AssignmentNP
Please write a 9 pages paper focused on our client organization. The client organization in which I am doing my research on is Firehouse Ministries of the Birmingham Metro area. What I have attached below is a guide to the prospectus, an example of what it is supposed to look like, and the work that I have done so far. Please make sure that the problem statement, purpose statement, research questions (only 2), and conceptual framework is in alignment. It needs to be APA style 7th edition and double spaced.
Prospectus: A Study of Volunteers Through the Governance of Nonprofit Organizations During the COVID 19 Virus Outbreak
Problem Statement
In the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Firehouse Ministries has faced many challenges with its volunteer staff by recruiting and retaining them. However, the development of the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the organization in terms of captivating volunteers to facilitate its strategic objectives. According to the World Health Organization the “coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans; and coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)”. (WHO, 2020) Nonprofit organization across the globe take pride in serving individuals during times of distress; and volunteers are their vital and primary source of inspiration where they selflessly extend their helping hands to all individuals that are in need.
Recently, due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, this has created issues for the use of volunteers with incorporating them with the daily work processes. Nonprofit organizations are abstaining the use of volunteers due to governmental restrictions as well as not wanting to protect themselves, clients, and volunteers, and staff from being exposed to the virus. This results in not having enough volunteers on staff due to them practicing self-quarantine or practicing social distancing. Nonprofit organizations should have an effective safe plan in place for the use of volunteers during a pandemic crisis such as the COVID -19 virus.
The Firehouse Shelter was established during the year of 1983, but first it formed an outreach program known as The Cooperative Downtown Ministries. However, through the years the Firehouse Shelter name altered slightly as the Firehouse Ministries which has been operating for thirty-five years. Their services and ministries have expanded to providing provisional housing, a place of security for men with acute personality disorders, stable accommodating housing, to reasonably priced low-income stable housing in numerous districts in and surround the Birmingham metro region. The Firehouse Ministries is supported and sponsored by a plethora of corporate sponsors who are together trying to take precautionary action against chronic homelessness of men in the Birmingham, Alabama metropolitan area.
The Firehouse Ministries has been supporting homeless male population with emergency shelter and housing in the wake of increasing needs in the area they serve (Firehouse Ministries, 2020). Therefore, the focus of the nonprofit organization has been on ensuring stability of the communities served across Birmingham area. The goal of Firehouse Ministries since its inception has been on providing permanent supportive housing. This organization works with volunteers who play a vital role in driving the organizations operations and goal(s). Operations of nonprofit organizations have been negatively influenced by the widespread pandemic as organizations are abstaining the use of volunteers due to governmental restrictions as well as not wanting to protect themselves, clients, and volunteers, and staff from being exposed to the virus. Nonprofit organizations focus on providing public services and serve the interests and needs of communities within their scope of operation (Worth & Michael, 2018).
Centered on the role played by nonprofit organizations especially as intermediaries between authorities and citizens, any hindrance to their operations poses a negative impact on the communities they serve (Kaplan, 2018). For instance, Firehouse Ministries server the male community by providing them with shelter. When they are not able to operate fully as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, then the communities suffer. This creates the need for development of a public policy program that incorporates the issues raised in terms of mitigating COVID-19 and how volunteers can be integrated while ensuring their safety for realization of the organizations goals. The structure of nonprofit organizations incorporates volunteers who facilitate daily operations (Glaeser, 2016). Nonprofit organizations rely more on volunteers meaning in regard to the current scenario when they are not incorporated in their nonprofit programs then the communities, they serve fall into more problems.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this study is to explore ways in which the Firehouse Ministries can come up with an effective safe plan in place for the use of volunteers during a pandemic crisis. Yet, the need to improve the quality of life of communities provides insights on the day to day running of nonprofit organizations (Lewis, 2017). Also, the role of nonprofit organizations in supporting community needs is essential and much needed especially during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. By having an effective plan in place will help consolidate government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic and Firehouse Ministries role of supporting other community needs, especially in shelter. Merging of volunteers within nonprofit organizations takes note of the health interventions currently in place especially the need to make use of face masks and sanitize. Yet, established on the current developments, the public policy program supports nonprofit organizations to invest in health resources to protect volunteers. Some of the interventions that can be incorporated in the plan include use of face masks, sanitizers and protective clothing in cases where the volunteers may meet individuals they serve within the communities. The formulation of the public policy program to incorporate volunteers will be based on a safety plan where the health of volunteers will be considered. Hence, the design strategy adopted in this study will be qualitative with observational study incorporated as intervention method. The key findings will be developed and presented in narrative form.
Conceptual Framework
This study makes use of social systems as part of the conceptual framework. Social systems framework involves analyzing how the society adapts to the environment based on adjustments of its structures with an understanding of the social order.
Research Questions
The two questions of this study are as follows:
1. How can the Firehouse Ministries come up with strategies that are most effective in volunteer management, especially in recruiting and retaining volunteers?
2. What health measures can the Firehouse Ministries put in place to ensure safety of volunteers?
Significance of the Study
The heightened hotspots across the country for nonprofit services will be important for the needy during the current crisis as well as after the crisis. The role of NGOs covers complementing government initiatives and safeguarding communities against adverse effects of disasters and pandemics (Glaeser, 2016). This role has been curtailed by the current COVID-19 pandemic which has triggered changes in the role and scope of NGOs especially in incorporation of volunteers in its operations and affected programs. This study is important in adding value to the knowledge on role of NGOs especially within the context of interactions with government and communities in advancing societal needs and enhancing quality of life. This study defines the impact of the current pandemic on NGO functions and how the society continues to suffer due to lack of necessary services that are complimented by nonprofit organizations.
The study findings will be important for policymakers in defining national interests based on the scope and role of NGOs. In this case, it will facilitate better policy development to ensure the role of NGOs is well safeguarded even during pandemics or disasters. Enhanced policy development will help ensure operations of nonprofit organizations are not curtailed presently and in future and that measures are put in place by the government to ensure they are not adversely affected. One perspective of policy change may be to ensure the government supports NGOs with funds in times of disasters or pandemics to support their programmatic agendas as well as support their staff and volunteers. Emphasis on policy development should be on ensuring that the government first addresses the concerns and problems of NGOs in times of a pandemic to ensure they are able to support and compliment government initiatives at such difficult times. Hence, the study findings will also be imperative and useful to governments and nonprofit organizations. It will provide essential data and information on the role played by NGOs in complementing government initiatives and how they can be supported during the pandemic to help cushion communities served by NGOs against adverse negative impacts. NGOs will also help develop new measures to mitigate them against the negative effects especially posed by the current pandemic which has created significant shifts in both government and nonprofit operations. Generally, the study is important in first defining the challenges faced by NGOs especially in volunteer systems and operations and recommendations at different levels that can help NGOs embark on their programs and incorporate volunteers fully in fulfilling their mandate to communities.
Background of the Study
Although there is a plethora of scholastic peer reviewed editorials pertaining to nonprofit organization board governance, there are some disparities when it comes to academic information adherent to focusing on the way in which nonprofit organizations function in terms of government and the underserviced suburban areas. Below are selected peer-reviewed articles that could possibly affect and address the governmental practices of the Firehouse Ministries:
1. Charity Navigator. (2020) highlights creative and innovative ways for nonprofit organizations to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic by suggesting ways on how to enhance their giving results.
2. Glaeser, E. L. (2016) discusses how nonprofit organizations have challenging governance problems and how there is a deficiency of influential methods of business control that permits employees and administrators a reasonable quantity of opportunity but in the end the sector even now operates.
3. Lewis, D. J. (2017) presents how the current politics of NGOs are changing globalized world as mediators involved with social and environmental change as much as with their own causes.
4. Dowdell, J. and Lesser, B. (2020) discusses how nonprofits organizations are being hurt by the coronavirus and they are not receiving the identical economic assistance as for-profit businesses and productions just as though they were confronting the similar shortfall of profits and financial disturbance.
5. Kaplan, R. S. (2018) explains how the nonprofit sector has come up with the adjustment of a new-found implementation tool that evaluates and manages approaches as wells as the balanced scorecard.
6. Moura, L.F. et. al (2020) examines the factors that influence the design of performance measurement systems (PMSs) in nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and public administration and explore inter-relationships among these factors.
7. Worth, M. J. (2018) presents a comprehensive perceptive outline of major issues influencing governance and management of nonprofit organizations.
Nature of the Study
Volunteers provide the necessary support in a nonprofit organization as they input high degree of professional skill and manpower to facilitate advancing an organization’s objectives. The operations of Firehouse Ministries have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as its integration of volunteers in its operations has been limited. This calls on the need to develop a strategic plan that takes into consideration the prevailing health issues brought about by the pandemic as well as the need for volunteers in advancing the organization’s operations. This study focuses on how volunteers can be part of the organization’s team without jeopardizing on their health or the health of other individuals based on the pandemic.
This research includes an observational study where information will be collected from published sources. In addition, the study will involve direct observation of the phenomenon based on the natural setting. In this case, emphasis will be on studying the behaviors that happen naturally in natural settings. A descriptive analysis of the phenomenon will be done with the setting remaining relatively natural thereby affirming the validity of the measurements. A hypothesis will be generated and tested based on the analyzed information or data already collected. The observational study will therefore involve the organization assessing its impact on communities prior to COVID-19 and this will define how the organization’s operations have been affected. The study will then analyze the key variables that will define the integration of volunteers in the organization’s operations which will include effect of economic changes in communities, health standards, and impact of the pandemic on shelter need across communities.
Sources of Information
This study will incorporate both primary and secondary sources of information with the focus on generating key findings for the study. The primary data will be collected from management and personnel of Firehouse Ministries as well as across communities the organization serves. The focus will be on how the current pandemic has affected operations and programs in the organization. The focus will be on understanding the role played by volunteers at the organization and the extent to which the organization’s operations have been hampered by lack of volunteers at the agency. The research will seek information on the subject under study.
The study will also incorporate secondary sources to enhance on primary data given. Secondary data essential for this study will be sourced from books, peer reviewed journals as well as government websites and newspapers.
Possible Analytical Strategies
The research focuses on defining how volunteers can be incorporated into the programs of Firehouse Ministries to facilitate its operations and programs. Information sourced based on this area of emphasis will be analyzed to pave way for strategic plan and policy development. The research examines facts, general information and background on the scope of volunteers in NGOs to contextualize on the subject and formulate an argument. Content analysis will be one of the main strategies for data and information evaluation. The responses given by the respondents based on the survey will be evaluated based on content analysis. The questions and answers provided will provide a platform for understanding the role of volunteers at Firehouse Ministries and the level of impact of the current health pandemic on the functions of volunteers. An evaluation of this data and information paves way for policy development and strategic plan on how best to integrate volunteers in the organizations programs.
Content analysis will be used as an analytical strategy where qualitative data from the sources will be coded in themes, analyzed and inferences and interpretations made descriptively. The study objectives will pave way for development of themes while information from the different sources will be synthesized and triangulated. The key objective of the study will define relevant information and data to be taken from the sources. Information will be defined and extracted from the sources provided to determine trends, patterns and outcomes. This will also be based on the study objectives where the focus is on understanding how volunteers can be integrated within nonprofit organizations safely in the wake of the current pandemic. Information on patterns and trends will help develop probable outcomes based on the area under study.
The fieldwork study which will involve getting information from the management at Firehouse Ministries as well as across areas the organization serves will form that background of content analysis. Information from the primary sources will form part of the qualitative data and content analysis employed as an evaluation tool. The results obtained from all sources will be organized in themes so as to properly define the study objectives. Information will be presented in form of narration as citations and discussions will be employed to translate information based on the model of transcription. Generally, the multiple data sources used in this study will be integrated together and interpreted in order to draw meaning to the area under study.
Other Relevant Information
Information sourced from Firehouse Ministries will help define how the volunteers can be incorporated into the organization safely and help advance the core role played by the organization in providing shelter to homeless men within different communities. The search criteria adopted will focus on understanding the volunteer system within NGOs, the scope of health problem, and how well NGOs can advance their operations and sources for volunteers while maintaining health standards as defined by government health agencies. This means that information will be developed based on the study subject. Information from both the primary and secondary sources will reflect on the scope of volunteers across NGOs in the U.S and possible intervention measures to help manage their operations even in the current pandemic.
The study will also focus on defining the health standards set by the government. This will be reflected on the need for training personnel within Firehouse Ministries on the management of health standards. Health information will be a key variable forming part of the study. This is based on the fact that the health issue currently experienced is a new phenomenon and hence the need for clear understanding on how organizations can protect themselves while still continuing with their operations. The increased role of NGOs especially in the midst of such a pandemic means that when their programs are curtailed then the community suffers immensely.
In addition, the study will also focus on relevant information that defines and advances policy development. This is based on one of the key objectives of the study which is advancing policy development to ensure volunteer activities within nonprofit organizations are not limited or curtailed by the ongoing as well as any future pandemics. Generally, the scope of the study will be to facilitate nonprofit organizations embark on their programs and fully enlist the services of volunteers to facilitate operations.
References
Charity Navigator. (2020) Impact of the Pandemic & Economic Shutdown on the Nonprofit Sector Charity navigator. Retrieved from https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=7900
Dowdell, J. and Lesser, B. (2020). COVID-19 crisis strains needy and groups that help them Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-philanthropy-insig/covid-19-crisis-strains-needy-and-groups-that-help-them-idUSKCN21Y1XS
Firehouse Ministries. (2020). https://firehouseshelter.com/
Glaeser, E. L. (2016). The Governance of Not-for-profit Organizations. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Kaplan, R. S. (2018). Strategic Performance Measurement and Management in Nonprofit Organizations. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 11(3), 353-370.
Lewis, D. J. (2017). The Management of Non-governmental Development Organizations. London: Routledge.
Moura, L.F., Pinheiro de Lima, E., Deschamps, F., M. Van Aken, E., Gouvea Da Costa, S.E., Tavares Treintaa, F., Almeida Prado Cestari, J.M. and Assumpção Silva, R. (2020), "Factors for performance measurement systems design in nonprofit organizations and public administration", Measuring Business Excellence, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 377-399. https://doi.org/10.1108/MBE-10-2019-0102
World Health Organization (2020). Biologicals: Standardization of vaccines for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). https://www.who.int/biologicals/Standardization_Covid-19/en/
Worth, Michael J. (2018) Nonprofit Management: Principles and Practice, 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.