1. Resource Mobilization Theory
1977, John McCarthy and Mayer Zald
The success of social movements
depends on resources (time, money,
skills, etc.) and the ability to use them
2. Key Points
• The resource -mobilization theory asserts that
social movements form when people who share
grievances are able to mobilize resources and take
action.
• This theory places resources at the center of both
the emergence and success of social movements.
• In this case, resources include knowledge, money,
media, labor, solidarity, legitimacy, and internal
and external support from a powerful elite.
3. • The centrality of resources to the success of social
movements explains why some discontented
people are able to form movements while others
are not.
• This theory has a number of underlying
assumptions regarding movement membership,
movement organization and broader societal
factors that influence movement formation and
development.
• This theory has been criticized for placing too
much emphasis on resources, particularly financial
resources, as the success of some movements
depends more on the time and labor of members
rather than on money.
4. Types
• Material resources
• Human resources
• Social-organizational resources
• Cultural resources
• Moral resources.
5. Material resources
These are the tangible resources (such as
money, a location for the organization to meet,
and physical supplies) necessary for an
organization to run.
6. Human resources
This refers to the labor needed (whether
volunteer or paid) to conduct an organization's
activities. Depending on the organization's
goals, specific types of skills may be an
especially valuable form of human resources.
7. Social-organizational resources
These resources are the ones that organizations
can use to build their social networks. For
example, an organization might develop an
email list of people who support their cause.
8. Cultural resources.
Cultural resources include knowledge necessary to
conduct the organization's activities.
For example, knowing how to lobby elected
representatives, draft a policy paper, or organize a
rally would all be examples of cultural resources.
9. Moral resources
Moral resources are those which help the
organization to be seen as legitimate. For
example, celebrity endorsements can serve as a
type of moral resource:
when celebrities speak out on behalf of a cause,
people may be spurred to learn more about the
organization, view the organization more
positively
11. Donor Proposal
A proposal is a document with which an
organization puts forward a specific project to
a donor for funding consideration.
Thus, a proposal is a tool for organizations to
gain funding, and for donors to decide who to
fund.
13. Donation Boxes
A donation box or collecting box is a receptacle for
receiving donations. These are typically found in
public places, as a means of generating additional
revenue in small increments.
libraries,
museums,
many non-profit organizations make use of donation
boxes.
14. In Kind Contribution
An in-kind contribution is a contribution of goods or
a services other than money
Clothes
Furniture
Books
Food
Vehicles
Buildings
Land
15. Volunteer service
To perform or offer to perform a service of one's
own free will.
e.g. To choose to enter military service of one's
own free will.
17. Principles of resource mobilization
• Expanding the basis for policy dialogue and
advocacy in regard to the organizations objectives
and goals.
• Increasing participation in efforts to develop norms
and standards
• Facilitating the acceptance, utilization and
disbursement of such resources to achieve
programmatic objectives.
18. • Applicability: non-traditional partners and donors
may only be considered with respect
• Fairness: Partnerships should not provide an unfair
advantage to any partner
• Transparency: Partnerships are to be entered into
and managed with transparency
• Equity: All partners recognize and respect each
other's mandate, values, knowledge, skills and
reputation
19. • Congruence of mandate: Partnership initiatives
must be in line with the Agency’s statutory
objectives and the Agency’s statutory functions and
fall within the approved program.
• Integrity, independence and impartiality:
Partnership activities should not diminish the
Agency’s integrity, independence or impartiality:
20. • Accountability: Partnership activities are to be
designed and implemented in a manner that
ensures that all partners have clear and agreed
responsibilities and accountability.
Adding value and mutual benefit
