Riyadh , saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract

This study examined non-profit sector organizations and their role in activating sustainable development within cities. It is considered one of the earliest studies to address the topic independently from a geographical perspective within the study area. The study aimed to identify the scale of non-profit organizations in the city of Riyadh, analyze their spatial distribution patterns, and utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate the spatial efficiency of non-profit organizations in Riyadh in the year 2019.

The research adopted an inductive scientific methodology and employed spatial analysis techniques using GIS. The findings revealed several key results, most notably: the Average Nearest Neighbor analysis indicated that the spatial distribution of charitable associations follows an aggregated, clustered, and irregular pattern, with less than a 5% probability that such a distribution could occur randomly. In addition, the growth rate of associations was found to be uneven and misaligned with the continuous population growth across most municipalities, reflecting weak spatial efficiency in planning for non-profit sector services. The analytical outputs also demonstrated a mismatch in spatial development density indicators between charitable associations and charitable institutions, due to differences in their functions. Charitable institutions tend to cluster near business centers, whereas charitable associations are more likely to locate near resources and funding sources.

Several geographical factors were found to influence the distribution of non-profit sector organizations and the allocation of their resources across Riyadh’s municipalities. These factors include proximity to the city center, population density, average income, road networks, and the direction of urban growth and expansion. The study revealed a relationship among these factors in shaping spatial distribution patterns both within individual municipalities and across the city as a whole.

Keywords: Non-profit sector, non-profit organizations, charitable associations, charitable institutions, sustainable development, spatial analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS).