APPENDIX A.1: INTERVIEW TOOL (
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The following open-ended questions guided the semi-structured interviews:
Background Information
- How and when did you first get involved with the organization?
- What type of roles and responsibilities did you have?
- Are you involved with any other organization, and in what capacity? If yes, how do you compare your experience?
- What do you like most about this organization? / What is your overall impression of it?
Primary Research Questions
- How did Community Volunteers Foundation achieve early-stage growth?
- Do you think the founders envisioned and deliberately planned for today’s growth?
- What are the key decisions, principles, practices, or events that took the organization to the next level?
- What do you think are the most significant achievements of this organization?
- What are the key elements that enabled the organization’s exemplary growth?
- What are the factors that contribute to the growth of this organization?
- What are some strategies this organization used to accomplish its growth?
- What do you think of the rapid growth of the organization?
- Based on your experience with this organization, what advice you would give to other nonprofits that would like to realize a similar growth?
Secondary Research Questions
- What were some of the challenges this organization dealt with during its growth period?
- What are some of the challenges that you anticipate this organization may face in the future?
The following general themes were tested during the discussions:
- Needs assessment (prior to founding as well as ongoing)
- Organizational ID (mission, vision, values, goals, etc.)
- Leadership (founder, ED, Board, executive team, etc.)
- Training and empowerment (of staff, volunteers, community, etc.)
- Model (innovative, replicable, etc.)
- Adaptive capacity (flexibility)
- Transparency and accountability
- Funding (sources, frequency, size, etc.)
- Networks and collaborations (alliances)
- Organizational culture (horizontal, engaging, youth-adult relations, etc.)
APPENDIX A.2: CONSENT FORM (
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INFORMED CONSENT FORM
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
CONSENT TO BE A RESEARCH SUBJECT
Purpose and Background
Ms. Demet Demi Yezgi, a graduate student in the College of Professional Studies at the University of San Francisco is conducting a study on how
Community Volunteer Foundation achieved a successful transition from start-up to maturity stage.
The purpose of this study is to help
Community Volunteers Foundation continue and sustain its growth. This evaluation research, therefore, aims to identify the factors that contributed to the organization’s early-stage growth.
I am being asked to participate in this study because I am a stakeholder presently involved with
Community Volunteers Foundation and/or a contributor to the organization’s growth in the past.
Procedures
If I agree to be a participant in this study, the following will happen:
- I will participate in an interview with Ms. Demet Demi Yezgi, during which I will be asked about my past and present involvement with Community Volunteers Foundation and my thoughts on how the organization achieved a successful transition from start-up to maturity stage.
- There will be a list of general questions inquiring about the history, organizational structure, operations, and management practices of the organization.
- I will participate in the interview at my office or at another neutral location as is convenient for me.
Risks and/or Discomforts
It is possible that some of the questions during the interview may make me feel uncomfortable, but I am free to decline to answer any questions I do not wish to answer or to stop participation at any time.
I understand that every effort will be made to maintain the confidentiality of the information I share. No individual identities will be used in the master’s degree project resulting from the study. The interview will be audio recorded. Study information will be coded and kept in locked files at all times.
Benefits
While there will be no direct benefit to me from participating in this study, the anticipated benefit of this study is a better understanding of the factors that contributed to the early-stage growth of Community Volunteers Foundation and use of the know-how to achieve further stability. I will also receive a copy of the resulting MNA project.
Costs/Financial Considerations
There will be no financial costs to me as a result of taking part in this study.
Payment/Reimbursement
I will not be reimbursed for my participation.
Questions
I have talked to Ms. Yezgi and have had my questions answered. If I have further questions about the study, I may e-mail her at demi@yezgi.com.
If I have any questions or comments about participation in this study, I may contact the IRBPHS, which is concerned with protection of volunteers in research projects. I may reach the IRBPHS office by calling (415) 422-6091 and leaving a voicemail message, by e-mailing IRBPHS@usfca.edu, or by writing to the IRBPHS, Department of Psychology, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117-1080.
Consent
I have been given a copy of this consent form to keep.
PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH IS VOLUNTARY. I am free to decline to be in this study, or to withdraw from it at any point.
My signature below indicates that I agree to participate in this study.
Subject's Signature Date of Signature
Signature of Person Obtaining Consent Date of Signature
APPENDIX A.3: PARTICIPANT DATA SUMMARY (
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APPENDIX A.4: KEY FINDINGS SUMMARY (
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