Open Source

Open-source software grants users the rights to use, study, change and distribute the software and its source code to anyone and for any purpose. Take the concept and apply it to anything. What it can do is great better efficiencies. When it comes to non-profits, they should spend more timing thinking about the concept of open source.

I have heard from a handful of non-profit organizations who want to build an internship program for underserved teens this summer. Just note, countless organizations have built these programs. Some excellent and of course some not so much. They are, of course, all competing against each other for these seats. On top of that, there are 12 NY city Government agencies running non-profits. Why?

If all the internship programs went through one efficient, well-oiled non-profit that placed kids around the boroughs from each area into summer jobs, it would clearly make more sense. There is a lot of people that care, but there is so much damn waste.

Non-profits don’t need to do what they aren’t good at. If you run a park, then run a park with park programs. If you run an organization that helps incarcerated people re-enter society with job training, then do that. If you are an organization that helps families in need who need food, then do that.

It is time for more non-profit organizations to build on top of each other and make a larger impact. We need to stop stretching the dollars thin and better impact our communities that need the help. It will only get harder to raise funds needed for each organization—time to band together.