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Strategic Nonprofit Business Plan

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I need help in producing a Strategic Nonprofit Business Plan. And address the issues of an implementation plan an assessment and evaluation of the plan and organizational operations.

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Solution Summary

This detailed solution provides a strategic nonprofit business plan. It also addresses the issues of implementing the plan and an assessment and evaluation of the plan and organizational operations.

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Introduction
The Read Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the joy of reading. The Read Group works to supply books to less fortunate children in kindergarten through grade three.

The Organization
The Read Group is dedicated to sourcing and distributing new and gently used books, and developing volunteers to read books to children in kindergarten through grade three. Once the children have enjoyed a story, they are able to select a book to take home for their enjoyment.

Initial Agreement:
At the start it is important to get agreement among "key internal (and perhaps external) decision makers or opinion makers about the overall strategic planning effort and the key planning steps" (Renz, 2010). At the Read Group, these key decision makers include the board of directors, the founders, and the key staff members. In addition, it would be important to also include input from stakeholders involved in the organization's activities. This might include lead partner representatives from supportive school districts, the public library, or publishers. Since grants also make up a portion of the group, it would be wise to consider requirements typically involved, to ensure needs are met. Stakeholders also include parents of children in the program, teachers, volunteers and, ultimately, the children. It would be key to utilize the Basic Stakeholder Analysis Technique described in the text to ensure the performance is meeting the needs and expectations of the various stakeholders.

Plan for Planning
It is crucial to get a commitment as to how the strategy change will evolve. Agreement should be made that the purpose of the effort is to make the organization more efficient, with a focused dedication to giving books to less fortunate kindergarten to third grade children. Certainly it is logical to identify the needs of the Read Group from the viewpoint of the different stakeholders' groups, in addition to the Read Group's needs from the stakeholders (donations, money, support). From the larger group, it is suggested that a policymaking body is selected of key stakeholders. Within this group, each member of the team must have clear definition of their role in the process. This group should sign on to the purpose of the effort and their role in the effort. In addition, the group must outline the steps in the process, how reports will be generated and the timing of reports. Any necessary resources should be identified and supplied in order to facilitate the work. There is likely to be a need for data regarding income levels of various schools within school districts, enrollment levels in kindergarten through third grade, and book costs. The information needs should be identified and accessibility researched in order to facilitate the process.

Organizational Mandates
In order to identify the organization mandates it is important to once again consider the stakeholders and their needs and desires. Since the Read Group is involved with public organizations (elementary schools and libraries), their primary source of volunteers are teens, and the organization's recipients are children it is crucial that the organization operates above the law. At all times, there must be careful consideration given to the interaction and safety of both our volunteers and the program's recipients. All adult staff members and volunteers will be screened utilizing background checks, including fingerprinting. In addition, regular training will ensue to ensure member of the organization are aware and trained in creating child safe environments.
In order to clarify laws and regulations, the Read Group will verify the mandates involved with working with children as well as running a non-profit organization in each of the states we intend to serve. This will include proper filing of paper work for a 501(c) organization, regular reporting of activity, and transparent accounting to ensure legitimacy. Our legal and accounting teams will be responsible for identifying these laws and regulations and ensuring that the organization is in compliance.
The Read Group must be financially self-sustaining based upon a working model that incorporates donations, grants, and other sources of aid. This is key to the longevity of the organization and its' mission.
In addition, informal mandates will include the importance of all Read Group branches working collaboratively, with a focused on the common goal to share the joy of reading. 
 Furthermore, all Read Group staff, board of director members, and volunteers must be dedicated to the mission and core values of the organization.
Furthermore, pursuant to the advice of Renz (2010), the Read Group will avoid constraining its operations due to ignorance or concern that an action has never been taken before. It is important, in our mission to spread the joy of reading to children, to strike out in unconventional ways and be willing to operate in a manner that is different than has been done before. We aspire to make a change in literacy, and this will not be possible by following the same tired path as others have trudged before us.

Mandates:
1. The Read Group is dedicated to following all laws and regulations within the areas we serve.
2. The Read Group must be financially self-sustaining based upon a working model that incorporates donations, grants, and other sources of aid.
3. All Read Group branches must work collaboratively, focused on the common goal to share the joy of reading.
4. All Read Group staff, board of director members, and volunteers must be dedicated to the mission and core values of the organization.

Organizational Mission and Values
In order to create value for the public, the Read Group has established the service it will provide to improve the greater good. Research has shown the "68 percent of America's fourth graders do not read at a proficient level" and "one out of six children who do not read at age level by the end of third grade will not graduate from high school " (Children's Literacy Foundation, 2013). Reading books aloud to children helps to inspire imagination and a love of reading. Providing access to books is also important. Access to books has been shown to improve a child's reading performance as well as "improve attitudes toward reading and learning among children" (Children's Literacy Foundation, 2013). Sadly, it has been found that "61 percent of low-income families have no-age appropriate books in their homes" (Children's Literacy Foundation, 2013). The Read Group strives to address both the need for books in less fortunate children's homes as well as encouraging children to enjoy reading by having volunteers read books aloud in an engaging manner.
By defining the mission in the way, it is easier to identify activities, strategic alliances, potential partners, and make an action plan. The organization's official mission is as follows:
The Read Group's mission is to provide less fortunate kindergarten through grade three children with a book of their very own and share the joy of reading.
This statement addresses the basic concept of the organization, and identifies its' key stakeholders as kindergarten through third grade children. It also gives direction to the additional stakeholders needed to support this mission, including public schools, libraries, parents, volunteers, and publishers.

Values of Organization
The Read Group is an organization dedicated to spreading the joy of reading and distributing books to less fortunate children. The Read Group's core values are collaboration, honesty, enthusiasm, and fairness. The Read Group seeks volunteers from all walks of life, regardless of race, gender, age, or other factors. The Read group serves all children in kindergarten through third grade in communities affected by lower income status.
Our organization is dependent upon a supply of books and the ability to visit schools. In order to fulfill these tasks, it is important to have lobbying strategies in place.

Assessing the External and Internal Environments
The Read Group's external environment must be explored to identify opportunities and threats. Currently there are many opportunities for the Read Group. A greater number of children than ever before have been classified as "low income" ...

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