Gm501 Unit 6

Unit Six: Integrating Management Functions

to Advance Innovation

Dan Liesik

Kaplan University

GM501 Management Theories and Practices II

Prof. Joel Olson

July 29, 2014

Introduction

Nonprofit organizations face a unique challenge generating capital while simultaneously investing directly into its cause to avoid making a profit; therefore a consistent funding inflow is vital to support the programs they provide. Typically, financial backing derives from fundraising efforts such as: direct donation, sponsorship, and/or partnership. This can be highly unpredictable for smaller organizations and requires a significant amount of man-hours. In order to accomplish this, successful nonprofits focus their efforts on perpetual relationship building and preservation, pursuing leads, and participating in public speaking events. Travel, food and/or lodging expenses are often accrued in the pursuit, thus money is spent in the attempt to generate it (Heyman, 2011).

Over the last twenty years, Kids Around the World (KATW) has witnessed amazing growth, moving from six playgrounds installations a year in 1994 to upwards of fifty scheduled for 2014. Their expansion also includes supplying and facilitating meal-packing events, as well as training educators in literacy-free (story-based) teaching methods. Unfortunately, their funding model lacks the revisions necessary to meet the rapid progression of demand; therefore growth sustainment is now problematic. A number of factors ranging from regional to generational differences can be linked to the barriers of innovation and change (Daft, 2014). Throughout this paper I will explore how these factors are impacting progress, how they can be overcome, and possible means of increasing regular funding.

Problem

Kids Around the World has a growth sustainment issue. In 1993 twelve Christian businessmen from Rockford, Illinois visited their sister city in Brovary, Ukraine....