Fundraising, Research Paper Example

Written Assignment 1: Trends and Issues in Fundraising

In the 21st Century, Philanthropists are becoming catalyst philanthropists. They are changing their methodology of giving. It is called for a new style of giving. The psychology of giving is beyond the giving is the togetherness, facilitation, and compassion. The strategies in character, integrity and accessibility are the backbone of building an equitable project. A project that is presentable to the foundations, philanthropists, and donors in exchange of something that they want to receive or to apply. According to Weinstein (2009), exemplifies, the current trends that affect compassion and nonprofit fundraising decision-making. The decisions are exceedingly difficult to weight out the pros and cons of all phases of the project in process. The project itself is a roadmap to the originality, accessibility, and retrievability, to the fundraising campaign strategies. However, grant writers or fundraisers have to consume the actual trends that apply to the phrases of projects in the process in order for the best decision-making alternatives to be most presentable. One vital component of a growing trend is volunteerism. It is time, talent, and profits contributed by our generous Americans. This is the results that foundations, corporations, and donors are keenly interested in abide in their decisions on whether they should contribute their gifts to projects in action. In fact, estimately 84 percent of all charitable donations came from individuals, 76 percent from current contributions, and 8 percent from bequests. Interestingly, foundations donated approximately 12 percent and corporations donated 4 percent to charities. To the greater extent, nonprofit organizations nationwide draw more than 100 million volunteers and donors, representating 75 percent of all American household (Weinstein, 2009). The influence of Weinstein (2009) explicitly described three elements are up for grabs in the present and in the near future. The elements are the intergenerational transfer of wealth, advance in technology, and an emphasis on collaboration. The direction of intergenerational transfer of assets tends to grow from those retired baby boomers groups. This group are living longer than ever before, jn which, it means they have the quality time to use their lifelong learning experience to help others by volunteering in the areas of their preferred nonprofit organizations. This group will transfer $9 to $11 trillion to the next generation in the next 15 years. The possibilities and opportunities are endless, particularly the investments in public charities, nonprofit sectors, and planned giving programs. As the population grows, the complexity of contributions grows as well because of the opinions differs among donors in the realm of legality. The opinions that differ are the tax-exempts status that should or should not have to be regulated by the federal government —The abuses that nonprofit sectors engaged in domestic spending cuts (Weinstein, 2009). The third trend is a force on collaboration. This is a growing trend of collaboration of among nonprofit organizations, communities and public charities. Collaboration is consisted of two or more actors in a group are likely to facilitate or to bring work about a project proposal to the table. The actors are to innate the quality of the details conferred with the outside public entities. In addition, Weinstein (2009) elaborated that, “successful nonprofit organizations will continue to monitor their internal and external environments. In response, they will adopt strategic plans that recognize and respond to their rapidly changing circumstances.” In despite of economy downturn, there are political and economic issues that are still in hanging and have not resolved any social issues that are harming the constituents. For instance, the talks of tax breaks, the talks of healthcare reform, the talks of Wall Street regulations, and talks of strengthening bank regulations, which are the primary concerns for the donors as of right now. However, there is no stopping to ask for help in a small way and not necessarily to ask for a large amount of grants every time. To keep in mind that there are an abundance of opportunities to come – Take advantage of the trends that are coming for nonprofit organizations —the reliability of baby boomers, and an implemented advanced information technology, and arrange collaboration events.

Written Assignment 2: Donor Management

The five tactics of donor management are the strategies in managing donors’ monetary funds. The first tactic is that all the giving is local. Raising support at donors’ hometown, favorite place or the country is recommended. According to the author, Donald Kirkland of The Chronicle of Higher Education (2009) pointed out the five tactics on donors. The overwhelming sentiment is that money is worth giving only if the benefit accrues to the country, city, or region from which the gift originates. In which, fundraisers have to work hard to develop a strong and compelling local gradient case for support for donors outside the United States. Moreover, the second tactics in planned giving are a different form of nature. In part, because, of tax incentives are subsequently distinctive around the world. For example, some countries that have such programs do not recognize in tax laws. This is a pure gift on their part. In the U.S., the tax laws contained the capital-gains taxes and income taxes, in which, could not defer bequest’ estate taxes or an inheritance. However, planned giving is originally based on the U.S. This is an American custom of giving and be recognized of their help in a feasible way. Even in some high-tax countries, where incentives for planned giving could be momentous, the tax law is not accommodating of such tools. The strategy is to be aware of tax havens (Kirkwood, 2009). The best way is to research on foundations background first hand before any actions is made. However, the strategy is to do more consensus fund raising than top-down fund raising. In other words, as the fourth tactic is to be able to recognize that fund-raising efforts that involve a reunion class or the effort of a group of people will be driven less by a strong leader making a public and large gift settled the tone and vision and more by a collaborative process that spreads the responsibility among everyone equally (Kirkwood, 2009). A volunteer structure system is imperative for the purpose of the planned study that requires attention of donors’ needs and retainment. For instance, for $1,000 dollar pledge, 50 volunteer solicitors are needed in order to build relationship- nurturing bonding levels. Solicitors have to acknowledge the level of secured gifts before moving to the advanced level “quite” mode of marketing for fundraising campaign. For instance, one-third to one-half of the funds raised will come from the top ten donors and or that 40, 50, 60 percent of the pledges are secured during the advancement drive (Weinstein, 2009).

Written Assignment 3: Analyzing a Grant Proposal

The strengths of Plugged In organization are the history of empowering children and teenagers through the creativity of curriculums. The classes they provided through many as 18 community-based programs are well curtailed. Their statistics on demographics, locations, and socioeconomics income are well informed. Their project and their project description demonstrated their belief the outcome of learning process. They have succeeded $82,000 dollars in grants by thus far —A signal of large of participation advocated this project by local moms, local schools, and local Medias (Plugged In, 2000). Their enterprise of web page design business for teens and young adults is an innovative scheme as they have provided on-the-job training on educational site, market their web page designs to the communities, and make revenues from their business. This is a cost savings strategy —the costs of on-the-job training site alone, the costs of the site–renting the property or leasing the property; and the costs of raw materials and equipments—desks, tables, materials and such; This avenue is abundantly saved by approximately $300,000 dollars easily (Plugged In, 2000). In contrast, the Plugged In after school program has several weaknesses on their proposal letter. The part of the letter did not provide sustainable information on how the grants depleted a noteworthy detail beside the grants went directly to the computers for children and teens. There are no information technology and software details for the children. However, there are details on how teens and young adults utilizing technology. A brief detail should be noted to impress the donor. Another significant weakness on the letter is there is no curriculum plans on day-to-day operations for teens and young adults. There is no explanation on how they will be tracked on their work progress. In addition, their mission statement is too generalized. However, the children under 12 are being tracked through the attendance sheets, journals, class portfolios, and quizzes. There should be a different design of tracking plan for young teens and young adults (Plugged In, 2000).

Organization Assignment 3: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

The organization of choice is the Volunteer of America, Inc, a nonprofit organization, since it founded in 1896. This organization is one of a kind. Their sole mission with advocacy encompassed a mixture of ministry and politics. They provided all range of core human service programs (homelessness, housing, long-term care, mental health, seniors, and veterans) to help more than 2 million people in over 400 communities in 44 states; they have supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions. Their work entails the mind, body, heart of one — and ultimately the spirit — of those they serve, integrating their deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. This organization has an approximately 16,000 paid and 70,000 non-paid volunteers throughout the country (Volunteer of America, 2010).

Strengths

The strengths of Volunteer of America on giving are extraordinarily strong. the accreditations for human services programs are solidified. Six accreditation bodies accredit them. Many of the accreditation bodies are in spawn of states in the U.S. A growing number of state agencies are turning to national accrediting organizations for help in overseeing the quality of their service systems. Accreditation sends a clear message to stakeholders and funding sources that an organization uses best practices, and is prepared and open to examination from external sources. This strength of having multiple accreditation bodies gain donors’ trust and trustworthy (Volunteer of America, 2010). An unparalleled strength is that they offered winter emergency donation, workplace and CFC donation, stock giving donations and few other forms of donations. This donation strength is designed to give the donors a preference of choice to donate in a most preferred method. The third strength of volunteering program — They offered donors to be involved in the volunteer program and to be involved in the legislative process to support the program of their choice. In addition, they offered an explanation on how they can participate in the volunteering program at their local cities and or start their own action team by hosting an all star baseball games or lacrosse games, fun activity events, and campaigns of related causes. Their 114-year legacy through the ministry church shaped the Volunteer of America organization. They envisioned a movement dedicated to “reaching and uplifting” the American people.

Weakness

A exceptionally few discipline of weaknesses on the part of Volunteer of America Organization, for instance, in despite of their surmountable of services provide for all types of people. A partnership with Veteran Hospital Administration is not in the program because a growing number of veterans seek help from Volunteer of America. This is to bring a depth of understanding on how to better serve Veteran populations. Second weakness, There are 44 chapters joined Volunteer of America. However, there are 52 chapters in the United States. In which, it leaves eight chapters that did not participate the movement. The difference in the philosophy of religion shall be omitted but innate the philosophy of helping shall be in charge in the remaining of 8 chapters. Third weakness, increase more partnerships with corporations on “green” initiatives is what Volunteer of America should obtain. Most corporations are going green programs and sponsored related job-training programs. By joining partnership, the prospect would sponsor the clients will gain more job skills experience and gain internship opportunities at the corporations. Last weakness is that the organization did not go international. This should expand to international aid followed by the same mission, philosophy, and belief. This expansion creation can add an international aid human service on the housing services.

Opportunities

for Volunteer of America Organization with their strong foundation of multiple services for the disadvantaged population are possible. They can implement a medical clinic to serve those with people with psychosocial mental illness, people who have been in the military and became disabled, and people with developmental disorders to provide prescription program. This will reduce the costs to referral outpatient costs and an outsourced prescription pills prescribed. This medical care clinic initiative is waiting for the health care reform newly amended law. Moreover, the opportunity for Volunteer of America to collaborate with existing non-profits organizations on building capacity and build grants allocation. Volunteer of America hosts an annual National Conference every year. They should invite existing non-profit organizations to the conference to share ideas on the areas of improvisations for human services issues, capacity issues, and grant allocation issues. The National Conference does include the admission costs. This will help other existing non-profit organizations on retrenching their operations in their location and gain revenues for the Volunteer of America organization. In addition, Volunteer of America’s administration expansion plan, adding specialization of core programs served in every 44-chartered state and an additional eight unchartered states. They need a go-to person to deal with program issues and streamline the programs into regional divisions. These opportunities refine the regional weighty problems and have the grants to be dispersed into that region for that particular problem. This will offset the objectives in generalized in-state problems. For instance, Mr. James LeBlanc, President/CEO, Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans New Orleans, LA could reign the southern region of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Kansas. Mr. Gerald McFadden, President/CEO, Volunteers of America of Southwest California San Diego, CA could reign the western region of Nebraska, Nevada, California, Arizona, and New Mexico and so on. This new approach of an effective collaboration effort, this in turn, will make America a better country in dealing with societal issues.

Threats  

Threats are minimal for Volunteer of America because of their oldest history of serving humans since 1869. However, there are possibilities of threats that can affect the organization. The first threat is that the private philanthropists can disconnect its contribution to the organization, in which, it can negate their funding capacity. For instance, workplace and CFC giving program may reduce the needed funding due to massive layoffs across the United States in 2008 to 2009. The reduction in contributions can impeded the resources. The programs and services resources capacity, in which includes the maximum capacity of people obtaining services, particularly the housing and residential treatment programs. The house and residental treatment program may shorten the length of stay due to limitation of funding allowed per person. The third threat is Internal Revenue Service may audit their funding capacity because of new amended tax law are in effect. The income tax, capital-gain tax law, and 501 (3) (c) modified tax law, in which, it cannot be distribute due to the deficit of the federal budget. This may diminish human’s accessibility to services.

Organization Assignment 4: Fundraising Capability

According to 2008 annual reports, their fundraising capacity is at $63 Million, in which, it is disproportioned into seven segments of funding. They allocated 2.8% of fundraising expenditure. In despite, of little fundraising effort they did for new and existing problems that faced America. As of current, the company is hosting 2010 Annual Fundraising Gala, supporting the need of change for Anoka Care Center and Community members. They provide Platinum Sponsorship to Bronze Sponsorship from $2,000 to $250 dollars.

Organization Assignment 5: A Case for Support

The mission that Volunteers of America organization aimed for helping people in need and empower them to fulfill their independency and live their lives to the maximum. This is to serve to the public that need housing, health care and human services. The organization is inspired by the individual’s success from the bottom to the top through rigorous journey that is touched by their minds, hearts, and ultimately the spirits. With their 114-year legacy, Volunteers of America helps nearly 2 million people in over 400 communities supported most vulnerable groups, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions (VOA, 2010). Volunteers of America offer people a truly exclusive opportunity to put their faith into action. Working together with the help of our committed volunteer board members and volunteers, we can achieve our collective mission and make the world a more compassionate right to live (Volunteer of America, 2010). There are goals for each program provided for the targeted group. It is the desire of Volunteer of America to raise awareness of outstanding problems that have affected America today. For instance, empower at-risk youth, natural disaster victims, and homelessness to become a helper and a volunteer to the next victims for next generation to come to keep the human services strong. In addition, Volunteer of America is calling for community partners and corporation partners and philanthropists to participate through activities. By participation, this allows to mentor one another through experience, struggle and life. The objective for each program is to maximize the targeted budget for the program created initiatives. In turn, maximizing and maintain sustainable program criterions and curriculum to the utmost in order for individuals to be constructive citizens in their communities. Maintain stakeholders investments into the programs of their choice and they will be provide distinguished awards for their generous accomplishments. The programs and services they offered are the housing, homelessness, mental health, seniors, and veterans. These programs are designated for the targeted group that fit the criterions of needed services. The housing program is one of the national Federal recipients for housing assistance programs to help the runaways, homelessness, at-risk youth, substance abuse users, dislocated seniors, and many more. They provided referrals, counseling, treatments, and medicines. One such a true story about an individual named Lucas. This exceptional individual was unlikely to succeed. Volunteer of America once quoted, “We do not give up on Lucas”. This story is inspired by a young man who was vulnerable and at risk for losing his life. He lost his guidance from his drug-addicted parents and ended up in three foster homes with no concrete guidance for the future. After, he turned 18, he was released from the state’s care. He became homeless at 18. Lucas could not stand the thought of being homeless, he paid someone from the church for $500 just to sleep on a church floor. He earned his money from his part-time jobs. Like Lucas, more than 90 percent of the young people leaving foster care is homeless within their first year of emancipation! Then One day, Lucas met a volunteer of America caseworker. This caseworker guided him to the Special PAL (preparation for Adult Living) Aftercare Program, then gave him housing and gave him instruction in the basic skills he never learned but would need to build a productive, rewarding life for himself. Lucas is now a college student. Volunteers of America will not let Lucas give up, and Volunteer of America will not give up on him! In the sphere of finance, Volunteers of America combined revenues in fiscal year 2008 were approximately $951 million for its programs to help those in need. About 88 cents of every dollar spent go to services for individuals, families and communities. They have many employees specialized in the finance management systems. Chief Finance Officer, local finance officer, and finance management overseeing the fundraising capacities on promoting self-sufficiency, fostering independence, encouraging positive development, local management, and national management. This organization provided a positive reserve positions for each specialized financial employees. Some of the board members are president of volunteer of America in their states and handled day-to-day operations, operation procedures and the work order clearance, including office assistance technology. Executive leaders conferred on organizations’ policies and monitored day-to-day operations, and made accountable decisions according to the generally accepted accounting principles. Volunteers of America’s senior executives support the mission of the organization through effective leadership, innovative programming, and compassionate service. In addition, bring their up-to-date reports to the board meeting. Their governance has 30 boards of directors. Each board has its distinctive roles correlating to the objectives of the organization. Volunteer of America organization has strong facilities planning on housing, residental treatment program, long-term care facility. National Volunteer of America organization is headquartered in Alexandria, VA, and part of greater Washington D.C. area that has personnel office. The headquarters includes the executive staff and chief office departments that have national responsibilities and provide support to the local offices: communications, fund raising, public policy, finance, chartering, and housing, volunteer services, program services and other operations. Thus, they have fulfilled the requirements of human resources services for candidates and employees on clearly stated job descriptions and performance objectives to be utilized in the workplace. Moreover, a well-built fundraising methods—newsletter, publications, successful short stores, brochures, and Spirit magazine clearly stated a comprehensive case for support, resource development plans, and cultivated leadership awareness. They presented three types of awards of success in three different areas in humanity, media and philanthropy. Ballington and Maud Booth Award: The Booth Award is presented annually to an individual or couple for distinguished service to humanity. Empathy Award: The Empathy Award recognizes authors, journalists and news organizations for outstanding community service and excellence in reporting about social issues. Good Samaritan Award in Philanthropy: The Good Samaritan Award is presented each year to a person, program or organization that has made extraordinary efforts to provide services and shelter to those in need. Previous recipients include The Fannie Mae Foundation and the Major League Baseball Players Trust (Volunteer of America, 2010). Program development is appointed by a strategist focusing on overseeing programs developments. Internal strategist participated in board meetings and professionals, and individuals on program issues. For instance, a Spirit Magazine broadcast “going green” program developed a solar system designed for Rotary house for the elderly residential facility. The solar system, includes the photovoltaic solar panel power for the entire facility offsetting the 24, 000 tons of carbon per year, a high-output HVAC system, and a zero VOC paint and coatings that are less harmful to human health, groundwater, and ozone depleting contaminants, and water-conserving toilets reduce water use by 400,000 gallons per year (Volunteer of America, 2010).

Organization Assignment 6: Current and Prospective Donors

Keywords:

P= President

D= Director

VP= Vice President

Organization Assignment 7: Soliciting Donations

Telephone Introduction

“May I speak to Mr./Mrs.__________. My name is ____________. I am a volunteer with Volunteer of America Organization. On the behalf of Volunteer of America, we like to thank you for your continued support for us. I am calling tonight to verify your membership for our annual membership drive for your next newsletter of our annual campaign”. Is your address correct ___________________(Drive, Circle, Square/ etc. ). Ok. I have it. Thank you. If not, what is your correct address_______________. [Repeat the whole address with zip code] NOTE:  It is important to mention that “ on the behalf of the organization” . In which, it represents yourself as a volunteer and the organization. In addition, it is important to mention, what will they get in order for the phone call.  Repeating the whole address with the zip code is important because of many street addresses are alike. Zip code reduces the confusion of which address it belongs to whom. Professionalism telephone soliciting is sought.

Case for Support

“Are you aware of your donation to the  XXXXXXX program ? Is this XXXXXXX program do you wish to continue to donate?” PAUSE: Wait for the prospect to say something.  LISTEN and RESPOND.  (Often prospects will state the case for support in their own words.) “A lot of people seem to know something about our XXXXXXX program. (Mention your most popular program).  But not everyone seems to know about our YYYYYY programs and  ZZZZZZ services. (Mention important outreach efforts, youth programs or other lesser known valuable services).” NOTE:   Mention some of the popular programs or some of the specific reasons you have become a volunteer for the organization.

Closing Solicitation

“ On the behalf of Volunteer of America, we strive to support our programs, we need your participation each year.  So I hope you’re in a position to consider a membership contribution of $100 or more.” SILENCE…Wait for an answer.  Don’t speak first!

NOTE: Remember to ask for more than last year’s contribution. Please also remember to wait for the prospect’s response. IF YES… “Thank you.  Let me make sure I have the right information.  How would you like to be listed in our [records or acknowledgments].  Do you prefer Mr. and Mrs. or first names?” “Thank you for your pledge of $    (repeat amount)     .  On the behalf of Volunteer of America, we will send you a thank-you letter with a return envelope to make it easy to send in your contribution.  (Or repeat any special pledge reminder instructions.)  Thank you.” IF OBJECTION… NEGOTIATE:  Use LET-ME phrases…Examples: Volunteer:   “I understand that may be a bit much for you right now.  Well, let me enter your pledge for $25.  You can contribute that now, or in several months, if that would be more convenient.” OR Volunteer:   “Even $15 or $25 means a lot.  Would you prefer to make a contribution like that or perhaps make a pledge that you can pay at a later date?” IF NO GIFT… “Thank you for your time.  I hope you’ll consider  Volunteer of America Organization in the future.”

Organization Assignment 8: Direct Mail

235 White Horse Pike

Collingswood, NJ 08107

March 16, 2010

Dear :

Needy families and individuals in our community go without proper food, shelter, and essential medical care every day due to a variety of factors including low wages, job loss, injuries, illness, age, domestic violence, or divorce. While all of us are susceptible to hard times, children and the elderly are at the most risk, and they make up the largest number of clients we serve.

Would you like to help us make a difference? We need people like you to donate time, energy, and experience in a variety of areas, including food pickup and delivery, administration, home visits, individual transportation, and more.

Together, we will be able to help many of these families and individuals not only to meet essential daily needs, but to work toward a brighter future with programs in job training, education, counseling, elderly assistance, and temporary housing. Our volunteers say they feel rewarded many times over for the help they provide in making a difference in the lives of others.

Please call us today at 856-854-4660 to find out more about how you can help, or visit our Web site at http://www.voadv.org/.

Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Organization Assignment 9: Special Events

Open House

“Going Green”

For

Organization Assignment 10: Foundation and Corporate Research Paper

Organization Assignment 11: Planned Giving

It is recognized that planned giving brochures are a variety from state to state. VOA organization tri-state (Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware) VOA organization planned giving brochure. In the brochure, the motto is “There Are No Limits to Caring” it emphasizes the illustration of topics being ignored and the organization’s responsibilities to tackle the topics to the surface and publicize the topics through direct mail, fax, and phone. The range of giving gifts may be made in the form of cash, property, appreciated stock, bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable lead trusts, charitable reminder trusts, and beneficiary designations in exchange for the membership for the Ballington & Maud Booth Legacy Society. The legacy society entails a generous contribution that were made for the people in need.

Organization Assignment 12: A Capital Campaign

A look at the overall fiscal health of $981 Million with 30 prominent board members, and 5 new initiative formulated programs, and over 1,000,000 specific prospects and 70,000 volunteer solicitors in hand. A sequential campaign is appropriate for the organization that can focus on relationship-nurturing activities such as breakfast briefings for businesspeople, focus groups, social/informative gatherings, and personal visits with leading philanthropists bring potential pacesetting donors closer to the non-profit organization and its capital/endowment campaign (Weinstein, 2010).

Assignment 13: Information Systems

Next, advance in technology is a must-have and a must-learn electronic communication equipment in order to communicate effectively and systemically within the organizations’ operating activities. This trend of educating gift givers a better accessibility to the projects, keep track of the project progress, and highlight any fixtures that needed correction, all that can be done through the computer. The purpose of fundraising information technology is a strategy for philanthropists to observe, review and evaluate on the projects’ progress and the outcome of each progress that detailed every step of the money being distributed into the right direction, in which, uncover a meaningful progress. This will clarify any specific detail that concerns the foundations. In addition, an interview with Volunteer of Association customer service on information technology systems. The findings are that they use up-to-date fundraising software, which it can be found in any computer software store except for that the website is designed by the GuideStar Communication and online strategy company. For the recordkeeping for various of programs and services, they obtained XO Communication Inc.,— for this organization telecommunications system and capital building information technology. Which it is most powerful technology equipment in organization matters and the publicity matters interweaved into one information technology system. XO Communications is a leading communications and networking solutions partner for businesses, enterprises, and government and service providers. More than 50% of companies in the Fortune 500 turn to us to help them simplify their communications, optimize network performance, enhance customer service and increase productivity. Specifically, for recordkeeping and or capital campaigns, the information technology enables the efficiency of streamling the divisions of programs and services within 44 states. The information system of IP network infrastructures to meet growing bandwidth and service demands. Often find that even the most aggressive build out plans can come up short of meeting customers’ immediate needs. Many carriers also lack the geographic footprint to supply all the services required by their most demanding (and most lucrative) business customers. The inability to deliver needed services and connectivity quickly can easily result in the loss of key clients, with diminished hope that those clients would return to the fold (XO Communications, 2010). Moreover, XO Communications was powered by Cisco, Inc- Cisco has four network software for small and leading businesses- Cisco IOS: Cisco IOS Software is the world’s premiere network infrastructure software, delivering seamless integration of technology innovation, business-critical services, and hardware support. Cisco IOS XE Software: Software for optimal services enablement used at the Enterprise and Service Provider Edge Cisco IOS XR Software: The foundation for network and service convergence .Cisco NX-OS: The data center-class operating system for the virtualized data center (Cisco, 2010). Thus, the nonprofit organization information technology systems have to diversify in order to have an effective electronic communication system. Otherwise, having the same information technology system from same sources have high potential of destroying the imperative data information containing donor information. Volunteer of America utilize all of these variety of software for specific designed programs and services for the National Board, employees, prospects, volunteers and VOA residents.

Organization Assignment 14: Budgeting Principles

According to Weinstein (2009), elaborated the importance of budget and resources management. The overall budget and fiscal health of an organization provides an insight on critical issues. The principle of cost effective strategy for fundraising program are the effectiveness of contribution activities. Each activity is fit into a general plan. Budgeting sets performance goals for each activity. Budget regulates spending within the limits of income. A tool to manage, monitor, evaluate, and make corrections on budget performance is imperative to the organization. This to the extent, help the executive board members to identify the unexpected favorable variable and or unanticipated positive cash flows has invested into the organization and make decisions on whether to freeze or to release the funds to the specific program and service. The role of stewardship in the organization is to keep track with current and future donors, prospects, and stakeholders, contact them on timely basis on updates of annual fundraising campaign, gain awareness, and develop relationship with responders. Volunteer of America, Inc and Affiliates Statement of Activities (Unaudited) Year ended June 30, 2008 (with summarized financial information for the year ended June 30, 2007). In this analysis, their budget of revenues from operations and expenses are summarized here. Their permanently restriction total of $234, 018 dollars opposed to temporary restriction total of $561,936, 226 Million dollars with overall fiscal budget of $942,774,298 Million dollars (VOA, annual reports, 2009). The restrictions are promulgated for the purpose of unanticipated forecast of economic factors that may turn into their favor or do not turn in to their favor. The programs and services expenses accumulated approximately $15, 949, 222 Million dollars annually compared from 2008 to 2007 expenses budget. The best fundraising tactics to use to achieve the mission is the creativity of collaboration activities for each targeted group on all levels of income and watch for the aging group trends to grow in few years and utilize it when timing is right.

References:

Volunteer of America (2010) Retrieved from www.voa.org

Weinstein, S (2009) The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management. 3^rd Ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons

Raising Money Internationally: 7 Lessons Learned – Commentary (n.d.). Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/Raising-Money-International/44411/

Volunteer of America. About Us. (2010). Retrieved from http://ministryofservice.org/Pages/AboutUs.aspx

Kirkwood, D. (2009) Students Learn the Value of Giving Rather than Receiving. Retrieved from http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/12/prweb491068.htm

We Won’t Give Up on Lucas. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.voa.org/Get-Involved/Give/Why-Give-To-Us-Stories-of-Hope/We-Wont-Give-Up-on-Lucas.aspx

Executive Leadership. (2010). Retrieved from http://voa.org/About-Us/Executive-Leadership.aspx

XO Communications. The Bandwidth Demand Surge: Drivers & Solutions for Network … (2010). Retrieved from http://www.xo.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/carrier-services/XO_whitepaper_0207_finrev4.pdf

Cisco IOS Software – Cisco Systems. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.cisco.com/web/IRE/products/cisco_ios.html

Volunteer of America (2010) Retrieved from http://www.voa.org/2006_Annual_Report