pic by magnusmangomango’s

Whether or not you agree with Greenpeace tactics, they are clear; raise the attention of their mission and they have created a solid funding base from individuals. It is fantastic that they are able to charge individuals to cover their expenses to volunteer on some of their missions. The result driven organization gives its supporters the opportunity to see, feel and hear the scope of their mission. The passion throughout the organization of belief to its mission and much of the funds are spent on direct service to that mission have really set the organization apart from other worldwide organizations. Most large worldwide organizations spend millions in overhead to coordinate their organization.

Many of the individuals who work for Greenpeace only ask for what is needed to survive to support the mission. In case your looking to support their efforts here is a link. http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/

I promote Greenpeace as a great case study of how to balance a mission and meet the needs of the support base wanting to be an active participant in its mission.

Space junk may just be the new initiative to clean up and change behavior that Greenpeace takes on.

pic by cathypeng

Faith Base nonprofits have been taking a stronger position of letting the public know they’re the good apple by taking positive actions.

The most recent action has been the promotion of the movie “The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry”  A message of forgiveness and redemption.

The faith base community has taken on the role to save the financial souls of its members.  Not a bad approach when the financial industry and government is pushing to borrow today and pay tomorrow.

I foresee more faith based organizations being created that have at least 5% or more of their funding from individuals.  The faith base community has an unlimited capacity to tap into a pool of supporters to nourish the many in need.

pic by Rachael 2008

Nonprofits are creating solutions for tomorrow every day.  As congress debates whether to have State run health plans the key is making health care mandatory.  The utilization of the Community Health Centers for the uninsured with a low cost mandatory minimum plan just might do the trick.   Let’s introduce the sliding fee schedule and stop excluding anyone.  Just because someone is excluded from paying health insurance does not mean that they are cured from getting sick.  The sliding fee is the best way to approach the mandatory payment process and its stops the folks from having insurance temporary for procedures then dropping it.

State governments should work with their community health centers and other nonprofit health care providers to create affordable health care network.  The health care should be based on a set premium for each person they enroll.   Let the network decide how best to work the system.

State governments should not be prevented from setting up health care cooperatives.  It should not be a question about whether the US is going to have for its citizens affordable health care.  It should not be about what percentage of US citizens are exempt.  Exemptions create loop holes and a more costly system to manage.  There is only one successful outcome.

100% of US citizens receiving affordable health care.

pic by denny hariandja

Nonprofits are too much into the short term strategy mode.  A strategy needs to have both, long and short.  There is no double checking to see if the communication is going to the right place or multiple times.

I receive email from several nonprofits that only send me mail asking for money.  I have one particular nonprofit while they have joined the green mail approach sends me the same message three times each month.  I have another particular nonprofit who have spelled my name wrong every time.  I gave up last year asking them to correct it.

The ones that I have found to be most successful are those that provide me information about what is going on with the organization and how to participate.

Individual giving is down and the pulse I am hearing on the streets is that impulsive giving has evaporated.  So if you did not contact donors in previous years you have been dropped.  The measure by individuals today is:  who could really use my money and why am I going to give it to them?  Just mailing and asking for money would be better spent building real long term supporters and a relationship with them.

pic by www.iQoncent.com

Nonprofit’s are taking strong action in moving forward on education reform.  Extended learning time is one component that needs to be adopted through the country.  It should not be a proud fact to have the shortest number of days or hours educating  students.

Charter School’s results have been showing that for poor and disadvantaged students who are lucky enough to win the lottery to get into a charter school score as well as their students in an affluent school district. Check out this link to The Wall street Journal article on research led by Standford University Professor Caroline Hoxby. 

pic by ddonar

The Pew Center on the States reported 7.3 million adults are in the US correction system, which amounts to 1 for every 31 adults.  $50 billion annually and growing.  It is second to Medicaid of state expenditures. 

• If you live in Georgia it is 1 for every 13 adults.
• If you live in New Hampshire it is 1 for every 88 adults.

The racial gap is nothing to be proud of.

• 1 of every 11 black adults
• 1 of every 27 Hispanic adults
• 1 of every 45 white adults

Costs on average are $29,000 for sending a person to prison.

Costs on average for community probation and monitoring is up to $2,750.

The Pew Center report provides an outline on how to deal with the growing problem.  I would highlight their findings on evidence base practices and performance measures as the correct means to decide what programs to fund. 

It is my opinion that a criminal system that is designed to ignore individual situations and the severity of the crime creates a failing system which can never achieve its outcome goals.  

Those programs that should be increased are those who show an impact in reducing recidivism. 

Pew Center on States Link:

http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/report_detail.aspx?id=47134

Nonprofits should use the report to better understand the direction of evidence base practices and performance base contracting. 

pic by wstera2

The health care debate is at its ultimate level of confusion.  Nonprofits and government are afraid of what real reform can bring just like every other interested party.  Which seems to be the whole world.  So is it to be the survival of the fittest or Gods will that ultimately prevails?

Remember God does allow humankind to make decisions that could ultimately kill individuals or society.  The choice is ours to make may we do so wisely.

pic by Robin Hutton

Hey I know you guys hate school but I just started liking it last year.   I like the projects that we get to do.  I get to use the computer at home.  While doing my Internet search for home work I took a break and learned to do the moon walk watching a You Tube video. 

If I could use the computer more often I would have more fun.  I asked my papa that after I am in 8th grade if I would go to another school.   I want the school to have lots of computers so I can use one for myself.  While I do not mind sharing no one can agree what to look for and when I find what I want my time is up.  It is not fair to say i can use it but then my time is up once I find what I like.

From Papa:

Nonprofits can provide a lot more support to those it serves by utilizing computers more.  While I am not advocating that nonprofits lay off staff, it is important to automate those services that can reach the maximum amount of people.  The cost savings in staffing by using computers just might surprise you.  I liked what Chris had to say with the pic of plugging in and getting turned on.  I guess he is trying to advocate for his own home computer. 

Many students do not have access to the Internet or a computer to expand their opportunities for learning.  There area number of states including Maine who have been making a major effort to get a computer into the hands of a majority of their students. 

pic by Terry McCombs

The Vatican office headed by Cardinal Wlliam Levada is investigating the leadership of the Council of Women Religious, a group that represents 95% of the nuns in the United States.  It is the second time that the male hierarchy seems to be looking to rein in the perceived independent nuns.  It seems odd that an institution that has been around for centuries would continue to subjugate women to complementary, subordinate, and expected workforce roles.  These women of faith dedicated to serving humanity in Christ’s name are doing just fine and should be allowed to continue to serve their communities as they find appropriate.  Much of the community outreach to nonprofits from the faith based community has been conducted by the woman of faith.  The increase in faith among the population of the United States I would be willing to say is due to the creative ways of these women to get out the message of God.

Faith is a strong powerful force in getting one to heal and overcoming barriers to create a better society for individuals and society as a whole.  No one group or individual should try to control or censure how women provide their meaningful service to society with God and Church.

I urge more nonprofits to join with the faith base organizations of their community to maximize the strength that each brings to the community.

Thanks Chris for reminding me that only with practice does one do better.

Good government requires active participation by its citizens to be successful. 

If an athlete could pick to practice with the team whenever the likelihood of success would be lower. 

If a student is left to decide what is worthy for their education most would fail to obtain adequate knowledge to sufficiently pass a proficiently test. 

A democratic society of government is not about having passive participation.  The anti lobbying provisions that nonprofits have caused too many organizations to keep silent and watch.  As the largest employment sector in the country it is time to speak up and be heard.

Health Care (affordable and for all)

Education (A High School diploma and a minimum of an Associate degree)

Smart Growth (energy generation, energy  distribution ,transportation and Internet)

The role of practicing is to always provide an opportunity for improvement and having the maximum preparedness for the task at hand.  In creating good public policy there must be the ability to set forward good intentions and to modify components where the result is not the intent.  History has shown that words used in the passing of legislation some times has unintended consequences.  These unintended consequences are the result of individuals or entities utilizing the law for personnel gain or craft ideology direct. 

As stewards of our government both individuals and organizations must participate to ensure the best balance and interpretation of intent.  It take practice for any government to create fairness in its system of governance that balances its fairness to all individuals and organizations.