ABSTRACT
The presence of a large third sector, comprising those non-profit organizations that lie between the public and private sectors, is seen as an indicator of a healthy society and economy (Verdier, 2002). Non-government organizations (NGOs) occupy a central position in the delivery of welfare services. Increasingly, governments rely on NGOs to deal with large-scale welfare issues through the provision of social services and the implementation of public policy (Lewis, 2003). In recent years, NGOs have become increasingly important in addressing humanitarian issues relating to welfare and developmental aid. For example, it has been estimated that the value of assets controlled by NGOs in the UK has risen from £12 billion in 1970 to over £50 billion in 2009 (Hilton et al., 2012, p. 229). As a result, NGOs have come to be described as an integral part of civil society (Hadenius & Uggla, 1996; Howell & Pearce, 2001; Lewis, 2005). 1
