Premium
The DIRECTIONS nonprofit resource assessment model: A tool for small nonprofit organizations
Author(s) -
Zimmermann Jo An M.,
Stevens Bonnie W.,
Thames Brenda J.,
Sieverdes Christopher M.,
Powell Gwynn M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
nonprofit management and leadership
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.844
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1542-7854
pISSN - 1048-6682
DOI - 10.1002/nml.22
Subject(s) - business , recreation , public relations , process (computing) , revenue , resource (disambiguation) , plan (archaeology) , marketing , service (business) , needs assessment , nonprofit organization , economic shortage , knowledge management , sociology , political science , computer science , linguistics , philosophy , operating system , accounting , computer network , social science , archaeology , law , history , government (linguistics)
Rapid growth in the number of nonprofits has created a shortage of trained staff and experienced volunteerleadership for nonprofit organizations. The Nonprofit Education Initiative (NEI) in South Carolinadeveloped the DIRECTIONS nonprofit resource assessment model to provide tools to help nonprofits better meet thechallenges facing our communities—tools that will help nonprofits develop effective plans, integrateresources, diversify revenue, communicate effective messages, and motivate constituents. These tools are alsoinexpensive and available close to home. The research and development process was a cooperative effort between the Department of Parks, Recreation, andTourism Management and Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, with funding from the W. K. KelloggFoundation. Cooperative Extension is a component of the land grant university system, the largest educationaldelivery system in the world. Cooperative Extension's role is to plan, execute, deliver, and evaluate learningprograms consistent with locally identified needs. It helps people acquire the understanding, capabilities,attitudes, and skills essential to solving farm, home, and community problems. This article gives a background ofthe challenges facing nonprofit organizations in South Carolina, the steps taken to develop this new assessmentmodel, and results of research conducted throughout the development process.