If you are killed by the failure of a government project, you’re worth millions.  If you are killed by the failure of government policies, you’re worth nothing.

The policies set and the dollars spent by government, and the responsibility that is assigned to government failure, seem to be more dependent upon whether a group votes.    Historically minorities and poor do not vote heavily and therefore are marginalized.

Low income people and minorities seem to get the blunt of bad government policies.  Examples include the locating of polluting industries, high incidence of lead paint, distribution of firearms, lack of access to health care and the lack of resources. 

There are a number of nonprofit institutes whom have provided studies noting the problem.  However, I have rarely observed the same organizations providing direction to public policy makers of specific solutions.

Just because government has failed policies does not mean nonprofits should just blame the government.  Talk is cheap.  Creating partnerships to address unmet need takes effort and giving up some control.  So I challenge each organization that has a compliant about government policies to come up with a blueprint as part of their strategic plan on how they would resolve the issue. 

Debt Collection agencies.

When debt collection agencies call your employees during this time of financial hardship make sure your employee understand their rights. Too many of the debt collectors use techniques that people do not know are wrong. Do not let the debt collectors tone or use of the English language make your employee feel stressed out or feel they are at risk of immediate harm. Help an employee stand up for their rights. It is as simple as letting them know to contact their state Consumer Affairs Office or Division of Banks for knowing their rights. Many of these rights can be found on line.

In Massachusetts anyone can Know their rights by going to the Office of Consumer Affairs: The summary below is from the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries web site.

209 CMR 18: Conduct of the Business of Debt Collectors and Loan Services, Division of Banks. “The purpose of 209 CMR 18.00 is to establish standards, by defining unfair or deceptive acts or practices, for the collection of debts from persons within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by debt collectors and third party loan servicers, and to establish procedures and requirements for the licensing and supervision of debt collectors and the registration and supervision of third party loan servicers.”

940 CMR 7: Debt Collection Regulations, Attorney General. “The purpose of 940 CMR 7.00 is to establish standards, by defining unfair or deceptive acts or practices, for the collection of debts from persons within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

If your employee is having problems with the debt collector in Massachusetts they can file a compliant form with the Division of Banks which can be obtained from the Division of Banks web site.

The continuing violence against women has highlighted again the lack of adequate services for women and their children to access.  The most serious need is housing. The services should include childcare to allow employment opportunity and the housing of the women and her children.  The housing must be both permanent for families and temporary for initial emergency intake.

The majority of those making decisions to fund services are white males who have never had their life at risk.  Women should not vote for men who do not take their needs seriously.  Set an agenda that prioritizes where housing and Domestic Violence services are needed to allow equal and equitable access to services.  If elected officials do not support the agenda then make sure that the community is educated about the position of the officials.

This cartoon depicts a manner in which to create a message against Domestic Violence and Children Witnessing Violence.  Logos that are visual have a more lastly effect for people to remember. 

The UN Children’s Fund and UNICEF got good press about 9.7 million children who will die before their 5th birthday. The US spends billions addressing the cause where corruption prevents an effective outcome. The US for a while in the 80’s and 90’s demanded accountability. Now, because of the need to have other governments’ political capital for support, US overseas initiatives accountability is silent as pay back. Prioritizing of money to be used for political capital or preventing the deaths of Americans requires government to set for the US a per capita spending for its health care goals and saving children in the US. What type of death is more worthy to require funding?

Social Responsibility has been on the rise among college graduates. However, there has been a huge barrier created by the institutions of higher education preventing them from following their heart and soul to make a difference. College loans debt is their barrier to choose the job he/she would love to take in the nonprofit field providing public good.

 Providing loan relief provisions in your recruitment will increase the number of credentialed candidates that will apply to work for your organization.

Government support of a living wage will allow more individuals to accept jobs providing public good.

The Supreme Court recently ruled 8-1 that if a medical device maker received pre market approval from the FDA it over rides most claims under state law. Justice Scalia writing for the majority basically said that the FDA is responsible for evaluating risks and the safety of the devices. For more information on the decisions check out http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/06-179.pdf. Justice Scalia, found a key aspect lacking in lawsuits by juries was their focus only on the dangers. He pointed out a jury “ is not concerned with its benefits. The patients who reaped those benefits are not represented in court.”

On several occasions I have written about risks and the responsibility of the organizations to weigh risks and have a risk plan. Every action brings risks. A risk plan that staff is trained on and which is utilized by the whole organization will reduce the likelihood of lawsuits due to negligence by the organization. The more staff/volunteers an organization has; the more customers that the organization serves; the more likely something will happen. The risk plan should be useful enough to have prepared employees, volunteers and management for the protocol to utilize for the circumstances.

It’s funny how the squeaky wheel gets all of the attention.  The same can be said of when enough organizations or individuals let their views be heard.  The 2008 election of candidates for the various parties for President have shown three new voices making a difference.  Youth, African-Americans and Hispanics have been the voice not heard in the past.   Voices whom were generally marginalized in what they thought. 

Just as these once marginalized groups have shown their power and conveyed their voice, organizations do not need to stand by and accept business as usual.

Economically, nonprofits are a powerful group that has been marginalized even by some of its own group.  Organizations should join forces to redraw the economic impact in the minds of the public and government.  

Speak out and be heard on Health Care. 

Speak out and be heard on Housing. 

Speak out and be heard on a Living Wage.

There is a mix message playing out in the world of nonprofit and government jobs. What does it take to recruit qualified individuals to positions with major responsibilities? What is the definition or measure to define major responsibilities? The common thread between nonprofits and government is that they exist to perform public good.

Therefore, if someone says that the nonprofit needs to pay the President of the Red Cross $500,000 or the President of the Blue Cross a $6.3 million does that mean that individuals running for the President of the USA are less qualified.

In government and nonprofit positions it first takes a persons dedication, smarts and heart to really make a difference. The meltdown of the financial markets and the ongoing examples of manipulation in companies by high paying executives shows that the incentive of money can corrupt any institution.  A board needs to make sure that its mission comes first and that any candidate that says money is what it takes for them to take the job is focus more on making a living than focusing on the organization’s mission.

An organization in choosing its leader needs one whom lives by equality principles, dedication, and a commitment to take on a job that takes ones heart, soul and brains to make the necessary impact the organization exists to make.

Harvard University Faculty are using the Internet to publicly release their articles.  The power of exposure to the masses will increase circulation of their articles.  The articles will be available for free.

It was found that the circulation of their articles in expensive scholarly journals was limiting their exposure to a small group of people and not providing sufficient access and  exposure of their works.

Distribution of their research  as widely as possible will likely create more collaborations and opportunities.

The same is true in the sharing of successful programs and their outcomes.  The use of the Internet  is a great tool for promoting an organizations brand and successes.

In China the government requires employers to contribute to a housing fund for employees. Employees can draw down from the fund to buy a house.

In Russia and Brazil employers sponsor mortgages at reasonable rates where employees have traditionally had less access to credit and cost of living is high.

Recruitment of foreign students for part time employment while they go to school provides for a two to four year dedicated employee. Apprenticeship provides on the job training and supplements the skill and college experience. Further it provides a pool of labor with added credentials.