Axia College
The Pursuit of Alternative Source of Funding
The financing of projects undertaken by organizations that focus on human developments projects have taken a completely different turn in terms of financing operations. Clearly, the traditional sources of finances such as governments and corporations have been scarce and competitive. While many organizations still rely on governments and corporations, the money coming by has been less and less. There services have been severely cut by harsh economic times and shrinking income. The effects of the global economic downturn have affected the financing of such projects on two folds: First, the organizations request large sources of income that cannot match the available grants. Second, the traditional sources of revenue for income have also engaged in several human standard improving endeavors. This calls for the pursuit of a different and alternative source of income for their projects. The purpose of this essay is to highlight some of the available options.
Let us examine the case of Santa Rosa Philharmonic Youth Symphony that has the acronym (SRPYS). Like all other human improving organizations, SRPYS aspires to create opportunities for less privileged kids in the society. The organization is based in Santa Rosa. The organizations focus on the children’s love for music, and help children talented with the aptitude of music to further their course and become excellent musicians. The challenge that organizations face is the loss of funding for the music projects because of the challenges mentioned in the above paragraph. While the organization’s focus is to help steer the children’s success in music, the challenge of financing the education has become a huge impediment towards the realization of that goal. Achieving the required goals is hard and elusive. For example, the organization has adequate staff, facility, talent, and the skills required. The only challenge that the organization has is the lack of financial resources for the program.
The organization has foreseen the need for alternative sources of funding. SRPYS focus on additional means for the program to succeed. Because of the nature of the program that the organization runs, there has been focus on creative talents, and research skills of the available staff members. Perhaps the most obvious method that the organization focused on is the use of staff to brain storm and come with ideas that bring in resources. Such include ideas such as performance for the community, selling of merchandize for community and other means. Community support has been realized by the incorporation of the society into the program. In the area of Santa Rosa, the community has been helpful by their constant support for the activities of SRPYS. Because of the community’s continued engagement with the activities of the group, there has been use of sending flyers, sending word of mouth for donations for the idea, and also pursuing donations for small businesses, governments, and others. Although one can argue that these are usually traditional sources of finances, there is a great deal of community involvement that makes it non- traditional.
Other more obvious non- traditional sources of finance include application of grants from National Endowments of Arts, National Education Arts, and grants from the government, cultural grants, universities, and others. In case there are involvements of people with disabilities, the organization can apply for ADA which is specifically made for people with such concerns. The broadness of such sources offers the best opportunity for an organization that is struggling with finding revenues for its operations. Other factors that play into the acquisition of sources depend on the legal tussles. For example, because the music programs have been victims of cuts on the national and local schools, an organization can petition to get funding especially on the grounds that musical aptitude is the same as other academic aptitude.
Another area that could provide alternative funding for an organization struggling finding finances is individual scholarships for students that excel in their areas of study. Some of the most known sources of scholarship are the LEAP program which is a nationally funded program that is intended to encourage students to continue working in areas of fine art. In the past, student scholarships were usually geared towards helping college students, this has changed as elementary school kids, high school kids and other students gain access to student grants and loans. In fact, students enjoying services of private instructors also enjoy access to scholarships. Some of the biggest donors for such programs include religious entities, celebrity charity organizations and others donate huge loans and grants to encourage innovation. The internet has also created broad opportunities for people to connect and get funding. Students can connect with one another on the internet and access donations for services such as the ones offered by the organization.
Scholars agree that education plays a paramount role in the elimination of poverty. Habbibulah Khan and Jeremy Williams make this point when they argue that “despite the inherent difficulties in quantifying the total contribution of education to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or other national income aggregates, it has always been considered a powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality through productivity enhancement, which is of course, a key ingredient for the maintenance of economic growth” (2006, p.1&2). They further state that “the relationship between education and poverty is quite clear; educated people have higher earning potential and are better able to improve the quality of their lives, which means they are less likely to be marginalized within society at large.” Education empowers individuals making them useful. A highly educated population has a chance to become productive in the society as a large. Focus should be given to education as an average of alleviating poverty and income inequality. Societies can benefit most from donations that benefits education and empowers the society as a whole.
Today’s economies need workers with knowledge and skills acquired from a schooling program that not only educates but also prepares kids for challenges of the 21st century. However, many countries are struggling with providing education for thousands of children. According to UNESCO, “today one in five adults is still not literate and about two thirds of them are women while 67.4 million women are out of school” (UNESCO, 2011). This emphasizes the importance of educational need in the world. While literacy is at the center of poverty eradication, curbing human population growth, ensuring sustainable development, and ensuring effective a democracy, many are still lagging behind in providing educational facilities.
Several arguments make the case that poverty eradication in should be left for individuals. This argument proposes self-determination as an institution that can make people grow. The bigger message is that the burden of the world is left for the vulnerable to carry, the less fortunate of the world’s population. I am proposing this alternative because I have concern for poor since I come from America that can save just a little to make a change for a better world. I realize that in the broader world, we are one and can be glad by helping one another. A fully equipped modern music school would be ideal in solving the problem of illiteracy and women empowerment in many palces. If the school is built, children will attend school at a lower age, they will graduate young enough to proceed for high education. The girls will not be under pressure to get married. Second, the school will provide the kids an avenue to learn basic farming and agricultural skills like poultry farming and fish farming. These skills will be paramount in encouraging small-scale commerce in the village. In the end, extreme poverty will be alleviated in the community.
Funding will always be a struggle in human service programs, but unfortunately it is necessary to locate money if the agencies that run them are to survive. The economic climate has strained consumers, corporations, and government agencies almost to the breaking point, so the more creative staff members can be, the more funding their program can acquire. Development of a sound program which can be supported with data showing that students fare better in school and in future endeavors by being involved encourages money to be donated. Writing a quality grant proposal and submitting it to as many potential donors as possible also increases the possibility of receiving funding. Long story shortbe prepared, be creative, be willing to work hard to locate funding, and be positive when approaching donating institutions; the reward will come in the receipt of much needed funding for the agency and the programs it operates.
References
Terao, K., Terao, K.L. & Yuen (2003). Practical Grant Writing and Program Evaluation. Brooks and Cole/Cengage Learning, Florence, KY.
