BCRF is a non-profit organization dedicated to researching ways in which the world can prevent and find a remedy for breast cancer. The company offers crucial funding for cancer investigation to promote improvements in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis, and survivance. The inception of the company can be traced back to 1993 with Evelyn H. Lauder as the pioneer and the firm has amassed at least 500 million United States dollars geared towards longevity research (Bish & Becker, 2016). Its commitment to the welfare of individuals is seen in its revamped grants program which promotes brilliance in science and medicine through the provision of essential resources. The company is set to give approximately 40 million USD in annual grants to 275 researchers from leading universities and medical institutions around the world in 2020/2021 (Bish & Becker, 2016). This paper explores the operations of this non-profit organization with an emphasis on significant aspects of non-profit management.
Background Information
The BCRF is a company that operates in the healthcare industry primarily serving the United States of America. Generally, charitable organizations offer a wide variety of products and services with no intention of making profits (Lubek, 2018). The philanthropic organization above primarily offers several services such as financial cancer research (Bish & Becker, 2016). The firm can considerably contribute to the efforts geared towards finding a remedy for the cancerous disease. Its investigators have been a part of the team responsible for significant innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and medication of breast cancer.
Its vision statement emphasizes its dream of preventing and finding solutions to mammary carcinoma by revolutionizing the planet’s most auspicious research. Its organizational strategies revolve around improving the chances of discovering a new approach which can lead to finding a cure for breast cancer (Lubek, 2018). In 1993, Everly Lauder was having a conversation with her husband Dr. Norton and they realized that research was the only way of finding a solution to the disease which led to the creation of BCRF (Bish & Becker, 2016). At this time, they believed that inadequate funding was the barrier between a cure and the disease.
Throughout its growth and development, BCRF’s strategies have involved an innovative grant-making framework. Since this charitable initiative supports individuals and not projects, those that have the potential and succeed through a peer-reviewed process are given the opportunity to pursue their most innovative and groundbreaking ideas (Bish & Becker, 2016). It also adopts the strategy of nurturing collaborations by integrating BCRF researchers for conferences and seminars.
Managing Staff and Service Volunteers
Employees play a vital role in charitable organizations especially the non-paid workers. Therefore, leaders who manage such firms should have the proficiency and experience to handle the diverse needs of the staff members (Worth, 2020). Various theories have provided an essential framework to help managers understand the needs and factors that motivate the workers. For example, according to Maslow’s model of motivation, individuals are inspired and motivated based on the satisfaction of their needs such as biological, safety, esteem, and self-actualization (Worth, 2020). Therefore, leaders in a charitable organization should understand that what inspires them does not automatically motivate the employees.
Volunteers contribute to the economic development of charitable companies. According to the independent sector, each hour of volunteering is accounted for approximately 24.14 USD for the organization (Worth, 2020). There are several types of volunteers that charitable corporations can access such as regular, encouraged, episodic, and virtual workers (Worth, 2020). BCRF’s administration ensures the effective management of both staff members and non-paid workers. For example, talent management for these groups of people takes the form of training where the volunteers are educated and given certification (Bish & Becker, 2016). They are allowed to participate in fundraising walks such as marathon walks. Therefore, non-paid workers and survivors alike converge to raise money for research.
Marketing Communications
Charitable organizations have to ensure that their message remains consistent and compatible with their mission, vision, and core values. marketing plays a vital role in disseminating information across various channels. Regardless of their lack of interest in making profits, nonprofits have to realize that they operate in a competitive landscape (Worth, 2020). Therefore, marketing can be described as the process by which firms use their messages and initiatives to influence the habits and inclinations of the customers (Worth, 2020). Nonprofits also have a particular marketing mix which encompasses their product, promotion, distribution, and pricing tactics.
In the case of BCRF, promotional initiatives play a vital role in improving its brand reputation. For example, its public relations department performs a wide range of functions. It oversees and reports all the company’s press mentions and breast cancer media reportage while also providing consistent reports of impressions (Garven et al., 2016). The marketing department of BCRF is responsible for leading all messaging activities for the nonprofit. In essence, this role includes developing a marketing strategy, social media management, content creation, and fundraising initiatives (Bish & Becker, 2016). In addition, it develops a strategy for managing its website along with site updates and page management using WordPress. The marketing team also participates in writing and editing periodic e-bulletin. In conclusion, promotional programs ensure that the nonprofit remains appealing in its competitive landscape.
Fundraising
Nonprofits are predominantly reliant on raising funds to support their goals and objectives. Managing a fundraising event is a cumbersome exercise which involves a series of steps. First, an organization has to determine its priorities for financial assistance and develop a case to validate its objectives (Worth, 2020). Second, it has to determine a feasible projection that enables it to have a clear vision of its intention (Worth, 2020). Examples of ways in which charitable initiatives can raising funds for the programs are online donations, contribution kiosks, crowdfunding, and charity auctions.
BCRF considers fundraising a vital enabler in its struggle to find a cure for breast cancer. For example, its employees and volunteers lead an initiative for raising funds since the charitable initiative does not utilize services from external experts as fundraisers (Worth, 2020). Therefore, a significant percentage of the foundation’s income originates from organizational partners, special events across the United States, and individual donors (Lubek, 2018). In 2016, the foundation unveiled an initiative for drug research collaboration with the intention of integrating the gap which existed between academic researchers and access to medicine.
Therefore, Pfizer, a pharmaceutical corporation assisted the foundation by financing its course to contribute to the fight against the cancerous illness. The medicinal organization offered BCRF a grant worth 15 million USD and also allowing researchers to access its wide portfolio of certified products and a combination of drugs under development (Garven et al., 2016). Moreover, the incoming president of the US, Joe Biden talked about the Cancer Moonshot, he urged for devotion, cooperation, and teamwork from organizations fighting cancer and BCRF responded (Bish & Becker, 2016). Therefore, the charitable committed to increasing its annual cancer research budget and aims for collective investment of approximately 1 billion USD by the end of 2021 (Garven et al., 2016). Therefore, the American pharmaceutical acted as a potential sponsor and financer for the research initiatives of BCRF.
Strengths and Weaknesses
BCRF is regarded as one of the leading charitable initiatives in the United States, and this is regarded as one of its strengths. It has a highly motivated and determined workforce which is ready to help the company achieve its goals and objectives. Furthermore, these employees have a personal relationship with breast cancer and therefore, they feel empowered, encouraged, and connected by the firm’s mission of striving to uncover a promising cure for breast cancer (Worth, 2020).
Another strength of the nonprofit is its ability to raise funds which are essential for supporting its prospective research. The staff members are also trained and educated by attending conferences and interacting with professionals to stay updated with the latest trends in research. BCRF has over 100 organizational partners, working together to ensure that both parties are able to find a remedy for the cancerous disease (Bish & Becker, 2016). Moreover, it is supported by a global scientific consultative board in collaboration with the Cancer Institute.
Irrespective of these core capabilities, the nonprofit also has various flaws which limit the pursuit of organizational goals and objectives. For example, the nonprofit has primarily focused its efforts and determinations towards finding a cure for breast cancer, while in actuality, there are several categories of cancerous diseases (Lubek, 2018). The charitable foundation has a worldwide reception, which implies that the masses may feel isolated in the fight against carcinogenic infection (Worth, 2020). Irrespective of the successes of the foundation, it has always faced various challenges such as receiving adequate funds to facilitate its research programs (Bish & Becker, 2016). Interestingly, there are a variety of charitable organizations aimed at finding a cure for breast cancer, therefore, BCRF has to consider its competitive background.
Recommendations
It is recommended that the foundation should improve its diversity and inclusion policies to promote its goals and objectives. For example, outlining measures and tools to evaluate discrepancies across populations would be essential in helping the firm. It is also recommended that the foundation should incorporate more marginal representation in significant initiatives such as the Cancer Genome Atlas.
Moreover, developing reliable quality care and practices to promote equity in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes is essential for upholding the vision and mission of the foundation (Bish & Becker, 2016). Finally, improving community engagement in research initiatives would enable make the research more relevant to the requirements of the community. The recommendations above are essential for helping the foundation align its strategies, vision, mission, and objectives towards achieving its ultimate goal of finding a remedy for breast cancer.
Conclusion
This paper has explored the depths of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation as a nonprofit establishment. This organization plays a vital role in the fight against breast cancer as it is one of the leading nonprofits with state-of-the-art equipment and resources facilitating studies and investigation. It has several departments which contribute to the realization of its objectives such as marketing and human resource management. During its inception, the founder affirmed that financial assistance for facilitating research would play a vital role in enabling the institution to reach its objectives. Therefore, considering its capabilities and limitations, this charity should consider strategic planning and improvements to enable it to overcome various challenges in the contemporary world.
References
Bish, A., & Becker, K. (2016). Exploring expectations of nonprofit management capabilities. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 45(3), 437–457.
Garven, S. A., Hofmann, M. A., & McSwain, D. N. (2016). Playing the numbers game: Program ratio management in nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 26(4), 401-416. Web.
Lubek, J. E. (2018). Head and neck cancer research and support foundations. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics, 30(4), 459-469. Web.
Worth, M. J. (2020). Nonprofit management: Principles and practice. CQ Press.