San Luis Obispo Non-Profit Support Center Feasibility Study

San Luis Obispo
Non-Profit Support Center Feasibility Study
1998-99

Cuesta College Institute of Professional Development

Study underwritten by PG&E Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Los Padres Customer Operations

Introduction

Cuesta College Institute for Professional Development was awarded a PG &E grant in August, 1998 to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a Non-profit Support Center for San Luis Obispo county. The College hired an outside non-profit consultant, Dr. Jan Schmuckler, to coordinate the study with input from the Advisory Committee of the Collaboration Forum. The purpose of a support center would be to provide ongoing, affordable services and resources for research and training to strengthen the skills and knowledge of community-based organizations in San Luis Obispo County. Thereby, increasing the capability of non-profit organizations to serve the San Luis community effectively and efficiently.

Feasibility Study Methods

The feasibility study used three methods of data collection: surveys; interviews with board members and a focus group.

Surveys
The survey was developed by Jan M. Schmuckler, Ph.D. Consultation and the Advisory Committee. There were three parts to the survey: a demographic section; a management needs assessment and methods of assistance assessment section; and a section on the use of a non-profit support center. The surveys were administered to community-based and service agencies in the San Luis Obispo area that were identified by the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee used the mailing for the 8th Annual Forum for Community Based Organizations to announce the study and tell the community that the survey would be distributed to them at the Forum. The intent was to have every agency fill out the survey.

Surveys were also mailed out on December 14, 1998 to the Collaboration Forum mailing list and were distributed to local public libraries. Agencies were given the opportunity to fax in surveys as well as mail them to Dr. Schmuckler. Surveys were distributed at the Collaboration Forum on January 13, 1999. The total number of returned surveys was 77.

Board of Directors Interviews
Dr. Schmuckler conducted eight individual interviews in-person or by telephone of board members from both large and small non-profit agencies from a list developed by the Advisory Committee. The purpose of the interviews was to explore the specific needs of boards members in order to insure that their input was included in the study.

Focus Group
Dr. Schmuckler conducted a focus group at the Collaboration Forum with executive directors, board members and support staff of non-profit agencies of the area. The purpose of the focus group was to provide more in-depth information to supplement the written survey.

Limitations of the Data Collection
In order to obtain the largest number of responses, a large number of questionnaires were distributed and through various channels. The Advisory Committee mailed surveys to individuals on the Collaboration Forum mailing list, some surveys were distributed to public libraries and surveys were also distributed and collected at the Collaboration Forum. This was not a strictly controlled study since it is not possible to obtain the exact number of distributed surveys due to the variety distribution methods, and an accurate response rate cannot therefore be determined.

When the surveys were mailed to participants, the pages were copied back to back to save costs. However, the first page of the survey was copied on the backside of the cover letter. Some agencies (11 organizations) kept their cover letters and returned their surveys with page one missing. Therefore, the data on the first two questions was compiled on a smaller number of returned surveys (66). The first two questions asked the respondent for the types of services delivered and the location of where they provide service.

Proceed to the Analysis of Survey Data.

Return to the Feasibility Study Table of Contents.

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