Five Important Responsibilities of a Social Change Agency
A Social Change Agency (SCA) is based in Olympia, WA, and also is a non-profit corporation. EIN: 85-cius. Donations are tax deductible. The IRS NTEE category code is B 12, Non-profit Corporate Tax Eligibility.
A social change agency is an organization dedicated to improving the condition of the public through community-based nonprofits. There are many examples of such organizations, such as the Center for Economic Justice at the University of California, Los Angeles, the Washington Center for Non-Profit Corporations, and the World Citizens League. The goals of these nonprofits are to provide low-income people with access to jobs and economic development, to strengthen the social welfare system, and to prevent and decrease instances of poverty and other related social change conditions.
A strategic planning process that includes the involvement of a wide range of individuals from diverse locations and sectors helps in formulating a strategy that would be useful for the organizations. This would then be used to implement and coordinate efforts between the various stakeholders. In order for such nonprofits to be sustainable, they must have a core philosophy and commitment to their cause, mission, and strategies. The strategy should also include long-term vision and mission statements as well as a work plan outlining how such a nonprofit would operate in the future. A strategic planning process helps in identifying areas of need and opportunities, identifying the relationships among stakeholders, and developing and implementing a work plan. Such process therefore provides a valuable link between the future and present of a nonprofit.
A trusted advisor plays an important role as a strategic planner. He or she is a part of the social change organization. They are there to keep in touch with the various stakeholders and facilitate communication so that decisions are not made without proper consultation. The trusted advisor may be a board member, who has expertise in different aspects of the organization, or a staff member who has experience in decision making. Some nonprofits choose to appoint a professional, neutral third party to serve as a trusted advisor for them.
A trusted advisor is also needed by nonprofits in order to train its workforce in building effective coalitions, in disseminating accurate information, and in creating and monitoring programs that address needs and opportunities. For example, nonprofit organizations that run food pantries and soup kitchens would need an administrator who could handle and communicate information to the rest of the staff in the organization. Likewise, a shelter manager would need someone to organize the resources for the organization, coordinate and plan activities, and ensure that targets are met. A trusted advisor can teach these and other skills through seminars and workshops. A professional can also serve as a trainer and guide for members of the nonprofit organization.
Another function of the trusted advisor is to ensure that the strategic planning process includes the input of all stakeholders within and beyond the nonprofit. Although many think that strategic planning only involves the management team of the nonprofit, the reality is that it is a comprehensive planning process that considers the ideas, values, and priorities of all stakeholders, as well as their interests, needs, and fears. A strategic planning session for nonprofits is the first step toward realizing the goals and visions of the nonprofit. In order for stakeholders to accept and implement the plan, the social change agency must be involved in the strategic planning process.
The third and most important function of the trusted advisor is to develop and manage public relations strategies. Many nonprofits fail to acquire the expertise necessary to effectively build and manage a PR campaign, and the result is a lack of public trust and loyalty. Trusting the advice of a professional can help nonprofits develop a strong PR campaign that will strengthen their cause and increase their revenue. Since social change agencies have a unique role in assisting nonprofits achieve their goals and missions, the professional that a social change agency chooses to hire should have extensive experience in effective public relations and marketing.
The fourth and final role of a social change agency is to ensure that all federal programs and activities are operating as required by law. This includes ensuring that all grant programs and in addition, the Disbursement Act and the Office of Administration to implement policies and procedures in accordance with the law. A nonprofit's first job is to ensure that its federal programs are running smoothly and effectively. As such, these agencies must maintain a consistent, systemic approach to grant-writing, monitoring, and program review. If a nonprofit does not have a system in place for ensuring that its federal programs are operating as intended, it risks losing funding or causing delays in the process.