Developing the Organization That Can Achieve Your Goals

Every organization has its own culture and resulting style. Effective organizations can have different structures and perform many distinct functions. Some are not static entities, but very organic in nature, changing as they must, to meet their goals and objectives.

There is no "just add water" formula for founding and sustaining a lay advocacy group. There are some basic elements, though, and these basic elements can be arranged and interrelated in a number of ways.

We've listed some elements in the following pages that may be important in establishing and sustaining your lay advocacy group. For now, you might want to skim through these and jot down questions or concerns you have about some of these issues. As you get closer to starting a group, or to actively working on an aspect of a group, you can hone in on the relevant section. If you find, after you use the appropriate section and its accompanying template, that you need further help, please feel free to post your questions to the Genetic Alliance MemberForum email list. Visit the Genetic Alliance Web site at http://www.geneticalliance.org/ to join.

Structure: A strong, flexible structure is the basis of today's effective lay advocacy group. Different lay advocacy groups emphasize and depend on different aspects of their structures. Some may have a very robust board structure, or a large and experienced staff, while others may depend more on volunteers.

Resources: Lay advocacy groups often possess dynamic and fluctuating resources. Some of these are: membership, leadership, financial resources, and intangibles unique to the organization. The quality and quantity of these resources fuel the organization.

Functions: For most lay advocacy groups, the various functions are some combination of education, support, research, and advocacy. Understanding the interplay between structure and resources can help you ensure that your lay advocacy group is prepared to deliver on the articulated goals.

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