"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." - Martin Luther King Jr.
This quote is an excellent representation of how important indirect service delivery is to the Human Services Profession. Although it can often seem like mindless, unimportant, busy work, we, as professionals, need to remember to treat with importance. Without these indirect services skills human services wouldn't be successful with direct service delivery. Fundraising and office work are what make it possible to help clients and make change within communities around the world.
INDIRECT SERVICES
Indirect Services are the bones of a non-profit organization. They are behind the scenes work, the logistics and the back bones. This type of service delivery is often seen as administrative or office work; a job that doesn’t often require one on one time with the population the agency is serving. These tasks can be seen more specifically as program planning, fundraising, grant writing, nonprofit management, and the development of marketing materials.
Through field experiences, my eyes have been opened to the world of indirect service delivery. My internship at the American Red Cross over this past year has taught me many indirect service skills through the developmental stages of planning four of their largest fundraising events: Real Heroes, Raising Spirits, Fill the ERV, and the 19th Annual Golf Tournament. When I began at the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross I was highly interested in doing event planning and learning the process that goes along with it. Throughout this internship I worked closely with my supervisor to learn all the skills needed to develop a successful fundraising event. I worked on developing marketing materials (such as flyers, posters, email/phone call scripts, newsletters, etc.), cold calling sponsors and potential in-kind donors, and developing a variety of well-organized contact and donation spreadsheets and calendars to keep track of our event progress. I was also involved in some grant research and development. This included organizing and creating spreadsheets to help keep track of the grants the American Red Cross applied for as well as past offers and for which programs and services we have sent out applications for in the past.
This experience was incredibly valuable to my development as a Human Services Professional because it taught me how to be a successful fundraiser and event planner. I learned many skills from my supervisor at the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross and discovered a passion and natural ability to plan and host events. My experience interning with the American Red Cross has allowed me to develop a better understanding of what skills I have to contribute to the Human Services field. By experiencing event planning and fundraising I understand that I can be flexible, prepared with multiple back-up plans, creative in problem solving and marketing, a critical thinker (by means of understanding how different actions could pan out or how to market and design fundraisers toward particular needs), and having the ability to validate other’s thoughts and opinions, therefore developing rapport with potential or current sponsors and in-kind donors (this skill can also be used in future work experiences with clients).
Developing a direct mail fundraising appeal also contributed to my excitement for fundraising. In HSP 435 Human Services and Management I learned about a new way of fundraising and that was through mailing out letters of donation request. This fundraising appeal was developed with the American Red Cross mission and services in mind. An agency will usually send out direct mail fundraising appeals to recruit new donors or build upon relationships of current donors. The direct mail is a way for agencies to express what services they have been providing to their local communities without ever meeting with donors face to face. One of the most important aspects of the direct mail fundraising appeal I learned through this course is to tell a story that will captivate the readers mind. It is important to share with your donors what you have been doing, what you will continue to work on with their donation, and how it affects their community. The best way to do this in your appeal is by sharing a story that they can connect with. After learning I was going to create one in class, I decided I would focus mine on the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross and pass it over to my internship supervisor to utilize if she wanted. My knowledge, understanding, and skills in direct mail fundraising appeals can be used for the benefit of any organization I am with. As I continue through the Human Services Field I will continue to grow in this area and adjust my thoughts and inspiration behind the appeal according to the nonprofit agency.
Within HSP 435 Human Services and Management I was also able to develop many new understandings and skills required to manage a public and nonprofit agency. First and foremost this included developing an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the board of directors and executive director. The board of directors is a group of stakeholders that take on different roles in the maintenance and support of an agency’s mission, values, and by-laws. These responsibilities can consist of fundraising, marketing, program development, secretarial, budgeting, and evaluating staff members within the agency. An agency’s ability to succeed in its community varies according to the board of director’s ability to manage it. The executive director is often the over-seer of the agency and board of directors and provides any final decisions. This understanding of how the board of directors functions is essential as a developing professional. It has provided me with knowledge on how the agencies in this field are managed as well as the general know-how on how to be a part in this process. The majority of my developed skills in this area include knowing how to develop an agency budget and how to market to varying revenue sources (such as in-kind donors, new and continuing sponsors, and new in-kind donors). This knowledge is very applicable to any nonprofit agency and has provided me with the understanding of the general functions within agency management. My understanding of the board of directors roles and responsibilities within a nonprofit organization can be seen in my executive summary completed at the end of this course.
My indirect service delivery skills have also stemmed from developing an understanding in nonprofit programs. HSP 485 Program Planning and Evaluation has challenged me to think critically about the resources and needs within a given community and, more specifically, a particular population. As a part of my learning in this area I developed a program plan for homeless and chemically dependent individuals within Whatcom County, Washington. This process challenged me to understand the current unmet needs with this population (such as the growing overlap of chemical dependency and homelessness and the lack of services designed to serve both of these concerns, as seen in my needs assessment) and to then design a program that, assuming all influential factors work out accordingly, will meet this need and reduce the number of individuals with these coexisting concerns. Understanding this process will continue to benefit me as a professional in the Human Services field because I will have the skills necessary to evaluate and design programs according to current needs within a community versus what the agency is doing to meet those needs.
My professional development with human services indirect service delivery has grown exponentially since I began this program. I am confident in my ability to work within a nonprofit agency and successfully help in the development of the organization and the services being provided. As a developing professional I know I am going to continue to enhance my skills in this area as I experience more opportunities in the Human Services field. I am confident in my ability to work within a financial development and event planning position but would like to see growth in my abilities to work in other departments as well. As I continue through this learning process my skills will continue to enhance my ability to work with diverse populations and a range of different nonprofit organizations.
Standard 15: The curriculum shall provide knowledge and skill development in systematic analysis of services needs; planning appropriate strategies, services, and implementation; and evaluation of outcomes.
Standard 17: Learning experiences shall be provided for the student to develop his or her interpersonal skills.
Standard 18: The curriculum shall provide knowledge, theory, and skills in the administrative aspects of the services delivery system.
Standard 19: The curriculum shall incorporate human services values and attitudes and promote understanding of human services ethics and their application in practice.
Standard 20: The program shall provide experiences and support to enable students to develop awareness of their own values, personalities, reaction patterns, interpersonal styles, and limitations.
Through field experiences, my eyes have been opened to the world of indirect service delivery. My internship at the American Red Cross over this past year has taught me many indirect service skills through the developmental stages of planning four of their largest fundraising events: Real Heroes, Raising Spirits, Fill the ERV, and the 19th Annual Golf Tournament. When I began at the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross I was highly interested in doing event planning and learning the process that goes along with it. Throughout this internship I worked closely with my supervisor to learn all the skills needed to develop a successful fundraising event. I worked on developing marketing materials (such as flyers, posters, email/phone call scripts, newsletters, etc.), cold calling sponsors and potential in-kind donors, and developing a variety of well-organized contact and donation spreadsheets and calendars to keep track of our event progress. I was also involved in some grant research and development. This included organizing and creating spreadsheets to help keep track of the grants the American Red Cross applied for as well as past offers and for which programs and services we have sent out applications for in the past.
This experience was incredibly valuable to my development as a Human Services Professional because it taught me how to be a successful fundraiser and event planner. I learned many skills from my supervisor at the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross and discovered a passion and natural ability to plan and host events. My experience interning with the American Red Cross has allowed me to develop a better understanding of what skills I have to contribute to the Human Services field. By experiencing event planning and fundraising I understand that I can be flexible, prepared with multiple back-up plans, creative in problem solving and marketing, a critical thinker (by means of understanding how different actions could pan out or how to market and design fundraisers toward particular needs), and having the ability to validate other’s thoughts and opinions, therefore developing rapport with potential or current sponsors and in-kind donors (this skill can also be used in future work experiences with clients).
Developing a direct mail fundraising appeal also contributed to my excitement for fundraising. In HSP 435 Human Services and Management I learned about a new way of fundraising and that was through mailing out letters of donation request. This fundraising appeal was developed with the American Red Cross mission and services in mind. An agency will usually send out direct mail fundraising appeals to recruit new donors or build upon relationships of current donors. The direct mail is a way for agencies to express what services they have been providing to their local communities without ever meeting with donors face to face. One of the most important aspects of the direct mail fundraising appeal I learned through this course is to tell a story that will captivate the readers mind. It is important to share with your donors what you have been doing, what you will continue to work on with their donation, and how it affects their community. The best way to do this in your appeal is by sharing a story that they can connect with. After learning I was going to create one in class, I decided I would focus mine on the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross and pass it over to my internship supervisor to utilize if she wanted. My knowledge, understanding, and skills in direct mail fundraising appeals can be used for the benefit of any organization I am with. As I continue through the Human Services Field I will continue to grow in this area and adjust my thoughts and inspiration behind the appeal according to the nonprofit agency.
Within HSP 435 Human Services and Management I was also able to develop many new understandings and skills required to manage a public and nonprofit agency. First and foremost this included developing an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the board of directors and executive director. The board of directors is a group of stakeholders that take on different roles in the maintenance and support of an agency’s mission, values, and by-laws. These responsibilities can consist of fundraising, marketing, program development, secretarial, budgeting, and evaluating staff members within the agency. An agency’s ability to succeed in its community varies according to the board of director’s ability to manage it. The executive director is often the over-seer of the agency and board of directors and provides any final decisions. This understanding of how the board of directors functions is essential as a developing professional. It has provided me with knowledge on how the agencies in this field are managed as well as the general know-how on how to be a part in this process. The majority of my developed skills in this area include knowing how to develop an agency budget and how to market to varying revenue sources (such as in-kind donors, new and continuing sponsors, and new in-kind donors). This knowledge is very applicable to any nonprofit agency and has provided me with the understanding of the general functions within agency management. My understanding of the board of directors roles and responsibilities within a nonprofit organization can be seen in my executive summary completed at the end of this course.
My indirect service delivery skills have also stemmed from developing an understanding in nonprofit programs. HSP 485 Program Planning and Evaluation has challenged me to think critically about the resources and needs within a given community and, more specifically, a particular population. As a part of my learning in this area I developed a program plan for homeless and chemically dependent individuals within Whatcom County, Washington. This process challenged me to understand the current unmet needs with this population (such as the growing overlap of chemical dependency and homelessness and the lack of services designed to serve both of these concerns, as seen in my needs assessment) and to then design a program that, assuming all influential factors work out accordingly, will meet this need and reduce the number of individuals with these coexisting concerns. Understanding this process will continue to benefit me as a professional in the Human Services field because I will have the skills necessary to evaluate and design programs according to current needs within a community versus what the agency is doing to meet those needs.
My professional development with human services indirect service delivery has grown exponentially since I began this program. I am confident in my ability to work within a nonprofit agency and successfully help in the development of the organization and the services being provided. As a developing professional I know I am going to continue to enhance my skills in this area as I experience more opportunities in the Human Services field. I am confident in my ability to work within a financial development and event planning position but would like to see growth in my abilities to work in other departments as well. As I continue through this learning process my skills will continue to enhance my ability to work with diverse populations and a range of different nonprofit organizations.
Standard 15: The curriculum shall provide knowledge and skill development in systematic analysis of services needs; planning appropriate strategies, services, and implementation; and evaluation of outcomes.
Standard 17: Learning experiences shall be provided for the student to develop his or her interpersonal skills.
Standard 18: The curriculum shall provide knowledge, theory, and skills in the administrative aspects of the services delivery system.
Standard 19: The curriculum shall incorporate human services values and attitudes and promote understanding of human services ethics and their application in practice.
Standard 20: The program shall provide experiences and support to enable students to develop awareness of their own values, personalities, reaction patterns, interpersonal styles, and limitations.