Risky Business: How Nonprofits May Fare Under Minnesota's Performance Bond
2013-06-24
Loading...
View/Download File
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
Risky Business: How Nonprofits May Fare Under Minnesota's Performance Bond
Authors
Published Date
2013-06-24
Publisher
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Type
Thesis or Dissertation
Abstract
This paper explores Minnesota’s emerging workforce development pay-for-performance
pilot, which was authorized by the 2011 state legislature. The charge of this work, which was
commissioned by the Greater Twin Cities United Way, is to identify risks that this new model
poses to participating nonprofit service providers. By design, the paper does not illuminate the
many positive impacts that the model may create for the state, its organizations, and its people.
Instead, it is the author’s hope that this research will be used to promote the development of an
effective and successful pilot. The findings show that while the model may be able to address
some problems facing the field of workforce development—namely, shrinking resources and
poorly aligned outcomes—it also poses significant financial risks to nonprofits, primarily: 1)
difficulty in obtaining and repaying working capital, 2) failing to achieve outcomes, and 3)
contract risks. Through a literature review and in-depth interviews with nonprofit leaders, the
paper also explores how nonprofits may respond to this risk. Initial findings show that they will
likely employ a mixture of smart strategies, like shoring up operating reserves, as well as
unavoidable gaming tactics, like creaming and output distortion. The paper concludes with
recommendations for program designers and policymakers to consider as they continue to build
up the model.
Keywords
Description
Professional paper for the fulfillment of the Master of Public Policy
Related to
Replaces
License
Collections
Series/Report Number
Funding information
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Other identifiers
Suggested citation
Schwartz, Laura. (2013). Risky Business: How Nonprofits May Fare Under Minnesota's Performance Bond. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/151896.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.