Working In Nonprofit Organizations

Due to unforeseen events, the household income for the family was depleted to the poverty level of $24,600. Due to my interests, I decided to work for a non-profit organization that focuses on education reform and decided to participate in more pro-bono work to be able to increase my experience as a lawyer. I was fired from my previous education reform lawyer position due to layoffs and having just started working at the company, I was an obvious choice. The firm that my wife worked for fired her, and she is currently looking for a job. Since she is a social worker and has a degree in sociology, it is difficult to find jobs that match her interests and pay well enough. As one can imagine, a non-profit organization lawyer does not make as

Working at non-profit organization requires an employee to understand their company’s mission and values. At Easter Seals Southern California (History, 2015) the agency’s mission is to provide exceptional services to all people with disabilities or other special needs and their families and to ensure that they have an equal opportunity to live, learn, work and play in their communities (History, 2015). ESSC provides a number of services and the department I work in is Autism Services, which provides therapy, treatment, and training to individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Our department focuses on providing therapies that are proven to be effective in increasing skills of individuals with ASD and similar disabilities.

In the recent years, health has significantly become more intertwined with poverty, equity, and development. As a result, the sectors involved have extended beyond medical specialists and now include policy makers, politicians, economists, lawyers, communicators, and activists. Among these groups of people are those working in nongovernmental organizations. In terms of health, these groups carry out numerous functions such as public health advocacy, raising funds, providing direct goods and services, direct engagement with the target population and the implementation of sustainable projects. Accordingly, I believe that a Minor in Nonprofits, Volunteerism, and Philanthropy will enable me to continue pursuing my passion for health while at the

While these Boards are essential to any organization, they can also be the cause of major controversy. For example, the nonprofit community frequently has disputes over the professionalism of the Board of Directors and over all positions in the organization (Arshad). People also argue that a certain level of diversity must be upheld when creating a board of trustees, while others completely disagree. These arguments are tough because the Nonprofit sector has always been held to higher standards than the private sector. The sector is also being more scrutinized than ever thanks to the easy access of information due to the internet.

One survey conducted by the University of Pennsylvania found that paid employees had once filled 25% of jobs that volunteers held at the time (Handy et al., 2008). As the great recession hit America many non-profits were forced to let go some of their paid staff and volunteers replaced the employees. As volunteers are brought into an organization it is understandable that paid employees will stress over their job security. The anxiety caused by employees fearing that they may be replaced by volunteers causes

According to Cannon (2011), the safety net nonprofits have provided for America’s neediest individuals and families has flopped, because nonprofits have no safety net of their own. Three years later the impact was still felt, as Cannon (2011) writes “87 percent report the decline in the U.S. economy continues to impact their operations”. In addition, nonprofits anticipated a continuous increase in demand beyond 2011. The problem, Cannon (2011) states is that “only 46 percent of these expect to have the ability to accommodate these increases”. Fortunately, nonprofits facing limited resources to meet looming increases in demand have found new strategies, like partnership, to increase efficiency Cannon (2011). Over the years, Cannon (2011) writes, “strapped nonprofits have seen increased civic engagement, as volunteers have helped fill the gaps when budgets are tight…they have also employed online strategies to open new revenue models and

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between accountability mechanisms and mission-based activities in religious nonprofit organizations serving their local communities. Nonprofit organizations (NPO’s), traditionally known as voluntary associations, were created to meet the immediate needs of the disadvantaged population as well as contribute to the day-to-day functions of society (Crossman, 2015).

When organizations recruit individuals to sit on their board, they recognize that they are competing with other organizations for the select few individuals that have the qualifications to sit on a nonprofit board. To entice individuals to sit on their board opposed to another, not-for-profits tell potential board members that the commitment is minimal, while in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Board members not only need to show up for meetings, either “give or get” a donation, but they also need to understand how the organization is using their money and how their financial decisions are being portrayed by the outside world. They need to understand the investment portfolio of the organization and believe that the organization is using donor dollars to allow the organization to further their mission.

If nonprofits were producing substantial outcomes, then eliminating the tax deduction would not be “on the table.” Nonprofit executive compensation would likely not be placed under a “magnifying lens” with intense scrutiny.

1. Is your place of work a business or a non-profit organization? please explain? No my business is not a non-profit business. It does not withhold profits from the owner, but some of the profits are re-invested back into the business.

I’ve had the privilege of working with many nonprofits during my career, from the smallest human services agencies to large colleges and universities. It has been a great pleasure to watch some of them start as fledgling nonprofits and grow into highly successful organizations that meet important needs in the communities they serve.

Concepts Applicable to the Nonprofit Setting and to Our Understanding of Strategic Nonprofit Leadership and Management

Every nonprofit organization undergoes leadership changes at some point. Whether the change is unexpected or planned, it can result in a period of dangerous organizational uncertainty or offer opportunities for greater accomplishments. Without a transition plan in place, a sudden or planned departure of a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other upper management official can seriously degrade the performance of a nonprofit organization. Experienced transition leadership and adequate planning will minimize disruption and maintain the mission of the organization, as well as offer the possibilities of further growth and development.

Every nonprofit organization undergoes leadership changes at some point. Whether the change is unexpected or planned, it can result in a period of dangerous organizational uncertainty or offer opportunities for greater accomplishments. Without a transition plan in place, a sudden or planned departure of a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other upper management official can seriously degrade the performance of a nonprofit organization. Experienced transition leadership and adequate planning will minimize disruption and maintain the mission of the organization, as well as offer the possibilities of further growth and development.

Nonprofits fill a much-needed gap to help individuals in our society. There are many government programs designed and implemented to support people and communities; however, there are gaps and areas that are overlooked. Nonprofits consider these unfilled priorities and efficiently produce results that benefit our society. “Nonprofits relieve government’s burden to provide social services for youth, the elderly, the underprivileged and the underserved” (Gaye). One of the main reasons for the success and importance of nonprofits is their ability to and desire to serve the people and do so in a way that is more efficient and effective. Government agencies are sophisticated, and as such specialized nonprofits help to fill the niches that government overlooks. “The government will always fall far short of competitive private markets in efficiency and innovation” (Edwards, 2015). Nonprofits are essential to the people to provide goods and services efficiently and effectively; “the public's "customer satisfaction" with federal services is lower than their satisfaction with nearly all private services” (Edwards, 2015). “One of the most diverse sectors in the human services field is the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits fill in many niche services the state is unable or unwilling to provide” (http://www.humanservicesedu.org/hs-employment.html). Nonprofits provide the specialized services that communities and individuals who are at risk or under represented need.