Core Value Analysis

A recurring theme throughout each of these links was the organizations’ idealism. Each bullet point highlights the purpose of the organization and what it endeavors to accomplish. It is no surprise that the majority of these bullet points were similar amongst the three: accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity, and integrity. Each of the given organizations seeks change in an effort to better the world in which the disadvantaged live and to encourage those with privileged and comparatively comfortable lifestyles to get involved with their cause and participate. These lists also urge each volunteer or hired staff member to commit to a system of values that are appropriate for charity work. Throughout each of these lists, it is clear that the value statements are ones that highlight the organization’s effectiveness and beneficial projects while aligning with the moral theory that coalesces into tangible goals.

While much of this terminology is traditional company-like jargon specifically tailored to make the organization look utterly altruistic and communal, the core value statements are similar throughout. In addition, these links lead to charitable organizations, and their mission and vision statements are intrinsically practical choices. The choice of language is clearly used to concisely describe the organization’s goals. For example, Save The Children (2013) makes grand claims as part of their mission statement—“when disaster strikes around the world, Save The Children is there to save lives” (About Us, no pag.), and these efforts are supplemented by volunteers, donors, and their partners. Where Save The Children (2013) says that their mission is to “inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives” (About Us, no pag.), Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) states their core values are “focusing on the critical needs of children” (For Helping Families Find Strength In Numbers, no pag.). Fundamentally, these statements define the same values, but the organizations use different choices of words.

In addition, each of the organizations emphasizes that their modus operandi is one of honesty, transparency, and community. If these organizations were to set a blueprint for nonprofit organizations, one could use the information effectively because it is clear that nonprofits thrive via the assistance of benefactors or otherwise assisting parties. There is a reason that these organizations have been sustained and continue to command a global presence. Their business model is successful primarily because of their core values. Applying the same practical language decisions to another nonprofit organization is a matter of utilizing the given ‘buzzwords’ while staying true to the specific goals of the newly created nonprofit organization. It is a question of having a plan and a clear mission and vision statement. The purpose of the nonprofit organization influences its values; however, it is hardly realistic to say that these core values are susceptible to ethical change. Essentially, nonprofit organizations may have different goals though they usually achieve these through similar means.

Overall, the information that is useable within Save The Children’s, RMHC’s, and Feeding America’s webpages provides more than enough to establish a value statement for a nonprofit organization. In a game of picking commonalities that nearly everyone could feasibly support, it is then a question of injecting personality into the value statement. Particularly for nonprofit organizations because there is a clear sharing of ideals no matter what the ultimate goal for the organization is. Whether it is to provide a better life and childhood education or to focus all of its efforts towards ending hunger in America, the idea is essentially the same. With the blueprint laid out, it is a matter for individuals and organizations to decide what their ideologies and values might be and use language that embraces their messages.

References

Ronald McDonald House Charities. (2013). For Helping Families Find Strength In Numbers. Mission & Vision. Retrieved August 26, 2013, from http://www.rmhc.org/mission-and-vision

Save the Children. (2013). About Us. Save the Children. Retrieved August 26, 2013, from http://www.savethechildren.org