The Big Idea

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Developing the Vision/Mission

The PRISM Foundation (Letting the Light of Christ Shine Through)

Vision Statement:
We serve servants worldwide.

Mission Statement:
The PRISM Foundation exists to serve as a force multiplier to missionaries and Christian humanitarian workers on every continent. By careful investment and management of corporate and private donations we fund a continually expanding network of personnel across the globe. Through this funding and through extensive, tailored training programs, we enable these dedicated public servants to professionally accomplish their individual and collective missions free of financial worries as we give back to those who give most.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Core Idea Posted Below

The core idea is below. Now it needs kicked around, beaten up, and generally mauled in order to refine and perfect it. I want to be in a position to execute this idea in 5-10 years, so now is the time to begin researching, brainstorming, and preparing. Please recommend helpful books, websites, and resources. Please post comments in response to the latest post or email them to me. Please also help me find the answers to questions I post. If you know, please share. I want this idea to become much larger than myself and succeed beyond my lifetime. Let the brainstorming begin!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Welcome!

Welcome to my big idea. If you don't figure it out very quickly by looking at the site, I am very serious about this dream. So please only leave positive feedback. By “positive” I do not mean uncritical. I do want critical thinking here; but, I only want productive criticism. If you are only here to throw rocks, go away.

"The man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds."
Mark Twain

However, if you have comments, helpful information, etc., please feel free to comment and contribute. That kind of feedback is welcome.

The Big Idea: The Problem

Here is the Problem:

I received a letter in January 2008 from a missions organization I support. Due to the economic downturn in the United States, their donations have fallen dramatically. Due to large shortfalls, the organization is facing extreme financial hardship that is rippling throughout all the facets of its' work world-wide.

This bothers me. It demonstrates a fundamental weakness in structure. I think it is a dangerous position to base an entire organization's survival on the donations of unreliable contributors.

In conjunction with this problem is another problem that has bothered me for several years. Missionaries and other humanitarian volunteers often are forced to raise their own support. They are restricted or enabled on the basis of their personal donor pool. Periodically, they have to return to the United States to refresh the memories of their "constituency" since "out of sight is out of mind" and their dwindling support reminds them of this unfortunate human trait. This shares the fundamental weakness of the larger organization.

Finally, the last thing that bothers me is a matter of inequity. Many of these missionaries and humanitarian workers sacrifice their time, their own resources, their careers, their own social interaction, their families, and sometimes their own lives, for the sake of others.

Often they receive nothing in return. They do not make regular salaries. They do not have insurance, medical coverage, life insurance, education financing (for themselves or their children), or retirement opportunities. Many of them live in poverty and die nearly penniless. This bothers me because we who give so little have so much and they who give so much have so little.

The Big Idea: The Solution

The solution I am now exploring is this:

1. Form a nonprofit organization (NGO) or Foundation.
2. The primary organizational purpose will be to provide a long-term sustainable income for missionaries/humanitarian workers, as well as reliable health care, retirement plans, and funds for education to better optimize their individual capabilities. By doing this, their focus may be on their mission rather than fund-raising.
3. This organization is built around what I call "core money." - whether this is a foundation, an endowment, or whatever.
4. Any donations coming in from any sources go directly into the core money fund.
5. The core money is then invested sensibly (with close regulation) to generate extra monies.
6. These generated monies are then used to fund and expand the organization. As the core money increases so will the capability of the organization.
7. When I was in the military, I deployed and saw the effectiveness of excellent support. When the proper resources were quickly provided, we were able to complete our mission with resounding success every time. If the support link was weak, the mission was inefficient and often ineffective.
8. If my idea is successful, the organization will become a "force multiplier" enabling the "troops on the ground" to do their job in an optimum capacity maximizing the return of their invested efforts making the mission not only happen, but happen well.