Networking and performance of community based organizations in Taiwan: A social capital perspective

Developing partnerships is a crucial strategy for Community based organizations (CBOs) to maximize service capacity, serve clients of diverse needs, and compete for funding, yet the evidence is scant. The study asks whether organizational networking is helpful to a CBOs' service performance and whether the effect of networking varies by certain organizational features of a CBO. The research framework is built with the literature review of social capital theories with a focus of organizations, community practice models, and case studies on CBOs' networking. Two forms of networking, within and beyond community, are hypothesized as associated with two traits of performance, effectiveness of carrying out the services and innovation regarding the long-term service development when organization factors including leadership, community capacity, and funding sources are controlled. Furthermore, the moderation effects of those organization factors are included and examined.;Using a secondary survey dataset of 640 community development associations in Taiwan, the results of the multiple regression analysis show that networking beyond community enhances a CBOs' effectiveness as well as innovation. Networking within community is found negatively associated with the overall performance probably because of the potential tension between a CBO and political entities in the same neighborhood. In addition, the study finds the desirable effects of organization networking vary by the organization factors. Networking beyond community enhances effectiveness of a CBO; such effect is strengthened by leadership and weakened by community capacity. Within-community networking leads to effectiveness improvement only for CBOs having mixed funding sources. Practice suggestions are made according to the findings for CBOs and potential funders of their partnership development in societies like Taiwan where CBOs' networking is developing and mostly informal. Implications about applying a social capital perspective in community practice and none-European-American societies are discussed.