Week 9

 Non-Profits and NGO's

How are they organized? Why do we expect different things from them than businesses? How can they stay viable financially? These are important questions for socially conscious organizations to consider. Without a strong organization, the nonprofits tend to burnout and not have the impact they had hoped for. I have been involved with many non-profit organizations and have sat on the board of a couple. Without a strong organization, volunteer hours and well-wishes for a societal good will not deliver the results that you hope for.

Photo credit: https://www.timberland.com/responsibility.html
I am so impressed by Timberland's business model and the impact that Jeffrey Schwartz has had on this company. Business growth has been tied to values and has focused on community service, environmental responsibility and excellent products. This focus has allowed Timberland to grow to a global company with product sales in the hundreds of millions of dollars annuals, while making a worldwide social impact that is integrated in the company's goals. They are a great example of how a company can use its organization and business profitability in ways that are responsible, sustainable and have impact in their communities.

Photo credit: Medium.com

I can encourage investment into the organizational aspects of non-profits that I am a part of. Whether a board member, voting member, or volunteer, I can use my influence to encourage reinvestment of resources into a strong organizational framework which will lead to future growth.  Recognizing that shortchanging our administration and organizational needs hampers our potential impact is a very important lesson to learn in any non-profit and I can advocate for that understanding with the nonprofits I am associated with.




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