Video: http://ignitephoenix.blip.tv/file/1460085/
Event: Ignite Phoenix 2
Event Date: October 29th, 2008
Both public opinion and public awareness of the Nonprofit Sector are abysmal. People still think that community organizers have no “actual responsibilities” - and that’s even if they know what community organizers are at all. When someone is told to imagine a nonprofit organization, they most likely see men with copious amounts of facial hair and body odor, or people begging for money with more vigor than the people they are serving. Our proud nation was built on the foundations of voluntary action and community engagement, it’s time for us to start acting like it again.
3. Working Definitions
Sam's Definition
An organization that exists to fulfil a mission
not lucrative enough for the private sector,
and not popular or viable enough for the
public sector to engage in.
4. Working Definitions
๏ Three Sector Society
- Public
- Government
- Private
- Business
- Nonprofit
- Community-Based Organizations
5. Working Definitions
๏ Tax Codes & Structure
- 501(c)(3) | Charitable
- Habitat For Humanity, Ford Foundation
- 501(c)(4) | Special Interest & Lobbying
- Move On, National Rifle Association
- 501(c)(6) | Professional & Trade
- National Football League, AMA
6. Working Definitions
๏ Tax Codes & Structure
- Many others - from (c)(1) to (c)(28)
- (13) – Cemeteries, (21) – Black Lung Trusts
- PAC – Political Action Committee (Code 527)
- Some exist under multiple codes
- Planned Parenthood, Arizona Advocacy Network,
ACORN
14. Future
๏ Call Back To Roots
- The Foundation of our Nation
- First Fire Department, First Banks, First
Hospitals
- Voice for the Voiceless
- Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Marginalized
15. Future
๏ Call For Greater Accountability
- Financial Reporting
- New 990 Forms, Stricter local laws
- Discretionary Donors
- More information is available via Internet
- Donors demand transparency
- Discretionary Practitioners
- Collaboration vs. Competition
16. Future
๏ Call For Increased Viability
- Public Awareness
- More Legislative Representation
- State Associations
- National Council of Nonprofit Associations
- Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
- Capacity Building
- Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative
- Education & Professionalization
17. Further Exploration
๏ ASU Lodestar Center
- nonprofit.asu.edu
๏ Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits
- arizonanonprofits.org
๏ GuideStar
- guidestar.org
๏ Craigslist Foundation
- craigslistfoundation.org
18. References
๏ Anheier, Helmut K (2005) Nonprofit
Organizations: Theory, Management,
Policy. New York: Routledge
๏ Sargeant, Adrian (2005) Marketing
Management for Nonprofit
Organizations. New York: Oxford
University Press
๏ Collins, Jim (2005) Good To Great and
the Social Sectors: A Monograph to
Accompany. New York: HarperCollins
19. Last Thoughts
“The health of a democratic
society may be measured by the
quality of functions performed by
its private citizens.”
Alexis de Tocqueville
20. Last Thoughts
"The greatness of America lies not
in being more enlightened than
any other nation, but rather in her
ability to repair her faults."
Alexis de Tocqueville
Editor's Notes
Thank you for the opportunity to come here and share a little of my passion for the nonprofit community.
Five minutes does not offer us much time to start peeling away at the variety of misconceptions that arrive at the forefront of your brain when you hear the word, “nonprofit” so let's get cracking!
Voluntary
Nonprofit Distribution
Organized
Private
Self-Governing
Examples
Animal Welfare
Labor Unions
Public Health Advocacy
Anheier: “When speaking of the nonprofit sector, we tend to refer to organizations, foundations, and associations first and foremost. Yet at the same time, the sector also covers individual activities and the values and motivations behind them.”
Most organizations seek one of these three designations.
The organizations who choose to operate under multiple designations do so because of the nature of their work. For instance, Planned Parenthood has a clear legislative agenda but would unable to work with such vigor or effectiveness if it operated solely as a (c)(3). Similarly, the NRA has (c)(6) status for association purposes and (c)(4) status for lobbying purposes.
Sargeant: “Historically, the revolution of 1777 led to the creation of many nonprofits as the public was “swept up in waves of civic enthusiasm and religious fervor”
“Indeed, the founding fathers had been careful in drafting the US Constitution to ensure that it was difficult for their government to levy taxes, take vigorous action or grant wealth and power to a privileged few.
Anheier: “ Voluntary associations served as a remedy against the “tyranny of the majority.” (de Tocqueville)
“Lusty progeny of voluntary associations.” (Arthur Schlesinger)
“Swept up in waves of civic enthusiasm and religious fervor.”
Constitution carefully drafted to protect against the “tyranny of the majority.”
Democracy In America
Observed and wrote about American's willingness towards voluntary action
Freely giving funds for social improvements
Voluntary assembled to fix perceived social problems
Heterogeneity: The more diverse a given population, the larger the nonprofit sector is likely to be. This factor seems to derive from the needs of various ethnic communities to preserve and protect their own unique cultures and identities. In most cases, this task can be accomplished through the formation of a variety of nonprofit organizations.
Welfare State: The scope of the nonprofit sector will vary widely depending on the scope of government involvement in social welfare. The sector will usually expand to fill the most important gaps left by the state.
Level of Development: The middle class base has proved important in the development of the nonprofit sector – OBAMA
Freedom: Voluntary activity can only flourish when people are permitted the freedom to associate, deliberate, and act together in the public sphere.
Heterogeneity
Scope of “Welfare State”
Level of Development
Legal Framework
Freedom
Hospitals – 51% are nonprofit
Universities – 46% are nonprofit
Museums – 86% are nonprofit
Operations
Structure
Compensation
Work /Life Balance
Transparency
Financial Reporting
Accountability
Effectiveness & Results
Actual Responsibilities?
Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, MLK