundations of United Nations’ sustainable development goals. International
Studies of Management & Organization, 50(3), 201-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/00208825.2020.1811526.
Sector, T. N.-P. (2024). Knowledge Center: History of the Non-Profit Sector. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Available at: https://ncnp.gov.sa/en/english#knowledge-center.
Tetteh, R. (2018). The role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in poverty alleviation and education, a case study in Sefwi-Wiawso Municipality. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Education, Winneba."UEW").
The Charity Committee for Orphans Care. (2023b). Ensan’s Annual Report 2023. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Available at: https://ensan.org.sa/.
Thompson, S. (2012). Sampling. 3rd Edition. Wiley, Hoboken., https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118162934.
Thun, P., & Manh, T. (2021). Poverty Alleviation in the Aspect of Government Collaboration with NGOs. Journal of Asian Multicultural Research for Social Sciences Study, 2(2):1-5. doi:
10.47616/JAMRSSS.V2I2.128.






