Capstone Project
Project Overview
The leadership project that I am proposing is the restructuring of a non-profit organization. The restructuring will help the organization operate more efficiently, and better serve the greater part of the community that it was created to assist.
Background
In March of 2019 I was appointed to a board of trustee position on this non-profit. I was lead to this position through my current position as a tribal council member for the United Auburn Indian Community. In my position as a tribal leader of a sovereign nation in California, I took the new board position with a clear intention to restructure and improve the organization.
Before taking this project on, I began speaking with other tribal leaders and individuals involved in Native American affairs in California, and gathering their knowledge and perspective of the organization. And the response that I got was generally the same amongst all that I spoke with. The sentiment that all shared was nostalgia and respect for what the organization had done for many Native American communities in times past. However, everybody I spoke with wondered what the organization does currently. Despite this organization being able to fundraise from many organizations, most of those organizations don’t know exactly how the Organization is using funds raised to contribute back to the community its intending to serve.
After I learned from my peers, I decided that I would take the position and at the very least begin a campaign in the organization that would improve the communication of the organization with the external community and its funders, both current and future. Once I stepped into this position I learned the dynamics of the organization quickly, and realized that the communication could not only be improved with external parties, but that there was vast room for improvement within the organization and across it’s various branches. Due to this lack of communication and the fact that the organization hasn’t been willing to provide wages that compete with the private sector; employee retention has been a consistent issue. With those issues outstanding and now openly discussed, I’ve asked the board and leadership, what this organization has been for the community in the past, what it is now and what it has potential to be moving forward. From this dialog Leadership was able to identify a need within the Native American community that the organization wasn’t focused on, but could very well fulfill. At the moment the organization focuses solely on litigation that helps individuals and smaller communities. One aspect of legal counsel that the organization has not entirely fulfilled has been legislative assistance. It is my expectation that the future of the organization includes a second division that focuses on legislative matters that benefit all tribes throughout California. Many Tribal Governments and communities throughout California don’t communicate with one another sufficiently to work on collective legislative matters that focus on tribal issues outside of gaming. It is my hope that this organization can be used as a catalyst for tribal unity to enhance and further protect Native American sovereignty, culture, sacred sites and community at a larger scale.
Issues
Lack of communication stemming from Top leadership
Lack of organizational self awareness
Lack of vision from leadership
Lack of oversight/support from leadership
Proposed Initiative
The objective of this project is to improve the internal functions of this organization, which largely are hindered by a culture of ineffective communication. From this point I believe that the public perspective of the organization would be enhanced greatly, and this would lead greater tribal support. Along with improving communication and organizational direction, my intent is to launch and focus on a new legislative focus to better fulfill Native American needs on a collective and focused basis.
Objectives:
Improve communication and outreach with community
This is already being done with our Director of Marketing, however the new push is to reach out to all tribes regardless of economic status, and inform them of the new direction and initiatives that the organization is taking on
Improve internal communication
The hiring of a new executive director is taking place now, the focus of this new position is to increase communication amongst all branches of the organization, as well as the board and native community as a whole.
Leverage technology to increase transparency and efficiencies within organization
We have already applied for a grant that will allow us to invest the monies into an improved communication infrastructure, that previously has not existed within the organization
Develop and improve Executive/Board leadership
More hands on attention from board members, as these positions are often great bridges of communication between the organization, and the community it intends to support
Better fulfill the needs of Native American communities
An initiative that the marketing director is pursuing now is reaching out and coming into contact with all tribes in California, to assess their needs and perspective of how the organization can help.
Measurements of Evaluation
In addition to the specific metrics listed above, the measures for sustained success and future growth are as follows:
Annual Survey of employees through new performance assessment program.
Tribal individuals assisted
Tribal communities assisted
Follow up with those assisted measuring timeliness, pros and cons of services provided
Exit interviews of employees leaving the organization.
The organization is unclear as to why the turnover rate is where its at. Before this change exit interviews were not performed thus the organization was left unsure of the reasons that employees leave.
Annual assessment on adhesion to strategic plan
Annual assessment of needs in Tribal communities throughout California
This once again comes down to more outreach, it will be imperative for the organization to be self aware of the impact of the changes that are taking place within and the outside perspective of those changes effectiveness.