Question

How would you describe/identify the partnerships already established among the enumerated NPOs (shown below) and public/government organizations?
Individuals with an inspiring leadership style establish NPOs.  Hopkins (2013) gives examples:
1. Charitable Organizations (e.g. American Cancer Society)
2. Social welfare (e.g. an association publishing free community newspaper)
3. Labor organizations (e.g. Labor unions, National Postal Mail Handlers Union)
4. Business League (Real State Board, Chamber of Commerce)
5. Social club (county clubs, university clubs)
6. Employee benefit fund (health, pension)
7. Fraternal Society (e.g. College fraternities and sororities --- for hobbies and sports).
Are the enumerated NPOs work in partnership with government/public entities to resolve societal problems? Please provide examples/illustrations

Answer 1

1. Charitable Organisation Benefits:

Charity Organization Societies were made up of charitable groups that used scientific philanthropy to help poor, distressed or deviant persons. The Societies considered themselves more than just alms givers. Their ultimate goal was to restore as much self-sufficiency and responsibility as an individual could manage. Through their activities, the Societies tended to be aware of the range of social services available in their communities. They thus became the primary source of information and referral for all services. Through these referrals, a Society often became the central agency in the social services of its community. For instance, the Charity Organization Society of Denver, Colorado, the forerunner of the modern United Way of America, coordinated the charitable activities of local Jewish, Congregational and Catholic groups. Its work under the leadership of Frances Wisebart Jacobs ranged from work with tuberculosis patients to the care and education of young children and was funded in part by direct assistance from the city itself

2. Social welfare (e.g. an association publishing free community newspaper):

Social welfare program, any of a variety of governmental programs designed to protect citizens from the economic risks and insecurities of life. The most common types of programs provide benefits to the elderly or retired, the sick or invalid, dependent survivors, mothers, the unemployed, the work-injured, and families. Methods of financing and administration and the scope of coverage and benefits vary widely among countries.

A brief treatment of welfare and security programs follows. For full treatment, see social service.

The earliest modern social welfare laws were enacted in Germany in the 1880s. As similar programs have been adopted in other countries, the trend has been toward more comprehensive coverage in terms of both eligibility requirements and the nature of the risks insured against. A floor of minimum protection has come to be viewed as one of government’s general responsibilities with respect to specific risks, and in many countries the consensus holds that public responsibility extends to all those unable to care for themselves for whatever reason. In this view social welfare is extended and received as a matter of right rather than of need.

Old-age, invalidity, and survivor programs. These provide benefits to those who live beyond their ability or eligibility to engage in gainful employment, to those who become permanently disabled other than through work injuries and who are not covered under some other medical disability program, and to those who are left dependent by a deceased worker. Programs of this type usually provide for universal coverage; they are commonly funded as contributory insurance programs. Time-lock provisions apply to old-age benefits and, less stringently, to invalidity and survivor benefits. Benefits levels are typically 30 to 60 percent of base wages. The plans are administered nationally.

3. Labor organizations (e.g. Labor unions, National Postal Mail Handlers Union):

Americans have always joined together—whether in parent teacher associations or local community organizations—to solve problems and make changes that improve their lives and their communities. Through unions, people join together to strive for improvements at the place where they spend a large portion of their waking hours: work.

The freedom of workers to join together in unions and negotiate with employers (in a process known as collective bargaining) is widely recognized as a fundamental human right across the globe. In the United States, this right is protected by the U.S. Constitution and U.S. law and is supported by a majority of Americans.

Over 16 million working women and men in the United States are exercising this right—these 16 million workers are represented by unions. Overall, more than one in nine U.S. workers are represented by unions. This representation makes organized labor one of the largest institutions in America.

By providing data on union coverage, activities, and impacts, this report helps explain how unions fit into the economy today; how they affect workers, communities, occupations and industries, and the country at large; and why collective bargaining is essential for a fair and prosperous economy and a vibrant democracy. It also describes how decades of anti-union campaigns and policies have made it much harder for working people to use their collective voice to sustain their standard of living.

Almost everyone has at one point felt unheard or powerless as an employee. Joining a union simply means that you and your colleagues have a say because you negotiate important elements of employment conditions together. That could mean securing wage increases, better access to health care, workplace safety enhancements, and more reasonable and predictable hours. Through collective bargaining negotiations, the union also works with management to develop a process for settling disputes that employees and their managers are unable to settle individually.

Once a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is agreed to, union representatives work with employees and with management to make sure the rights and obligations spelled out in the agreement are honored. And they represent workers in high-stakes situations, such as when a safety violation has resulted in injury. By these means, collective bargaining gives workers a say in the terms of their employment, the security of knowing that there are specific processes for handling work-related grievances, and a path to solving problems.

To cover expenses for negotiating contracts, defending workers’ rights, resolving disputes, and providing support to members of the bargaining unit, unions collect dues.

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935 and amendments govern private-sector unions and collective bargaining. While states generally have no jurisdiction over private-sector unions, the NLRA as amended does allow states to enact certain laws that govern fees paid by workers in unionized private workplaces (discussed later in this report).

Nearly half (48.1 percent) of workers covered by a union contract are public-sector workers. Collective bargaining among federal workers is covered by the Federal Labor Relations Act of 1978 (FLRA). State laws (enacted from the late 1950s forward) govern state and local government employee unions. Each state has its own set of laws that govern collective bargaining for state and local public employees. Some states allow the full set of collective bargaining rights, others (approximately one-fifth) prohibit collective bargaining, and still others limit some activities, such as the right to strike or the right to collect dues automatically during payroll processing.

4. Business League (Real State Board, Chamber of Commerce):

1. Community Identity

Take a stroll down Main Street and you’ll likely notice that your community has its own unique character and charm. From the mom-and-pop shop, the local CPA and dog grooming business, to an antiques emporium, coffee shop, yoga studio and beyond, small businesses contribute to a community’s identity. Many municipalities and tourism boards have prioritized preserving the unique character a vibrant small business community creates– transforming that character into an advantage. That’s why, at ShopKeep, we’re all about taking back Main Street and giving business owners the tools to thrive in the new economy.

2. Community Involvement

Small business owners are an important part of the communities in which they live and work. Thus, they tend to recognize how their decisions impact their neighbors. In addition, local small business entrepreneurs tend to be involved in the community. For instance, they may sponsor local Little League teams, donate to the city’s homeless shelter, join the chamber of commerce, participate in community charity events, or contribute to a local non-profit organization. It’s also not unheard of for successful business owners to guest lecture at the local community college, technical institute, or small business center.

3. Community Health

In addition to contributing to the local community’s unique identity and being involved locally, small business owners help to build a sense of community. Small business owners are more likely to build personal relationships with their customers, knowing many of them by name. When was the last time you walked into a large chain store and were greeted by name?

Many small business owners band together, forming casual or formal relationships, such as a merchant’s association or mentoring. These relationships leverage the expertise of the participants to contribute to the business community’s long-term growth. They are also often a key tool for fostering camaraderie between business owners, so that as foot traffic to one business increases, other nearby smaller businesses benefit through increased exposure and word-of-mouth referrals.

4. Environmental Benefits

Pedestrian-friendly town centers have their own unique vibe — and demonstrable environmental benefits. For example, small businesses clustered near residential areas may reduce automobile use and traffic congestion, resulting in better air quality and less urban sprawl.

In a research report by the United States Environmental Protection Agency they refer to compact, walkable downtown centers as smart growth places, noting “that business that locate in smart growth places can help protect environmental resources—for example, by reducing air pollution from vehicles by encouraging walking, bicycling, or taking transit; building more compactly to protect ecologically sensitive land; or incorporating natural ways of collecting and filtering stormwater runoff.”

The report also notes that smart growth places, in turn, deliver significant economic advantages to businesses, including:

• Increased productivity and innovation
• Improved ability to compete for labor
• Stronger retail sales

You can learn more about Smart Growth by visiting the EPA’s website.

5. Increasing the Tax Base

When local residents shop at small businesses within their communities, their tax dollars stay within the local economy, helping to improve their community as a result. Likewise, local small businesses tend to buy locally as well, pumping more of the profits from their economic activity back into the community than their chain store counterparts, sparking economic development.