Advocacy in the Social Sector as a Catalyst for Change
Abstract
When communities face issues regarding poverty, sustainability, welfare, and health registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations play a major role in providing resources and services to those in need. HandsOn Broward, a Points of Light Chapter in South Florida, is a nonprofit organization which inspires, equips and mobilizes volunteers to make a difference in Broward County. The mission is fulfilled by creating partnerships and collaborating with other nonprofits in the area through event planning, volunteer management, and interactive promotion. Several of the events involved providing immediate needs for communities in distress. While it is important that short term needs are provided, there did not seem to be much effort put towards diminishing the root issues. Root issues such as institutional racism that create symptoms of poverty (Omi & Winant 2012) can be combated through advocacy. While advocacy is proven impactful for better the social issues as well as the social sector (Chaves 2004), many nonprofit CEO's worries about losing funding from both government and private grants or donations (Bloodgood & Tremblay-Boire 2017). Using the HandsOn Broward experience as an opportunity to investigate, the conclusion of this literature study demonstrates the benefits of advocacy for nonprofit mission fulfillment and ways to practice efficiently.
Advocacy in the Social Sector as a Catalyst for Change
When communities face issues regarding poverty, sustainability, welfare, and health registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations play a major role in providing resources and services to those in need. HandsOn Broward, a Points of Light Chapter in South Florida, is a nonprofit organization which inspires, equips and mobilizes volunteers to make a difference in Broward County. The mission is fulfilled by creating partnerships and collaborating with other nonprofits in the area through event planning, volunteer management, and interactive promotion. Several of the events involved providing immediate needs for communities in distress. While it is important that short term needs are provided, there did not seem to be much effort put towards diminishing the root issues. Root issues such as institutional racism that create symptoms of poverty (Omi & Winant 2012) can be combated through advocacy. While advocacy is proven impactful for better the social issues as well as the social sector (Chaves 2004), many nonprofit CEO's worries about losing funding from both government and private grants or donations (Bloodgood & Tremblay-Boire 2017). Using the HandsOn Broward experience as an opportunity to investigate, the conclusion of this literature study demonstrates the benefits of advocacy for nonprofit mission fulfillment and ways to practice efficiently.