Strategic Plan for Non-Profit: Human Rights Campaign (hrc) The Organization

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) describes itself as the civil rights movement that is largest of all and that is striving to realize equality for individuals who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. The Human Rights Campaign was founded in 1980 and is reported to act as advocate for LGBT Americans through mobilization of actions in local communities and through strategic investment toward the election of individuals who are equitable minded into public office.

Organizational Mandates

The Human Rights Campaign has specific mandates set for the organization. Three of those mandates are reported as follows:

(1) The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act - "This bill would provide domestic partnership benefits to all federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits. These benefits, available for both same- and opposite-sex domestic partners of federal employees, would include participation in applicable retirement programs, compensation for work injuries and life and health insurance benefits" (Human Rights Campaign, 2014, p.1)

(2) Early Treatment for HIV Act - The Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA) would permit state Medicaid programs to provide HIV treatment to individuals before they develop AIDS.(Human Rights Campaign, 2014, p.1)

(3) Employment Non-Discrimination Act - Fairness in the workplace has been recognized as a fundamental right protected under federal law. Currently, federal law provides basic legal protection against employment discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin or disability, but not sexual orientation or gender identity and gender expression. (Human Rights Campaign, 2014, p.1)

III. Mission and Values

The stated Mission of the Human Rights Campaign is achieving "gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all." (Human Rights Campaign, 2014, p.1)

The Socratic question most important for use in evaluating the clarity of the mission of the Human Right Campaign is one that asks if through their mission, values and mandates if the greatest justice will be done for the most individuals involved?

Key Stakeholders include the LGBT community, their partners, their children, and their families. The importance of the goals of the Human Rights Campaign cannot be denied in that the movement seeks domestic partnership benefits to all federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits and include retirement program participation, work injury compensation as well as health insurance and life insurance benefits.

As well, the early treatment for HIV ACT enables state Medicaid programs to provide treatment for HIV prior to the development of AIDS. Lastly, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act requires equity in the workplace and will protect individuals from discrimination against then based on sexual orientation and gender expression along with the traditionally protected area of religion, national origin, disability or gender.

The level of stakeholder support for the strategic planning process is overwhelmingly evident. For example, it is reported the Human Rights Campaign "hosts Equality Leaders for the 21st Century: Women's Learning Retreat, which brings dozens of women from around country together to encourage and train them to serve as visionary and courageous social change leaders. Likewise, the men's track of the program is designed to help gay, bisexual and transgender men find their own voice and their own power, and inspire and provide them with the tools to be effective leaders in the 21st century." (Human Rights Campaign, 2014, p.1)

The LGBT Mentorship program is another annual effort - this one nurtures and promotes promising religious scholars and theologians interested in LGBT studies. By bringing scholarly networks and mentorship opportunities to the next generation of LGBTQ and allied scholars, this project helps a new generation of scholars of religion and theologians promote and develop how LGBT issues and religion are discussed in seminaries and schools of religion. And, by extension, they will help recast the conversation about LGBT and religion in our congregations and communities." (Human Rights Campaign, 2014, p.1) In addition, there have been literally hundreds of individuals attending...

(Human Rights Campaign, 2014, p.1)
The Human Rights Campaign has sought support in schools, communities, churches, businesses, employers and from the LGBT population itself. Maintenance of support is accomplished through purchase of memberships to the Human Rights Campaign movement.

V. Assessment of External and Internal Environments

External Environment

The external environment is characterized by opposition to equal rights for the LGBT population as well as discrimination against LGBT individuals at work, in the community, in the workplace, and in assessing medical care and other needed services.

Internal Environment

The Human Rights Campaign internal environment is characterized by ongoing training and education of individuals to ensure future leadership availability for the movement. For example the HRC Communities and Volunteers Relations Team Intern works "independently on ongoing projects" in addition to other things and there are reported to be internships at all levels of the organization including those for children and families.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

Widespread support

Legislative support and advocacy

Dynamic society tolerant of change

Weaknesses

Economically-based funding limitations

Not enough exposure

Lack of country-wide advocacy

Opportunities

Growing base of supporters

Growing tolerance of LGBT population needs

Growth of HRC membership

Threats

Opposition in Washington

Traditional societal-based beliefs on morality

Lack in needed funding

VII. Strategies to Address the Issues

Strategies that will most effectively address these issues include planning for growth of the organization through volunteer and internship opportunities, inviting celebrity advocacy and organizational partnerships to drive the growth of the organization and to provide ti with the necessary economical prowess to procure advocates and to send these advocates to Washington for lobbying efforts on the issues that are most relevant to the mission, values, and mandates of the Human Rights Campaign Organization. It is clear that the goals of the Human Rights Campaign are somewhat less than clear since according to the work of Davis (2013) The Human Rights Campaign's message is a good one that in the past has been stated with clarity however, political pressures has resulted in the weakening of this message recently with members of the group urging others to 'soften' or effectively weaken their message about equal rights for LGBT individuals. However, this tactic appears to be demoralizing to members of the group and to have the appearance of giving in to political and social pressures. However, it must be understood that the methods pursued by the Human Rights Campaign in the States of Alabama and California would be considerably different due to the population in which these campaigns will be pursued. While California is no stranger to the LGBT population, the State of Alabama is immersed in the traditional societal and moralistic belief paradigm concerning the LGBT community. Much is needed in the way of research so that the information presented to the population in the State of Alabama will be able to develop an understanding of the LGBT community from a human point-of-view and to assist this population in understanding that the equal right to 'choose' does not mean that the LGBT population has literally chosen to be either gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender but that the choice they have made is to be open about who they inherently and unavoidably are a human being existing in the same world as heterosexuals. There is a dearth of medically based and psychologically-based research that can be used to inform populations in state such as Alabama where the moralistic thought code has yet to be challenged by factual and educational information

VIII. Adopting the Strategic Plan

The plan to be used in gaining an official decision to adopt and proceed with the strategic plan will include a research report on the demographic characteristics and culture of States such as Alabama and Mississippi and other Bible Belt states that are little informed of the LGBT population needs and what can be done to assist this population and why indeed they should be on the…