Obstacles Managers Face In Nonprofits

Work roles are ongoing activities that an individual performs in partnership with an organization to influence that organization’s output (Wright & Millesen, 2008). For nonprofit boards, strategies for success are difficult to create as boards strive to hold public trust while maintaining its institution’s mission and purpose (Wright & Millesen, 2008). Paramount to its success, a nonprofit board must understand its roles and responsibilities.

Nonprofit organizations have become a force to tackle issues of social need, but why should an organization be created to address poverty by connecting its participants to education? In New York state there are over 97 thousand nonprofits addressing one sector or another. Still the issue of poverty continues to be a growing problem especially after the 2008 financial crisis where millions of Americans lost their jobs, saving and even homes. Those affected by poverty range in age, race and culture. In the United States poverty, measured in the strictest sense, is not about getting food to eat or money for basic needs like clothing or shelter. It is more of the average American being secure and having the ability to provide for their own basic

Q5: List several types of nonprofit organizations. Brainstorm some typical tasks and administrative assistant might do in each

The diversity of nonprofit organizations, services provided and the problems faced shows that nonprofits require leadership with an in-depth understanding of the multifaceted nonprofit landscape. Understanding the culture of nonprofit work is also crucial and much easier to understand once you have been through a nonprofit management program. My career interests lead me towards an avocation of a deeper knowledge of strategic management/planning, legal structure and standards, increase my skills in quantitative analysis of policy, financial governance and developing fundraising strategies. These areas allow for macro management within the nonprofit

Many people have dreams and aspirations for the future. Some want to be rich, have their dream home, be famous or travel the world. While these are all great goals and aspirations, they are not a wish of mine. My dream is to open a non-profit organization that assists in finding employment for disabled adults, specifically autistic adults. Before beginning this establishment I must have a solid vision, the mission of the non-profit, the goals I am aspiring to reach and a firm set of policies in place all while ensuring the correct management style is utilized.

Assignment 1 is worth 10% of your final grade, and should be completed after Lesson 3. This assignment has two parts:

I plan on working with my boyfriend’s job. He works at Union County College with the Project Achievement Initiative. They will be partnering up with the “Be the Change” group from Kean University. “Be the Change” is a nonprofit organization is geared towards helping different areas with community service and activism projects that help promote peace and non-violence in urban neighborhoods. They volunteer and donate every dollar or item collected to help many communities. Some of their activities include homelessness relief, creating peace gardens from abandoned lots, addressing urban food deserts utilizing vertical gardens to grow food, creating safe spaces for youth, young women empowerment programs and so much more. “Be the Change” is a community service and activism group made up of students from Kean University and other volunteers such as myself who are dedicated to serving the needs of local, state, national, and global community. They are pretty much a hands on organization and believe every little thing can help.

I choose a career in the Non-Profit Coordination field because of two reasons; the first is I am an effective coordinator of people and resources, and secondly I am civic minded and want to devote my energies to the betterment of human conditions in St. Louis. As a practicing Catholic, who lives by the Golden Rule, and has been an active volunteer for many years with various community based programs, my understanding of the inner workings of nonprofit organizations is extensive. The program will benefit from my ability to motivate team members; in my current position, I have led my team two years in a row in achieving “top 10” in customer service nation-wide. The program is also looking for a person who creates and maintains donor relationships

Nonprofit organizations are committed to accomplishing charitable objectives. They make available necessary assistance to persons who require direct support or are considered in danger, in a weakened position or otherwise considered underprivileged. The boards of nonprofit organizations exist to safeguard that management stays focused on the charitable mission and manages resources efficiently. Therefore, when considering potential appointees for board service, the organization must deliberate upon individual credentials, the culture of the group and inclusive composition of the board.

5. What learning objectives and goals have you set for yourself in this course this semester? What do you hope to learn? What

Growing up, Christine worked on a small farm, with her six siblings. Her family had financial struggles, thus instilling in her the importance of the hard work and initiative it takes to overcome difficult circumstances. Her solid work ethic carries her far beyond school, allowing her to be established enough for the nonprofit to recommend she take the position of chief executive officer. Despite their encouragement and commendation, she does not believe she has the management or organizational skills to become a CEO.

As a junior in high school, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. with a nonprofit organization, the Foods Resource Bank. We visited congressional offices and nonprofits in the area, building relationships over critical issues regarding the importance of food sustainability. These few days completely changed my perspective and showed me the power of my own voice. I now see the needs of the world, and how I can affect them, in a different light. In ten years, I intend to find a group of people with which I can take that light to dark places and bring people who are underwater to the shore.

Collaboration and mergers have similar obstacles to their success. In both cases, there is a risk of volunteers and staff being apprehensive about any new changes that will occur. One example would be “a loss of autonomy that may reduce their own role” (Worth, 2013, p. 199). Another potential threat to both is the use of such resources as time and money to either collaborate on their shared mission or merge into one organization.

Ginsberg (2008) discuss several key strategies, such as the three zones for the value chain (administration, results management, and program evaluation) and strategic planning. These four strategies can provide procedures, processes, and steps to take to manage a nonprofit, while dealing with the challenges of nonprofit organization trends that are steadily arising. Also, depending on the size of the organization can determine how these strategies are implemented.

A non-profit organization cannot be effectively managed if it is not effectively planned. One of the challenges facing non-profit organizations has been long range, strategic planning. Long range, strategic planning in the non-profit sector is essential to the success of an organization. Long range, strategic planning encompasses broad policy and direction setting, internal and external assessments, attention to key stakeholders, the identification of key issues, development of strategies to deal with each issue, decision making, action and the continuous monitoring of results. (Herman, The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit Leadership and Management, 154) While it is important to deal with the short term planning and activities of non-profits, managers or directors must consider the future of their organizations. Successful planning should be comprehensive, integrating all areas of responsibility of an organization.