Identity and Legitimacy of Non-Profits: Negotiating Recognition, Trust, and Accountability

Legitimacy and identity define the credibility, influence, and sustainability of non-profit organizations in contemporary governance systems. This article explores how NGOs negotiate recognition across legal, moral, and representational dimensions while managing tensions between donor expectations, state control, and community trust. Drawing on institutional theory and recent scholarship, it examines how coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures shape NGO behavior, leading to hybrid organizational identities that blend advocacy, service, and enterprise. The discussion highlights public trust as a fragile but vital resource, increasingly undermined by scandals, populist narratives, and digital disinformation. By integrating theoretical and practical insights, the article argues that legitimacy is not static but continuously constructed through transparency, accountability, and community engagement—particularly in restrictive and polarized political contexts.