Case Study : The Appalachian Mountain Club

The elements of a board as a defining factor in the self-governance character of a nonprofit is affirmed by Worth (2014). For example, the “control of the nonprofit lies with a board of directors…who have overall responsibility to [care for and oversee] the organization” (Worth, 2014, p. 57). Big Brothers Big Sisters exemplifies volunteerism in both its history and present service practices. For example, the organization currently utilizes “400,000 volunteer mentors and families” (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 2016a, para. 3) to work with youth and facilitate the organizations critical programs and relationships (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 2016a). Big Brothers Big Sisters history is also reflective of volunteerism is critical role. To illustrate, in 1904 Ernest Coulter founded the Big Brothers movement with 39 volunteers, who each agree to befriend and mentor an individual youth (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 2016a). The statistical data from Big Brothers Big Sisters reveals that the organization have a tremendous impact on community individuals and therefore provides a public benefit through

The diversity of nonprofit organizations, services provided and the problems faced shows that nonprofits require leadership with an in-depth understanding of the multifaceted nonprofit landscape. Understanding the culture of nonprofit work is also crucial and much easier to understand once you have been through a nonprofit management program. My career interests lead me towards an avocation of a deeper knowledge of strategic management/planning, legal structure and standards, increase my skills in quantitative analysis of policy, financial governance and developing fundraising strategies. These areas allow for macro management within the nonprofit

The “players” in our region consist of many people ranging from federal agencies to church organizations. Some of them would include Appalachian Volunteers (AV), President’s Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC), Council of the Southern Mountains (CSM), Appalachian Group to Save the Land and People (AGLSP), Appalachian Leadership and Community Outreach (ALCOR), Area Redevelopment Administration (ARA), Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Appalachian Regional Development Act (ARDA), Black Lung Association (BLA), Community Action Agency (CAA), Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), and many more dedicated organizations and individuals contributing and fighting for rights and benefits in our region.

It is so difficult for nonprofit organizations to deal with the withdrawal of a major gift. In order to illustrate what ABC Nonprofit should be aware of and how to successfully navigate the complexities that it is facing, I selected the case of the Central Park Children’s Zoo as an example. I suggest that ABC Nonprofit should get to know more about the new major donors before reaching agreements, handle the major gift wisely, and have good relationships with both major donors and individuals or communities that have involved in.

Collaboration among organization members and community stakeholders is very important, we must begin to study and understand nonprofits not merely as organizations housed within four walls but as catalysts that work within, and change, entire systems. The most effective of these groups employ a strategy of leverage, using government, business, the public, and other nonprofits as forces for good, helping them deliver even greater social change than they could possibly achieve alone (Crutchfield, 2012). There is also an understanding that community partnerships and assistance from caring individuals will be of a great benefit to the organization and the young men they serve. The different chapters in the organization are funded through member dues, grants and contributions from corporations, foundations, individuals and combined federal

During the “backpacking boom” of the 1970s when there was a growing understanding about the natural environment beginning to be consumed at what had appeared to be an alarming rate, many groups of people began to take on the trail for long periods of time. (Cosmo) Trails that were previously only visited by few people because very well known locations. During this time, there was very little maintainance of the trails and even less education of visitors. People were hiking merely to take a break from the world around them. “What was once an experience where solitude was virtually guaranteed, became more and more a social event as more and more of us tried to.” (Cosmo) After some time, many hikers and trail managers grew concerned about the future of the trail and began trying to accommodate the growing number of hikers, while also protecting the Trails natural environment. After starting to upgrade popular campsites and trails to make them more durable, most hikers began to gain knowledge about how to take care of the trails while enjoying them. “Since the 1980’s the AT has been managed so that ‘Hiker regulations will be kept as unrestrictive as possible, and should be developed only to the extent they are proven necessary to protect the physical trail, its environment, and the interests of adjacent landowners.’ (from the Appalachian Trail Comprehensive Plan, 1981)”

Founded in 1876, the AMC was one of the first organization in the United States that devoted to outdoor activities. Before the national park and forest system had been established, the club played direct role in conservation and accepting grants of land for preservation. Since the beginning, the most distinctive characteristic of the AMC was volunteerism that defined its tradition. As the Club membership grew, local chapters had formed to facilitate members ' involvement in activities they cared most about. By 1992, there were a total of twelve chapters, each had its own way of doing things and there was no effort to co-ordinate measures across the club. As a result, most members developed identification with the club by participating in a specific interest group or repeatedly visiting a specific facility. While most activities were accomplished by volunteers, volunteers also ran the governance and managed the Club while the AMC’s affairs were run by a governing Council that made-up of the representatives of various chapters and committees. The Council president acted as CEO and other Council members had direct authority over various club operations.

The nonprofit sector in America is a reflection some of the foundational values that brought our nation into existence. Fundamentals, such as the idea that people can govern themselves and the belief that people should have the opportunity to make a difference by joining a like-minded group, have made America and its nonprofit sector what it is today. The American "civil society" is one that has been produced through generations of experiments with government policy, nonprofit organizations, private partnerships, and individuals who have asserted ideas and values. The future of the nonprofit sector will continue to be experimental in many ways. However, the increase of professional studies in nonprofit management and the greater

When Zoot Velasco looks at American nonprofits, he sees a sector that is struggling, in spite of limitless potential for innovation and impact. Noting that 22.3% of the country’s GDP is in the nonprofit sector, yet only 20% of such organizations have a budget exceeding $1 million, Velasco hopes to lead a transformation in the industry.

This paper was originally written for Financial Management for Nonprofits 380, taught by Professor Zelhart.

Although recreation and education largely contribute to the Sierra Clubs purpose, it all starts with conservation. Through the tireless efforts of the club’s founders, and hundreds of thousands of volunteers, the small grassroots movement that started as a group of friends is largely responsible for creation of our national parks, clean-fuel initiatives, and sustainable agriculture practices. In the 1950’s to better align itself with issues that directly affected the natural wildlife habitat, the club changed their emphasis from conservation to environmentalism. “This meant that by its tenth decade the Sierra Club was deeply involved in solving new and challenging problems” (pg. 10). “Air quality in many U.S. cities was causing lung disease, industries poured wastes into the nation’s waterways with impunity, and nearly every day someone discovered children playing on an abandoned toxic-waste dump” (pg. 10). Currently the environmental conservation efforts of the Sierra Club have assisted in creating numerous government organizations to regulate industrial waste, land management, air pollution just to name a few. The Sierra Club is a good example of how a group of environmental conservationists can unite with a common goal and change federal, and local policies to preserve the earth for generations to

According to the case, both Cooper and his mother signed the contract that states they are responsible for the all risks that may occur. Therefore, sue against the Aspen Valley Ski Club could be enforceable, if only Cooper signed the contract due to his ability to disaffirm (the age of minority). However, when parents involved to the decision making, contract may lose protection against improvident decision of minority.

In a nonprofit organization, managers are concerned with “generating some social impact” (Daft, 2013). Stakeholders for nonprofit organizations include the community, taxpayers, the government, private donors, employees, and volunteers. Each one of these stakeholders poses a challenge for managers. For instance, in a nonprofit organization, there is a “continual struggle to pursue vital social missions in the face of

The Sierra Club is part of Chaco Coalition comprised of groups, individuals and community leaders calling on the BLM to incorporate several key alternatives in the RMP-Amendment. We are asking for the BLM to place an immediate moratorium on all drilling, fracking and approving new leases until the RMP-A is complete; for tribal consultation to occur at the state and local chapter level, and not just the governmental level; to provide impacted communities with a comprehensive health and social impact assessment, and thorough analysis of cultural resources and sacred sites; and, to provide communities with alternatives for economic development not dependent on fossil fuels and offers a just transition to developing clean, renewable sources of

A non-profit organization cannot be effectively managed if it is not effectively planned. One of the challenges facing non-profit organizations has been long range, strategic planning. Long range, strategic planning in the non-profit sector is essential to the success of an organization. Long range, strategic planning encompasses broad policy and direction setting, internal and external assessments, attention to key stakeholders, the identification of key issues, development of strategies to deal with each issue, decision making, action and the continuous monitoring of results. (Herman, The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit Leadership and Management, 154) While it is important to deal with the short term planning and activities of non-profits, managers or directors must consider the future of their organizations. Successful planning should be comprehensive, integrating all areas of responsibility of an organization.