Strategic Analysis of a Not-for-Profit Organization

Organizational Profile

Luz Rodriguez

Southern New Hampshire University

Organizational Profile

The not-for-profit organization that has been selected for the strategic analysis is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). This is an organization, which is grounded on the notion that all lives are equal. Therefore, it strives to ensure that everyone lives a productive and healthy life. My interest in this organization is based on the fact that it is the biggest not-for-profit organization across the globe (Fejerskov, 2015). More so, the scale at which the organization conducts its operations is quite massive for a non-profit organization. The BMFG has worked to enhance the quality of life for many communities in the world with respect to technology innovation, healthcare quality, reduction of poverty, and enhancement of education access.

The rationale for choosing the organization for the final project is two-fold. First, it operates under the confines of the IRS tax code Section 501(c)(3). Therefore, the entity passes the standard requirements for the organization needed for the project. Second, BMFG I a relatively large entity with a good organizational structure, and well-defined operations, manpower, finances, and capabilities. More so, considering its size, there are several reliable resources that can be used in the strategic analysis of BMFG.

Mission

The formal mission statement of BMFG is “all lives have equal value” (BMFG, 2020). The BMFG exists to help every person live a productive and healthy life. The BMFG serves people who live in extreme poverty and hunger. It focuses on individuals with the least resources and limited access to opportunities that are necessary to not only succeed in education but life as well.

There are four main objectives that help the BMFG attain its mission. First, it works to ensure that young people and children survive and thrive (BMFG, 2020). The organization believes that the journey to eradicating poverty is initiated when the future generation can easily access quality education and healthcare. In the US, the BMFG works to ensure individuals with few resources can access opportunities necessary to succeed in life. In developing nations, the organization works to drive people out of extreme poverty and hunger.

Second, the organization works to empower the vulnerable and underprivileged people in society to transform their lives, especially girls and women. The BMFG believes that investment in business opportunities, farming technologies, and seeking new jobs aids people transition from poverty. It also believes in investing in the empowerment and health of women because doing so has a positive ripple effect on families, societies, and countries.

Third, the BMFG strives to combat infectious diseases by investing in science and technology. It works with various partners to offer the poor effective diagnostics drugs, and vaccines, more so, it develops innovative techniques to ensure the vulnerable have ready access to quality healthcare services (BMFG, 2020). Finally, the BMFG inspires people to take action and make the world a better place. This is achieved by influencing changes in policies, behaviors, and attitudes to ensure people improve their lives.

History

The BMFG was established in 2000 following the merger between the Gates learning Foundation and the William H. Gates Foundation. It was founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. However, currently, it is operated by three trustees, Bill, Melinda, and Warren Buffet. So far, the organization has existed for twenty years.

There are certain divisions in BMFG that have facilitated the organization’s milestones and growth of the entity. First, there is the Global Development Program. It has facilitated substantial progress in developing nations in terms of emergency relief, vaccine delivery, and family health (BMFG, 2020). Second, there is the Global Growth & Opportunity Program. It has facilitated substantial progress in sustainable transformative change amidst market failures and inequities. This has resulted in the realization of the potential of numerous untapped markets, in addition to facilitating socio-economic benefits for the underprivileged (BMFG, 2020).

Third, there is the Global Health Program. It has facilitated substantial progress in the seeking of scalable, ambitious, and innovative solutions needed to effectively address the healthcare needs of developing nations (BMFG, 2020). Fourth, there is the Global Policy & Advocacy. It has facilitated substantial progress in creating strategic relationships with key stakeholders such as public policy experts, media organizations, governments, and private philanthropists (BMFG, 2020). Finally, there is the United States Program. It has facilitated substantial progress in areas such as “education, libraries and access to the Internet, and emergency relief in the U.S. as well as community grants and local efforts in the Pacific Northwest” (BMFG, 2020).

Current Position

Currently, the number of offices that the BMFG serves are nine: two are in the US, two in Europe, three in Africa, one in India, and one in China. The number of locations that the BMFG serves is made up of 135 countries (BMFG, 2020). The nature of the cause that the BMFG was created to support is philanthropy that aids the underprivileged in society. Therefore, it ensures the poor people in the nation have reasonable access to educational opportunities, good healthcare, and can escape extreme poverty.

Reference

BMFG. (2020). The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.gatesfoundation.org/

BMFG. (2020). Foundation fact sheet. Retrieved from https://www.gatesfoundation.org/who-we-are/general-information/foundation-factsheet

Fejerskov, A. M. (2015). From unconventional to ordinary? The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the homogenizing effects of international development cooperation. Journal of International Development, 27(7), 1098-1112.