Tamika Acoff
Civic Engagement: 52:620:311:01:14949
Assignment Due Date: 10/10/2014
History of Non-Profit Agency

American businesses’ mission is to make a financial profit while non-profit agencies have “stated” philanthropic missions of providing services for the needy. I hate to sound syndical, but during my short experience and limited research I am not too convinced that this is, indeed, the “sole” mission of non-profit agencies. “Let’s help!” But why, do we want to help? Why do we want to create these organizations? A school assignment? A tax benefit? Are we helping because there is some self-gratification that allows us to sleep at night? Or are we helping to settle our stomachs growling with guilt? Is it because we want to learn how we fit in this puzzle of life and grade ourselves compared to others? To get out of the house because our children are adults now and moved out? Perhaps our spouses are no longer around? Maybe, just maybe, these non-profit groups were born from a maternal instinct of culture full of their beliefs and values partnered with the paternal works of satisfying our own selfish ways. Those partners give birth to non-profit agencies using the umbrella of humanitarian to cover up the roots of its existence.
Going back to the time of the American industrialization, many of the Government’s public organizations, such as churches and libraries, ran on public donations. In “Historical Perspectives On Nonprofit Organizations In The United States”, Peter Dobkin Hall quoted Rockefeller’s assistant, John W. Gates, “your future is rolling up, rolling up like an avalanche”. What Gates was saying to his employer, was that the Rockefellers’ fortune was increasing and pilin`g up as high as a mountain. As with an avalanche, the weight of the fortune gets heavy and it will soon fall down and crush you, and your children, and generations to come. Gates used this metaphoric vision to suggest to his employer that the best way to prevent self-crushing is to distribute the weight of the fortune. Is there a slight aroma of religion or spiritualism here? In my opinion, it sort of smells like the one of many scriptures in the Bible that say, “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse”. (Proverbs 28:27) Non-profit agencies are funded from sources like donations and grants. The money is designed to cover the cost of a support staff; however, the operation is successful through the help of a large pool of volunteers who perform the works. So, for the last few weeks, I’ve volunteered through a few agencies, like Bancroft, Build Jake’s Place and the Cathedral Kitchen. To support my aforementioned opinion, I can use any of these organizations. However, I’m choosing to use the Cathedral Kitchen because it was my last experience and has been the last one to brew up my current emotions.
I have spent many of my required volunteer hours at the Cathedral Kitchen helping to feed the Camden community. Cathedral Kitchen’s mission says “provide essential life services that support the health and well-being of those in our community and, in doing so, to affirm each person’s humanity and dignity while guiding them towards self sufficiency”. While I think that this agency lives up to its mission each day they provide a warm meal to a family or individuals, I can’t help myself from thinking back as to “why” they do this? As a volunteer, I join hands with my fellow volunteers in prayer prior to serving the community. The action of prayer confirms my opinion on the maternal beliefs brought into this agency. Clearly religion is the driver of the mission. My point about the parental position of our own selfish needs being met is confirmed as I am here as a Rutgers students to earn a grade. After I do my 2 hours of weekly service, I do get “my” preconceived notions on who eats at public kitchens extinguished as well-dressed families break bread together. I do get “my” guilty-ridden body cure of this disease in my 2 hours of weekly service and feel better about hopping into my Honda SUV to my well-manicured home and stocked fridge. During the 2 hour weekly service, I do get “my” lessons taught to my 16-year old son that will help him to find his place in this large world and how we grade as a family. Does that give us some self-satisfaction of being successful parents? Hell, I think I’m the only one who would admit that.
As I conclude, the purpose of my report is for us to give an honest approach about “why” these non-profit organizations exists and “why” we chose to participate in it. The report is NOT to deter the existence of non-profit organizations or its volunteership because without them, there would be less resources for the needy. No matter what the reasons are, I am a true believer that the mission is accomplished when the receiver of these benefits have their needs met. I have not met one recipient at the Cathedral Kitchen who did not display a sense of gratitude and thanks after I handed them their tightly-foiled dinner for that night.

Works Cited 1. Hall, Peter D. "1." (Historical Perspectives On Nonprofit Organizations In The United States) Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit Leadership and Management. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 2005. N. pag. Print. 2. "Proverbs 28:27." The Holy Bible: Authorized King James Version. Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society, 1999. N. pag. Print.