Current State of the Agency
Lending Hand is a nonprofit agency under the auspices of the Christian Church created to help those currently incarcerated and the newly released prisoners. At the moment, the agency’s activities are supported by donations from church members and a grant received from the government, the term of which comes. The funds are used to pay employee salaries and provide assistance to released prisoners, for example, providing clothes for interviews or buying materials for training and other tasks. The agency’s workplace structure is team-based, which means that the agency has formed teams dedicated to various projects accountable to their leaders (“Common organizational structures,” n.d.). The organization constantly has five teams, four people in each, including the leader. When the employee leaves, the team is looking for a new one that can perform various tasks.
The current budget allocation and workforce structure negatively affect the organizational culture. With a limited budget, the simultaneous maintenance of the provision of services, and payments to employees, leave salaries low. Moreover, the tasks of the teams are constantly changing, throwing challenges to employees. As a result, the quality of performance of each employee suffers, and since they depend on each other, conflicts arise. The organization’s culture has become toxic, the level of personnel turnover has risen, and the ending grant jeopardizes all activities.
Proposal Justification
Given the shortcomings and gaps mentioned above, there is a need for changes in the agency’s work. Based on existing challenges, the proposal for changes will focus on the following issues:
- Search for additional funding sources to support Lending Hand activities.
- Changes in the organizational structure to maintain employee motivation and reveal their abilities do not create a heavy burden and prevent burnout.
- Creation of an organizational culture aimed at cooperation and mutual support and maintaining it through agency policy.
Agency Mission
The Landing Hands’ mission is to help former prisoners establish a new life by supporting their spiritual development and search for educational and employment opportunities.
Ignoring the highlighted concerns jeopardizes all the activities of the organization and does not allow mission implementation. Since it aims at assistance, spiritual development, and new opportunities, the mission should contribute to the development of the community and the establishment of values such as unification, maintaining the hope for a second chance, and providing opportunities for everyone without discrimination. However, the current state of the agency negatively affects even its employees, and they cannot support the mission, values, and goals. Therefore, the proposal is aimed at changes that will advance the mission and not impede it.
Trends in Human Service Delivery
Current trends in human service delivery have influenced the creation of the proposal. Organizations and programs like prison reform and rehabilitation, Adopt an Inmate, Human Kindness Foundation, and other has inspired many ideas (“5 nonprofit organizations for prisoners,” 2017). Moreover, the proposal considers such trends as the creation of non-traditional partnerships, creating financial models, and new innovative practices (Wareing, n.d.). Their study and application will help efficiency and cooperation of staff and attract new funding sources.
Expected Proposal Outcomes for State of the Agency
The proposal will alter the agency’s state by helping it grow, maintain activity, and motivate employees. With the help of new funding, workers, and volunteers, the agency will eventually branch out. Many people worldwide are sitting in their prison cells just praying for a bit of help and for someone to listen to their story. It is enough for someone to start losing their faith. Lending Hands will hopefully be the answer to their prayer.
References
5 nonprofit organizations for prisoners and their families. (2017). Freebird Publishers.
Common organizational structures. (n.d.). Lumen. Web.
Wareing, T. (n.d.). 5 trends driving the future of human services. Government Technology.