So it’s the end.

So long intro to nonprofit.
We will meet again. First in 480 but also hopefully in the real world.
I think the most important thing I have gained is a better awareness of the huge scope of the sector. When I began this course I had limited knowledge and understanding of the extent of the nonprofit world. It seems obvious now, but there is a nonprofit to deal with everything, and if there isn’t, one will be formed – thats awesome. Now whether all these nonprofits are able to effectively deal is a different story, but there is always room for improvement.
It also opened my eyes to the varied possibilities of careers within the sector which is definitely refreshing to those of us trying to plan for our futures under the gloom of the economic recession, and everything that means for those of us that are soon to enter the “Real world”.
I also want to give Sarah a shout for being the best GTF, and bringing freshness and style to the class. (not grade grubbing here, just giving props where they’re due) Personally appreciated so much. I think her presence as well as the students in the class in general provided a sense that the nonprofit world is a collection of unique people and interests, inclusive, interesting, and evolving.

On to material covered in class in the last few weeks.

venture philanthropy.
The intersection of business practices with non profit models and ideals. I’m initially drawn to this, formerly being an dual econ major it seems so logical to me. Understanding mechanisms of the “market”, whatever that market may be is important to running any successful organization.

But I find myself very much on the fence here. I think producing change effectively is great. Relieving poverty- great. Investing in agricultural and housing programs to provide assets to the poor over aid- great. Building capacity and infrastructure- fabulous. All these things are promised by venture philanthropists in a better way than traditional models.
But where is the catch? honestly, theres gotta be a catch. ( I’m thinking mini IMF models gone wrong)

Ive been thinking about the book The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz, which I read this winter. The book is a compilation of stories about her experience using business like approaches for social change, mainly in Africa. Building sustainable “bottom up” solutions rather than the traditional “top down” aid. I dig this idea. I dug the book. But it seems (and this is just my opinion) to foster a business like ego, and I think that is a major flaw when applying this model for social change.
She founded the Acumen Fund, which is a venture philanthropy foundation or a venture capital fund playing the role of a nonprofit. It manages over $ 20 million in investments aimed at alleviating poverty through market oriented methods. Along with financial investment, infrastructure building and expertise is offered. We talked about this in class last week, and I’m curious to why foundations and nonprofits haven’t integrated these practices into their relationships. Because thinking that nonprofits dont care about returns to their “investment” puzzles me. Their existence is based on returns – even in the economic sense, a return is a “benefit to the owner of the factor of production.” Feeding someone that is hungry- a return. Providing access to healthcare- a return. Advocating for justice and human rights- a return. It is interesting that foundations mainly function to fund initial or segmented parts of the organization, not to truly invest for the long term,

Fortune business and financial news had this to say about the Acumen Fund:
“Acumen Fund is a not-for-profit group (but not a charity) that is supported by investors (not donors) who want a good “social return” on their capital.”

So its not a charity. No donors. Just investments and returns.
The language alone is very interesting.

So that’s it. my last reaction.

Peace.

international…

So I’ve always thought that Jazz was they only real contribution we Americans have made to the world. But it looks like I was mistaken. Non profit, what ? We have made our own special solution between state and market. We have created models for the “voluntary, civic, or charitable sector” to share with the rest of the world, and I think that’s pretty cool and a pretty big contribution.
Tonight in PPPM 280, our intro to nonprofit class, we were graced with a guest speaker. Renee Irvin, a professor in the PPPM department and the head of nonprofit management program, she has recently returned from China where she was a Fulbright Scholar. She presented a lovely slide show of personal pictures giving us a glimpse into the environment in which she was immersed. Then, she spoke about nonprofits in China, or NGO’s, and the roles and structures of their system. She said outside of the US nonprofits are referred to as mostly NGO’s (non-government organizations), and should be thought of as interchangeable. I think I like the term NGO more because it strays away from negative connotations “nonprofit” can sometimes bring about. Too often people equate nonprofit with unprofitable, whereas NGO seems to hint more at services needed but not provided by the government.
Anyway, the most interesting part of her talk, to me at least, was about the barriers a NGO faces in becoming a registered organization with the Chinese government. Besides having a large amount of start up money, a permanent address, and a substantial number of members, the largest obstacle is that an organization must have a unique mission or issue, because the government will only allow one registration per cause or issue. Instantly I had two very distinct reactions to this restriction. First, there was excessively dramatic images of an absolute controlling government, interfering and regulating to the point of stifling well-everything. Then I thought, how opposite of our structure here, where we run the risk of inefficiency, over serving certain causes, and creating a quagmire of organizations, all which compete for the same funding, resources, clientele, etc., but have no real network or incentive to grow together. We have acknowledged this weakness to some extent in every sector of the nonprofit world we have discussed. So I find it very interesting that here is an instance where China controls this on the other end of the spectrum. But even more interesting, Renee let us know that she was told for every one registered NGO, there are probably nine others who are forced to operate either as a business or illegally. Astonishing. So it seems likes the control China has put in place is failing. I wonder if that is due to excess need that is not met, or what ? It seems like such a paradox that non profits would be acting illegally, just for the sake of their existence and commitment to the work they feel must be done. Comparing the two systems, the differences land the US and China at the extremes, so maybe it is somewhere more towards the middle that a better overall system could emerge. (maybe for the US more than China, but we are living in a rapidly changing world, so who knows)
While I recognize these are two very different types of governments and cultures that nonprofits are operating under, and I’m making generalizations about two huge countries and two huge scales of the nonprofit sector, I do think we (the US) could benefit from more structure and regulation with in our own system.

Also I really enjoyed that she talked about the survival of the Chinese culture despite modernization, and that we will all slowly become more Chinese, much more aware and centered by their culture as it continues to grow into to the global economic force it has become. So there will be more of a convergence of East and West culture versus domination of one over the other.Talk about middle ground. So I really enjoyed her speaking to the class, and the many perspectives she brought.

day late…everythings short

I named this post because well I’m a day late, and probably among other things a dollar short, but I’m not alone here. I thought it fitting, because this is how I feel about what’s going on with the environment. This may be the least interesting blog I’ve done, though it’s not due to a lack of caring about the issue, or understanding of the urgency we must have taking action, but frankly I’m exhausted….and thinking about this makes me more exhausted.. I know. lame excuse. but also something in the big picture we will have to tackle to get anywhere. lack of motivation.
Anyway.
I think the most interesting aspect of the environmental discussion, in context of all the nonprofits scopes we have explored, is it affects us all. No one is outside of the environment. No one can escape. (Although right now I’m envisioning a world in the not so distant future when the rich literally walk around in their own bubble, a miniature atmosphere bought at top dollar kinda like the suits they wore in the Jetson’s) but anyway we will wait and see.
Many of the sub-sectors really focus on one said group or specific population, that people can box themselves out of(i.e. this doesn’t matter in my life). But even people in complete denial of our current environmental status/crisis will still have to deal with the consequences of our collective actions. Now I’m not saying that it will be an even spread, undoubtedly the poor will be more drastically affected by climate change, the energy crisis etc. but we will all breathe the same dirty air. and that is the same air our kids will breathe.

Oh Story of Stuff…….how I love you. If anyone hasn’t checked out this film, I recommend you stop what you’re doing (after you read the rest of this blog) and go watch it. Invite a friend, tell your mom.- its worth it.
The first time I saw story of stuff, I literally didn’t buy anything for 9 days. Then my refrigerator was empty, and I was hungry, I had no choice- I bought food.
But the important thing was, I thought about buying in a whole new way.
Thank you to the creators of SOS for giving us such a fundamental and honest explanation of our consumption habits and lifestyles. We are easily overwhelmed by the complexity of the problems we face, so it is refreshing to be given a simple platform to begin with. This video touches people of all ages and backgrounds, and is a learning experience for us all.
I don’t know if anyone could watch it and not come away questioning aspects of their daily life. Although, Im curious about the reaction of the CEO of a Wal-mart type company would have after viewing SOS.
10 million views- that’s amazing, and it keeps growing.
The expansion to other, more specific topics I think is proof of the power of Story of Stuff. It has become a hopeful cultural meme, that we want to share and create dialogue around. It is being shown in kindergarten classes and college classes. It is something all of us can learn from. When my eight year old god-daughter came home from school and asked me if I had seen the story of stuff, I knew it had taken hold as a meaningful force. She then went to the trashcan, opened the lid, and said with quite an attitude… “Look at all this stuff”. I was floored.
It is interesting to look at the backgrounds of the people on staff, as well as the advisory board. Most of them have incredible backgrounds working in advocacy and nonprofits, and seems like the movie is a cumulation of their live’s work, with such a level of expertise and care- it’s really amazing-
okay enough about my love of story of stuff.

start of.. the final paper

So I decided to take the easy way out and pick a topic off the awesome list Sarah provided.(thanks)
Luckily, its something I am interested in and have grown passionate about since moving to Oregon.
I would like to write my paper about how nonprofits are addressing (or not) the issue of food security locally and globally.
Of all the problems we face, I believe that no one should go hungry, that we all have the right to affordable healthy food. Food and clean water sustain us. They are a requirement of life.
Living in the Willamette Valley, we are accustomed to local fresh food everywhere. Having this accessibility to food directly from the source, has totally changed the way I think about food. But even in our community hunger is a problem. So I would like to explore the nonprofit sectors role in addressing food security and the differing methods organizations use to ensure access to food.

Some links I’ve been checking out:

USDA Food and Nutrition Center

Community Food Security Coalition (outta Portland)

Change.org/food

Oakland Food Connection

post number four

Education Equality – or lack thereof.
Our (public) schools are failing us, well, some of us.

During our last meeting, while discussing college readiness and more broadly the education systems, students in the class were posed the question, how well do you feel your high school experience prepared you for college?

very well

well

not well

Those of you joining me in the latter category; we represent an under served population. Overall the collective (public) system has failed us, leaving us to well — fail.
Thankfully we beat some odds for our seats in the class.

So, again who comes to the rescue of under served populations? The non profit sector.

We discussed charter schools quite a bit in class and the evolving relationships between public and nonprofit. Again, nonprofits are born out of need, and the need is here is undeniable for some.
While I agree with many of the pros and cons, I am a fan period. Why ? because a) it is admitting we have a broken system, b) offers some a new solution to the problem, and c) recognizes the needs and potential of the under served without placing blame on the population itself.

It seems like everyone is asking if charter schools are the answer to the problem, and I would just like to say that I believe charters are one of many solutions needed. It’s a big problem to have the mindset for a single solution or a fix-all.

I am grateful for the existence of an alternative, and believe just being given another option is incredibly important component. There is special kind of hopelessness reserved when you only have one option, and that option is frankly, a shitty one. (Not trying to make crude generalization here, I am only speaking for myself and my own experience.) The placement of a charter school in a community where the accessible system is broken, is an investment in that community that few are willing to make. It is an investment in the kids, who have just as much of a right to decent education than any other kids living anywhere else. The UN recognizes the right of an education to be a human right, to which all people are entitled.

There is something else I am grateful for; to be privileged enough to be writing this blog contemplating the complexity of our national school system. I am grateful everyday I sit in a class room (though some days less, for sure). Because for every kid like me, that makes it this far, there are thousands that are never even given a chance. The two saddest things are these; that there is so much talent and potential that is being completely overlooked and wasted, and the fact that some people believe this is a necessity of our system.

I think for individuals who haven’t seen the extent to which our system is really broken, are the first to question whether there is truly a need for such options. And that’s okay. I’m glad that for some our school system is adequate. A public good, such as a public school, is defined as being non-rivalrous and non-exclusive, and when put to that question, the school system as a whole, fails. The allocation is unequal. Don’t tell me a seat in public school A is equal to a seat in public school B. I’ve known the difference, and for the huge disparity, we should think twice about equality in our country.

Okay, so I actually tried to not write this blog. I had the intentions of writing another blog completely, about The Gates Foundation and Obama’s education agenda and the exciting policy changes taking place. ( calling myself out here for the use of exciting and policy together, I know…. I know)
After doing this week’s readings, but still thinking a lot about last week’s discussions, this is what came out, so there it is, my latest reaction.

Also, just as an aside. Scanning through other blogs this morning, another class mate mentioned the movie “Dangerous Minds” while reflecting on the state of our schools. At first I shook my head because really that is as close as some are gonna get to the real situation, but at least its a reference point and I’ll admit to reminiscing on gangsta’s paradise all day.

blog number three

Our health: for profit or not ?
This is fundamental to the healthcare bottom line. Bad pun – I know. During the past year(s) of heated debates and hurried conclusions, it seems like there were only two solutions on the table. Private, market based health, or nationalized public health. Where is the nonprofit sector in all of this? It seems that with a historically large role in the health field that nonprofits should have been a more integral part of the conversation. But it feels like it was left by the wayside to watch the other two sectors duke it out, battle royale style. So where was the nonprofit voice in the debate? If healthcare is the so-called bread and butter of nonprofit, accounting for half of all nonprofit revenue and employment, you would expect a larger presence to be shown, when considering reform.

There are stark divisions in the overall role of healthcare. Is health a right, to be guaranteed? Or is health a privilege, to be garnered by the highest dollar.  Either way, health care is focused and dependent on people. Therefore, we should be asking (taking a brief second to acknowledge this is idealistic) which system benefits the people the most. When framed in this manner, nonprofits are the best fitting answer. It seems that nonprofit organizations, as a charity driven entity, takes on the position that access to healthcare and services should not be withheld from those unable to pay. However, with more people now falling into that category of need, it seems that an unequal share of this burden has fallen onto the nonprofit side, because of the refusal to deny care. At a for profit hospital, a person who lacks insurance and the ability to pay, can be simply turned away. Their treatment and care is not profitable, so its not in the hospitals interest.

I know, the situation is more complex. Healthcare in the United States consumes 16% of GDP according to World Health Organization’s, “World Health Statistics 2009.” That’s a big piece of our pie, a 3% increase from the stat in the book (O’Neill) from 2001, which states 13% of GDP.

We’ve talked about the efficiency and effectiveness of the sector, or lack of, which certainly should be considered here. I guess it goes back to the “thinking with the heart, instead of the brain” dilemma. It seems odd that health care is a mixed economy, with the private, government and nonprofit all interacting, but almost seems limited by the fact. Maybe there are too many proverbial chefs in the kitchen, all working from different visions, with drastically different ends. But I do think that the solution lies somewhere within the three pronged approached.

Many people believe that a private, for profit system produces efficient, cost effective care. It’s what markets do best–create wealth. Where we can profit, we will. Mention “public” and health together, and many folks go into a socialistic fearing hysteria, making extreme claims of “death panels” and severe rationing. This is why I find it fascinating that nonprofits didn’t step up to mitigate both sides arguments and say hey- we are important, and may possibly be the middle ground.

Also– check out this article in the NYT from this weekend. It discusses the 2006 federal legislation requiring all organizations to file tax forms, that we talked about in class. “One-Fourth of Nonprofits Are to Lose Tax Breaks”
By Stephanie Strom
Published: April 22, 201

post number two

Religious Role in Nonprofits

What is your religion…. if any? I believe the more appropriate question is how do your religious beliefs influence your life ?
I understand the importance that a person’s faith, as well as their membership to a specific congregation has on a personal level. I can respect it. I myself do not adhere to any specific church’s belief system but am mindful of other peoples views.
I appreciate that many churches foster a sense of community engagement and civic leadership; encouraging their members to be actively participating in forms of social justice. Growing up outside of the Pacific Northwest, which in my opinion, is the most secular region in our country, I’ve seen the vital role the church takes in a person’s life. It is an extension of the family. It is the center of a community. This is why it isn’t surprising that religion is the largest part of the nonprofit sector.

Although this leaves me with a slight bitter taste, which is probably due to my personal distrust of religious organizations, but I won’t go into that tangent.

As I stated earlier, I appreciate the good work that church congregations do, however I believe there is conflict on the bottom line. I envision the nonprofit sector as a societal safety net, built to catch us when we slip through the cracks. I see religion as a very similar safety net, with one blaring stipulation; we will catch you, as long as you believe the same we do. This is where I see the fundamental conflict, that to have that support you must subscribe to those who are helping beliefs. Take D.C. as an example. In November 2009, the DC council was set to vote on the districts same sex marriage laws. The Catholic church has a long history of providing many vital social services in the area. The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington gave the city an ultimatum; if the gay marriage law passed, the catholic church would be “unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District”. Unwilling should replace unable. With such weight that the Catholic church is able to manipulate our nation’s capital into voting in line with their ideals, blows me away.
Frankly it disgusts me and is why I find the interconnectedness of the nonprofit and religious worlds disheartening. Catholic Charities, the church’s social services arm, serves 68,000 people in the city. The church is willing to turn it’s back on all the people they have helped, if it doesn’t get it’s way. The line between separation of church and state is too blurred here, and it may be due to religion being such a large part of the nonprofit sector.
But this leads me to ask, would the social services side of the sector be able to expand enough, if religious organizations decided to decrease their roles as providers?
p.s. I don’t mean to sound so negative against the Church in general. I know that members of churches all around the world do great things everyday, and for that I am thankful. However, my problem lies when religious ideals override moral ideals, and that is the main point of my above critique.

Posting number 1

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein

When I find myself stuck in any situation where I’m unsure of my next step, I tend to think of this quote. It isn’t until we think differently will we achieve different results. As I was reflecting on this past week and the readings, I found myself drawn again to Einstein’s words. The nonprofit sector is our way of providing solutions by thinking differently.

The purpose behind this blog, Look into Nonprofit, is to create a personal platform where I can share and explore my introduction into the nonprofit world. Basically, where I can record my reaction to materials presented in PPPM 280: Introduction to Nonprofit Sector, a Planning, Public Policy and Management class at the University of Oregon. Throughout the term I will be posting my thoughts, feelings, interpretations and reactions to what I am learning about the nonprofit sector. This class has a dual purpose for me. It is a requirement for my major, PPPM, but I am also here because I am interested in learning the many facets that make up the nonprofit world. I believe in the desire to serve and to create change for the better, and this is what I respect most about the third sector, that these are very much apart of the mission.

The opening chapters of Michael O’Neill’s Nonprofit Nation, grabbed my attention in an unexpected way. It provided an intertwined yet far reaching perspective on the nonprofit sector. If there were ever an argument against nonprofit’s existence, that argument would beautifully and overwhelmingly be met by these first two chapters.

The central question is why do nonprofits exist? I like the most common answer; because the need for them exists. It’s simple, straightforward, and honest. But I really like how O’Neill has taken the time to show the history and the circumstances in society that fostered the growth of the civil society.  It seems that this sector is a societal safety net. It catches the aspects of the public’s needs and desires that aren’t covered by the government, household, or the market. The nonprofit sector is the most adaptable, and therefor is able to serve people in ways the other sectors cannot.  Also, peoples desire to form groups or associations seems to be a significant driving force behind the rise of the nonprofit and civil society.  It is interesting to look at the broader field of civil society which includes, the extended family mechanisms, philanthropy, volunteering, association memberships, and over all civic activities. All of these combined, create “social capital”, which is a key term that continues to pop up in many of my readings and coursework for PPPM.  Seeing the evolution of such involvement, especially after WWII for the US, is fascinating for a history lover like myself. So between the historical and anthropological perspective, I found the existence and need of the nonprofit sector to be much more concrete. It really is as an integral part of what has shaped us as a culture, and that is pretty cool.

I didn’t realize the true scope of this sector. It is crazy to think, that besides the 1.5 million organizations registered with the IRS, that organizations which make less then $25,000 in revenue, don’t even have to register. Although this seems like an arbitrary cutoff, in my mind I would have put most organizations I know under this line, which means my picture of the sector, is just a small snapshot. Knowing that it accounts for up to 10% of the nation’s economy, and is such an important part of our daily lives has allowed me to “zoom out” and see the bigger picture.

Until my next reaction..

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