HSP 435: - Cicely Wood's Human Services Capstone Portfolio



HSP 435: Stakeholder/Organizational Structure PaperBy Cicely WoodWestern Washington UniversityHSP 435: Stakeholder/Organizational Structure PaperDomestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN) is nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive services to domestic violence survivors in South King County. Although many nonprofit organizational structures are similar, many organizations have unique characteristics that reflect the organization. The structure of DAWN is influenced by the principle sources of support, the services that are provided as well as the task environment of the organization. DAWN’s organizational structure includes the governing board of directors, eight committees and an executive director that oversees the administration, development and programs department. Each department has their own allocated responsibilities and functions that help support the organization.Worth (2014) explains that “the governing board of a nonprofit organization holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the organization serves its mission and for the overall welfare of the organization itself” (p. 73). DAWN’s Board of directors includes five members of the Executive Committee and seven additional members. The Executive Committee includes the president, president elect, past president, treasurer and secretary (Domestic Abuse Women’s Network [DAWN], 2013). The governing board has legal responsibility to abide by both state and federal laws pertaining to nonprofit organizations (Worth, 2014, p. 78). The board is also responsible for establishing the mission of the organization, approving programs, ensuring financial management and stability, and establishing standards for organizational performance and appointing a CEO (pp. 81-84). DAWN’s Board of Director’s is a self-perpetuating board where new members are selected by the existing members of the board. Every board member agrees to serve a three year term and can serve for up two terms (R. Rohr, personal communication, November 11, 2013). The board of director’s is at the top of the hierarchy in DAWN’s organizational structure.DAWN has eight committees including board, non-board and sub-committees. These committees serve various functions for the organization. The committees include the Executive Committee, Resource Development Committee, Auction Committee, Breakfast Committee, Finance Committee, Board Recruitment Committee, Board Development Committee, and a Public Policy Committee. The committees are considered lateral on the hierarchy list but they do not all report to the board of directors. Many of these committees have the power to make decisions without board approval but transparency and collaboration with the board of directors is encouraged. (R. Rohr, personal communication, November 11, 2013). The Executive Committee is responsible for “determining board meeting agendas, proposing policies, adopting processes to evaluate the Executive Director, reviewing the annual audit and serving as a nominating committee for board officers and committees” (DAWN, 2013). The Resource Development Committee oversees and participates in efforts to obtain resources in order for the organization to fulfill its mission. The Auction Committee and Breakfast Committee are responsible for all aspects of a breakfast and auction event that the organization hosts every year. The committee responsibilities include budget oversight, audience development, and sponsorship of events. The Finance Committee is responsible for financial oversight and budget planning for the organization. The Board Recruitment Committee oversees the recruitment of qualified candidates for board members. The Board Development Committee trains the board members so they will be better informed in order to serve DAWN’s mission and vision. The Public Policy Committee is in charge of researching up-to-date information on state and federal legislation. This committee is also involved in lobbying on behalf of the organization (DAWN, 2013). DAWN currently employs an interim executive director who will step down once the board of directors selects a new executive director. The organization recently put together a temporary Executive Director Search Committee to help the board interview candidates for the position (B. Mudd, personal communication, November 7, 2013). The executive director reports to the board of directors and oversees the organization’s directors of administration & finance, development and programs. The executive director commits to the mission of the organization while supporting the board and managing the organization. The next level of senior management under the executive director in the organization’s hierarchy chart includes the directors of administration & finance, development, and programs. The administration & finances director reports to the executive director and oversees the accounting assistant and administration program coordinator. Administration & finance director duties include but are not limited to working with the executive director in preparation of an annual budget, administering employee benefits, and ensuring compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements (DAWN, 2013). The two staff members in the administration and finance department are lateral team members. There is not a hierarchy between the staff members under each department (B. Mudd, personal communication, November 6, 2013).The director of development reports to the executive director and oversees the annual giving coordinator. The director of development engages in institutional advancement. Worth (2014) explains that “institutional advancement encompasses not only fund-raising or development but also the related activities of communications, marketing, and other programs for constituent relations” (p. 267). The development program is a long term and broad based program that looks out for the long-term growth of an organization (p. 267). The next senior level management position is held by the programs director. The programs director is equal in the organizational hierarchy with the administration and development director. The programs department is an umbrella to the community and housing programs as seen in Figure 1. The programs director is responsible for the operational success of the community and housing program delivery at DAWN (B. Mudd, personal communication, October 2, 2013). The programs director also reports to the executive director and oversees the community program manager and the housing program manager. The program and housing manager are also lateral in the organizational hierarchy and both report to the programs director. Figure 1. Organizational Chart for DAWN. This figure illustrates organizational structure and hierarchy of DAWN employees (Domestic Abuse Women’s Network, 2013).The community program manager oversees the organization’s youth advocate, community service office advocate, children’s domestic violence resource team advocate, mental health professional, immigrant survivor’s advocate, legal advocate, Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) attorney, and volunteer coordinator. The volunteer coordinator oversees all volunteers and interns. The volunteers and interns provide both direct and indirect services for DAWN. These services include crisis line advocacy, legal advocacy, housing advocacy, and office support. Under the supervision of the program director, the housing program manager oversees four housing advocates, a programs operation assistant, children’s advocate, relief staff and volunteers. The volunteers who work in the housing program department also report to the volunteer coordinator in the community program department. The housing advocates have different responsibilities than the community programs advocates. The housing advocates work with the families and children who are living in DAWN’s confidential emergency shelter. DAWN’s organizational structure encompasses the board of directors, eight different committees, an executive director, senior management and the management, staff, and volunteers of the administration, development and programs department. Every team member of DAWN, from the board of directors to the volunteers, helps support DAWN in meeting the mission, vision, and sustainability of the organization that serves South King County.ReferencesDomestic Abuse Women’s Network (2013). 2013 DAWN Board of Directors Committees. Retrieved November 12, 2013 from Abuse Women’s Network. (2013). DAWN’s organizational chart. Tukwila, WA: B. MuddDomestic Abuse Women’s Network. (2012). Finance director. Retrieved November 12, 2013 from Abuse Women’s Network. (2013). Our team. Retrieved November 12, 2013, from , Michael J. (2014). Nonprofit Management: Principles and Practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications ................
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