Date of Award
Summer 2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Department
Political Science
Abstract
The state of Georgia continues to struggle with the large amount of people who lack the ability to obtain healthcare when needed. Over a million Georgians have no health insurance, and face a variety of barriers to receiving healthcare. There are many layers to Georgia’s safety net, where each clinic provides primary care in certain areas to a specific population in need. One active member in Georgia’s safety net clinic system is The Good Samaritan Health Center, a privately funded, not for profit 501 (c) 3 organization. The center provides dependable, full-time healthcare for Atlanta’s indigent, working poor, uninsured, and homeless population. For the MPA Professional Exercise, I have spent over 300 hours working in the development and fundraising department of this organization. During my time at the organization, I have gained invaluable hands-on experience in aspects of fundraising, public relations, marketing, donor management, and event planning. Good Samaritan Health Center exemplifies the four underlying functions of the nonprofit and voluntary sector described in On Being Nonprofit, by Peter Frumkin. These functions include encouraging civic and political engagement, delivering needed services, enacting private values and religious convictions, and providing a channel for social entrepreneurship. This paper will focus on the organizational efficiency of Good Samaritan Health Center’s policies and procedures that lead to successful operations and management, as well as the tasks and projects associated with my internship that have led to greater understanding and perspective on the functioning of nonprofit organizations.