Westminster Organizational Development and Strengthening Program Summary - Assignment Example

Project Prof Topic: Create a program summary that includes all of the skeleton parts of a program plan and a grant proposal. Discuss the preplanning process, assessment, program planning, funding, implementation, and evaluation of this program. Use examples of work you have created throughout the course to reinforce your explanation Program Summary Overview Nearly decades ago, Westminster was founded. About 60% of the population is elders aging approximately above the age of 60s. All of them settled in this community most of their lives. It was only recently that Westminster opened some of their areas for the construction of new homes and building of technology firms. This attracted younger families. For the recent five years, the community expanded. The situation necessitate intervention to improve the socio-economic landscape of the community by enhancing governance as a mechanism for participatory development. Assessment Westminster is an economically-challenged community. About 50-60% of their population is leveling within the poverty threshold due to lack of opportunities, poor governance, absence of transformative leadership that can collectively help improve their conditions and enhance their political landscape. Since the community is populated with elders, its local governance is a bit traditional and conservative. The entry of younger populace may provide a promise of having potential visionary leaders who can be engines for transformation and development of the community using strategies and plans for their welfare. Needs and problem statement There is a need to organize a civil society which will constitute potential elders from the group of elders and young populace. They will conduct a community assessment, develop their vision and mission, identify objectives, and craft their blueprint of actions. As such, the organization necessitate resource generation to carry out their plans and to capacitate them in Program planning It is deemed essential that the civil society will craft its Westminster Organizational Development and Strengthening Program, details of which will be determined by the civil society leaders as beneficiary of the program. This is proposed that such yearlong plan will include organizational development and strengthening program. A proposed program will reflect the following activities (for their consideration): Activities Objectives Target Number of Persons /Dates Estimated Needed Preplanning a. Organizing b. Community Assessment To identify potential leaders and organize them into a civil society of Westminster 20 persons (1st quarter) $ 200- $300 Organizational Development Plan a. Visioning b. Strategy Devt Planning c. Development of Workplan for 3 Years d. Conduct of Regular Meeting/ twice a month 20 persons 20 persons 20 persons 20 persons (1st to 2nd quarter) $ 5,000 Capability Building a. Conduct of Leadership Training b. Conduct of Resource Mobilization Workshop c. Alternative Livelihood Development Workshop 20 persons 20 persons 20 persons (3rd to 4rth quarter) $ 5,000 Assessment Process and outcome based assessment and Sustainability Plan 20 persons (within 4rth quarter) $ 1,000 Alternative funding The Westminster civil society proposes to tap the support of Wesley Foundation. The foundation has been aiding low-income community organizing to empower people to become agents of empowerment to improve their lives. The foundation supports organizations thru, Organize by enlisting and nurturing participation of a large number of neighborhood residents, organizations, and institutions. Recruit and formally develop local leadership. Enable local citizens, including youth, families, and seniors, to develop an agenda, to devise strategies, and to carry out action effectively to address issues. Demonstrate innovative strategies or create new local institutions that strengthen local community capacity. Show evidence of significant local fundraising. Implementation: The program will be implemented through key persons who are exhibiting leadership and those with vision to transform the community into an empowered and developed community. The key group will coordinate with the local government of Westminster and religious leaders of the community in identifying key leaders from the community to ensure representation and participation from the grassroots. The community being moulded with traditional customs, as this is populated mostly with elders, is expected that project proponent may confront resistance in the organization of civil society that will craft transformative plans. Lacking resources, there may be limitations in the process of implementation but it is expected that with commitment and resolve for change and development, this can be surmounted by initially tapping and maximizing initial supports and resources that can be gathered within the community. Evaluation The Westminster civil society will use Process-Based Evaluation and Outcome-Based Evaluation. Process Based Evaluations to determine the outcome and impact their workplan. Outcome-Based Evaluation will also determine how Westminster civil society follows the mission, goals, and objectives based on the program.  The civil society will focus on major outcomes, impacts of intervention and develop an analysis how this intervention contribute in helping the community. In order to collect and validate data about the program with its target beneficiaries, the civil society will use Organizational Capacity Assessment and Planning (OCA) using the instrument and tools of the Voluntary Service Organization (VSO) in the conduct of assessment. OCA is a tool that will validate deeply the strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. This assessment tool has been used in many developing countries in Asia, including Philippines. The tool will help civil society appreciate what they have achieved within a specific period and aid in introducing plans whatever identified problems. It will also recheck crafted organizational vision and mission. Although the method in this uses creative methodology in the assessment, this tool can be summarily demonstrated with the table below: Strength Weaknesses Opportunities Threats REFERENCES Yuen, F. & Terao, K. (2003). Practical grant writing & program evaluation. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole—Thomson Learning. Carter McNamara (2007). “Basic Guide to Outcomes-Based Evaluation for Nonprofit Organizations with Very Limited Resources”. Retrieved February 2, 2011, from http://managementhelp.org/evaluatn/outcomes.htm Carter McNamara (2001). “Basic Guide to Outcomes-Based Evaluation for Nonprofit Organizations with Very Limited Resources”. Retrieved February, 2011, From http://www.managementhelp.org/evaluatn/outcomes.htm Read More