1-Considerable controversy surrounded former President George W. Bush’s faith-based initiatives during his presidency. Critics argued that government sponsorship of nonprofit organizations with a religious foundation or religious background would detrimentally affect the long-standing constitutional separation between church and state. Discuss your view of the degree to which state and federal governments should provide funding to nonprofits that have a religious mission embedded in its mission statement or undergirding the organization.
The framers of the constitution were cognizant of the fact establishment of religion, through Congress (via the passing of a particular law or sets of laws) 1) would harm fragile democracy; 2) it would make difficult for people, of other religions, in professional/practicing their religion, and 3) it would curtail freethinking. Since these strong apprehensions existed; therefore, in the First Amendment of the constitution, it was made sure that Congress should not be able to pass/enact such law, which could aid in the establishment of religion at the state and sub-state level.
In fact, the First Amendment, of the American Constitution, not only ascertains that by any law, religion cannot be established (at any level) but also guarantees that people can profess their religion, as per their beliefs. However, the First Amendment has not discouraged political parties and politicians from using religion as an instrument or tool in politics. There is enormous evidence regarding it, as at numerous occasions, politicians use particular religious terms and religious phrases in political gatherings for political purposes (Flax, 2011).
However, during the Bush Presidency religion became more apparent in politics. Currently, during the Trump Presidency, the state has started to patronize religion, which may yield various kinds of political and social complications. I disagree with this concept or political strategies of using religion in politics and patronizing of a particular religion by a state. It is because it not only affects domestic and foreign policy, but also it aids in the establishment of religion at state-level. Already, we have witnessed how neo-conservatives influence in foreign policy has devastated United States’ economy & security (Boorstein, 2018).
I strongly believe that non-governmental/non-profit organizations have a role to play in a state, as the government cannot be everywhere and neither can it address all issues in a timely fashion. However, it’s not prudent to patronize religious organizations, as this creates various kinds of complications that are both societal and political.
2-Think for a moment about the role of boards of directors in a for-profit setting members of the board are charged with overseeing the company, ensuring that company finances are audited and correct, and in approving or rejecting major policy items about the company. Based on what you have read about the role of the board of directors in a nonprofit setting versus a for-profit environment, what differences and similarities are most striking to you?
Organizational structures are becoming universal. For instance, a firm, which is operating in a particular system, will have a particular organizational structure. The factors, such as optimal functioning and optimal use of available resources, influence an organizational structure. Both, for-profit and non-profit, organizations intend to operate at the optimal level, and for that reason, their organizational structure is not drastically different.
When we study the structure and functions of the board of directors of for-profit and non-profit organizations, we learn that there are evident similarities and obvious differences. For instance, the Board of Directors, of for-profit and non-profit organizations, are responsible for implementing strategies at the tactical level. It implies that the board of directors observes how a policy, about overall strategies being implemented in sub-strategic and tactical levels. They have the tools and instruments to observe the implementation of the strategy.
The boards of directors of both non-profit and for-profit organizations are also responsible for implementing the mission and for the achievement of goals. It suggests that to achieve overall goals, the board of directors of both types of organizations can bring about major changes or may start new operations/halt an ongoing operation. However, there are differences between the two boards (of directors). For instance, a for-profit organization’s members, of the board of directors, are paid for rendering their services, and as a firm becomes more profitable, their salaries swell. Therefore, the board of directors of a for-profit firm is aggressive and desire expansion. In contrast, board members of the nonprofit organization are not paid for rending their services (usually); therefore, they do not benefit from an understanding an endeavor, with sizeable risk attached to it. This is why; board of directors, of a non-profit firm, is more cautious and does not desire aggressive expansion.
Also, the board of nonprofits is more committed to the mission of an organization, as opposed to for-profit organization, which decisions are affected by profit (McNamara, 2017).
3-We have read and studied many components that are required for the successful operation of a nonprofit special event fundraiser. Based on your readings this week, identify the three most important elements to a successful special event nonprofit fundraiser. When you identify the three factors, support your rationale as to why these are paramount considerations.
A typical non-profit organization is such organization, which is not profit-centric, but rather its existence is to further the social cause. In strictly economic terms, it is an organization, which does not distribute its surplus income or revenue to its shareholders, but rather it uses that surplus revenue to further its cost, which could be political, economic, or a mix of all those. There are several means and strategies, at the disposal of a non-profit organization, to generate capital that to be used to further a cause. One of the primary means is fundraising.
Many non-profit organizations, around the world, use fundraising as an instrument to raise capital that is essential to perform various tasks that can further the cause of the organization. However, to make a fundraising success, an organization has to take various kinds of measures. For a new firm, which is not able to generate enough revenue to support its activities financially, fundraising is of great importance and therefore, the success of these fundraising become one of the prime goals of the firm. During the course, we have learned how a firm can organize a successful fundraising event.
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- The cause is Genuine: It is imperative to establish, for a non-profit firm, that its cause is genuine. Studies reveal that when the population or potential donors consider a genuine cause and worth furthering, they participate in such fundraising events. Different means and instruments can be used to establish the relevance and significance of that cause, by a non-profit organization (Edgington, 2017).
- Sincerity: It is also imperative to establish that firm is sincere and it genuinely desires to affect a reality for good. A non-profit firm can establish this, by adopting transparency as a strategy and instrument. When people/potential donors know how the funds are spent, they become less reluctant in issuing funds.
- Knowing Your Donors: a nonprofit firm must invite those donors, who are willing to donate to that cause. Otherwise, the entire exercise will be futile, and it would not produce the desired results.
4-Think about major nonprofit organizations based outside the United States, such as Amnesty International. Do you feel that there should be restrictions upon the ability of international nonprofits not based in the United States to be able to compete for donor funding against domestic nonprofits? Why or why not? Should American nonprofits be able to do the same in foreign countries?
It is a well-established fact that the state cannot be everywhere and it cannot address all the issues, this fact alone necessitates the role of nongovernmental organizations or non-profit firms. There are various kinds of non-profit funds that operate in different realities, systems, and environments. Some of the organizations work in most stern environments, and they require more support (financial, political, and social) than others. Also, domestic and international nonprofit firms have a common pool of financial resources. It means that domestic and international non-profit firms have the same base for the collection of funds. It implies that more funds for an international non-profit organization will naturally reduce funds for the domestic non-profit firm (tragedy of the commons) and vice versa. Some suggest, thus, that international non-profit firms should not be allowed to raise funds in the United States, as this financially fatigues donors (Lentfer, 2015).
I partly agree with the argument that international non-profit firms should not be allowed to collect funds in the United States as they financially exhaust donors. I believe that there should be a cap on fundraising of international firms. It means that they should be allowed to raise funds to a certain limit and not beyond that. This change will ensure that donors do not financially fatigue quickly and they can further domestic and international causes through their finding.
Those, who are of the view that funding, by international non-profit organizations, must be cut completely and they should not be allowed to raise funds for the international cause, have a very extreme view and do not understand that how the world at large will be affected by such decision. There are war-devastated, natural-disaster affected countries, which cannot address these challenges on their own, and therefore, the international population must donate to address these challenges.
References
Boorstein, M. (2018, January 4). In a shift, Trump administration says houses of worship can apply for FEMA funding for Hurricane Harvey relief. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/01/04/in-a-shift-trump-administration-says-houses-of-worship-can-get-direct-fema-funding-after-disasters/?utm_term=.e209774c2d8c
Edgington, N. (2017, December 1). The Problem With Nonprofit Events. Retrieved from http://www.socialvelocity.net/2015/09/the-problem-with-nonprofit-events/
Flax, B. (2011, July 9). The True Meaning of Separation of Church and State. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/billflax/2011/07/09/the-true-meaning-of-separation-of-church-and-state/#5526315c5d02
Lentfer, J. (2015, November 13). Five reasons funding should go directly to local NGOs. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/nov/13/five-reasons-funding-should-go-directly-to-local-ngos
McNamara, C. (2017, December 1). All About Boards of Directors (For-Profit and Nonprofit). Retrieved from https://managementhelp.org/boards/
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