Non-profit Sector
In the present world, there is a continual growth of various non-profit organizations. Globally, there are widespread of these organizations in almost every sphere of the world. The organizations that ply in the non-profit sector are tax exempted by the governments. In most instances, they operate as charities that respond to various perils that occur in society. The organizations offer multiple services that range from healthcare, education, civil, and also environmental matters. As the old saying states, we humans get to learn from the past. It is through an account of the past events that surround the growth of the non-profit industry that the stakeholders become in the position to draw helpful information. In this essay, the exploration of historical context and its significance in the modern non-profit sector is explained through more in-depth insight into crucial figures and periods.
Firstly, the sector has grown tremendously over time. It is through enacting different laws and support from various institutions that the face of this non-profit sector is changing daily. There is a lot of history that surrounds the development of this sector, with every decade coming up with new facet of giving an expansion in the industry. In the United States, for instance, every decade comes with a new era that brings into the board more unique principles, ideas, and practicing culture. Retrospectively, in the early twentieth century, The United States entered into a period with an increase in social activism and significant reforms in the political arm. There was an increased wealth among people, and by virtue, there was a more significant extent to which people freely gave out. People in this period in time saw the need to be part of the progress of the society and therefore causing collective participation in societal matters.
An example is the progress of the YMCA. Through Frank L. Pierce and Charles Ward, the North American country experienced a first developed system that was inexistent before. On a project of funding a building at the DC, there was a time limit that was set. Secondly, a publicist was deployed to see the success of the campaign, and lastly, adverts were carried out through paid ads in celebrities and sponsors (Surdam, 145). How they handled this project ultimately shifted the focus from a private matter to the attention of the entire public. In a modern way, the application can be made in the existing organization in the sector. The critical thing learned from Pierce and Ward is to make an effort to diversify the ways the organization is funded. The organizations should make an effort to make social media campaigns and promote ways of donating to online platforms too.
Secondly, in the 1940s, there was a global crisis due to World War II that was taking place. It is through the looming fear that the Americans came together in the bid of fundraising for a more significant scale globally. Service organizations like Salvation Army, YMCA, and National Jewish Welfare Board collaboratively created USO. The Red Cross also ran a campaign. The collective duty that the organizations took to sum up their efforts proved decisive in their achievements. Blood donation was also made possible at this tenure. The critical lesson to learn from this historical context is on working together with other entities in pooling the effort to achieve the desired effect. Through collaborations, there is a way that expenses are saved, and each other’s mission gets promoted. The mutual benefit in collaborating is that there is a maximized efficiency in the organization of this sector (Sorkin, P. 2).
Besides, the dawn of a new century in the early 2000s is a crucial period through which the sector grew. With the paradigm shift from the previous century, the Internet happened. The World Wide Web was made available the consumption of public use and, in return, became a defining moment in the non-profit world. The organizations utilized this opportunity, and through social media platforms like Facebook, the campaigns and reaching more donors were facilitated. A campaign like #BlackLivesMatter, a twitter campaign to an outcry on the killings of black people, responded well. Through online platforms, such ideas grew to great social campaigns in society. The critical thing to note from such a period in time is that modern organizations need to embrace technology and utilize it in the daily operations for the benefit of the organizations. It is, therefore, necessary for the key stakeholders in such a transitioning time to learn from what the predecessors utilized to create a channel and do well in the sector.
Subsequently, there are vital lessons that people can relate to from the figures that stood out in the early context of the non-profit sector. Firstly, John Rockefeller, a business magnate in his lifetime, gave more than $500 million in projects through his philanthropic causes (Birn et al., 43). He directed his large sums of money in arts and medical centers. Rockefeller is considered as one of the founding fathers of modern philanthropy. His journey in the non-profit sector gives key lessons in the sector. Before him, the philanthropists gave haphazardly without taking account of their donations. John introduced a way of measurable results and being accountable in all that he partook. By considering the needs of the donor, respecting the financial contributions, and financial accountability, he truly redefined the non-profit organizational model. Through John, there is a strategy that the modern-day organizations should implement for success in their organizations (Surdam, 167).
Also, there are key findings that the observation of Henry Dunant teaches unto the modern-day people who are interested in the non-profit sector. Dunant is the pioneer of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent movements. The inspiration of this Swiss businessman came from the suffering that he witnessed in the battle of Solferino. The organization’s importance cannot be overstated. The bloody turning point that saw the rise of the greatest humanitarian leaders is a lesson in the current world. People should use the perils that befall them to think and come up with that help they have in mind. Personal empathy is a key virtue, also before starting any humanitarian organization.
In Conclusion, there is a comprehensive historical background that surrounds the path that non-profit organizations have trekked. Through critical milestone periods in history, there have been activities that saw progress on the envisioned path in the life of these organizations. Through the observation of the past, the present is able to be directed to better paths. It is also through landmark moments and events that these lessons come by. Through key figures that have been in this sector, the discussion herein becomes helpful. The life of John Rockefeller and Henry Dunant is vital in defining the historical contexts of the non-profit sector. The study of these events and people gives an essential exploration of ideas as described in this essay.
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Work Cited
Birn, Anne-Emanuelle, Judith Richter, and H. Waitzkin. “US Philanthrocapitalism and the global health agenda: The Rockefeller and Gates Foundations, past and present.” Health Care under the Knife: Moving Beyond Capitalism for our Health (2017).
Sorkin, Andrew. “A New Model For Financing Nonprofits.” Nytimes.Com, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/15/business/dealbook/a-new-model-for-financing-nonprofits.html.
Surdam, David George. “John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil.” Business Ethics from the 19th Century to Today. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2020. 159-176.