Prompt: Organizational Structure

Description (Describe some aspect of the community experience)

The Back Bay Mission (BBM) organization is a nonprofit and has the typical structure of
a nonprofit organization. BBM has a board of directors that oversees the organization. The board
has a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and members at large. Then, the organization
is led by its executive director. The administrative staff of the organization also includes the chief
financial officer, administrative assistant, and Director of Client Services. Underneath these
individuals are the program staff who each manage their own aspect of the organization. When
providing service to the organization and the community, it is mostly the individuals at the very
bottom who one interacts with.

Analysis (Analyze how course content relates to the community experience)

Looking at the organizational template, it is clear that the board of directors oversees the
entire organization, and the decisions made by the committees formed by the board of directors
are enacted by the executive director. It is the role of the executive director to pass these changes
down through the organization and ensure their staff is bringing the ideas of the executive board
to fruition. Everyone reports to their supervisor who reports to the executive director, who then
reports to the board of directors. Essentially, the board of directors steers the organization but the
employees do the rowing.

Application (How the experience and course content can be applied to personal or
professional life)
It is important to understand the structure of nonprofit organizations as one may interact
with them in a variety of ways. Of course, I served for one, but I may also work for one or use
the services provided by one. When serving for one, it is important to look to the board of
directors for the mission but the employees for the steps to achieve said mission. When working
for one, it is critical to understand how organizational changes and incentives will be
communicated and enacted. Also, if I were to ever use the services of a nonprofit organization, it
is essential to know how the services are impacted by the value and mission of the board in
comparison to the individuals providing the service.