Page 18 - GivingPoint Draft Test
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GivingPoint Project Report
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Our research also indicates that an often underutilized resource for many nonprofits is an engaging network of alumni. Their testimonials as to the value of GP’s programming offerings, as well as their own success can easily persuade others to get involved with GP or donate. they can also serve as reminders to these very students that they can continue to be involved in GP’s mission and support it practically through small, but meaningful donations.
Finally, unaudited financials, as we will see below, greatly restrict GP’s current growth goals, both in the short term and the long term. It is an expectation, rather than an option, that a nonprofit seeking funding would provide audited financials, and would do so publicly, on their website. This constitutes one of the basic best practices in the industry, indicating the organization is accountable and transparent about how donations are used, which can only increase the chances for more donations to be obtained.
Opportunities
We applaud GP’s staff initiatives to accelerate program growth through partnerships with like-minded organizations, like Georgia State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and move to explore the strengths that GP brings to the table in such relations.
From the perspective of partnership with schools that would enable GP to experience rapid program growth and greater community impact, it is helpful to understand what motivated GP’s partnerships with currently engaged schools. The feedback we received from Alpharetta High School’s staff members indicates that certain conditions that can be exploited as opportunities would enable GP to replicate these relationships in view of growth. One is the school’s goal for or current participation in community-oriented programs, such as the IB program discussed before. Considering this is a great driver to initiate relations with schools, it would be extremely beneficial to promote the tracking platform in conjunction with the social entrepreneurship initiative.
We find that the current target market for the GPI’s program is very narrow, and this is a likely contributor to the program’s stagnation over the years. The small number of active students (under 30) could be an indicator that GivingPoint needs to open their program to a broader audience as part of an expansion
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