SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis

Herschel Vick

Wilmington University
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SWOT Analysis

Over the past 14 weeks I had the pleasure of working with one of Delaware’s Largest

non-profit organizations. Serving over 1,800 employers in addition to serving over 42,000 people

at more than 100 locations, Connections Community Support Program, Inc was my Internship

that I had the pleasure of working hands on under the supervision of Carla Mann-Davis. Founded

in 1985, Connections original mission was to help older adults with lifelong histories of

psychiatric hospitalization to move into the community. In 1988, Connections mission expanded

to including homeless services, substance abuse treatment. With great success Connections

became incorporated as a separate 501 (C) in 1991. As Today, Connection not only dominate the

Delaware region area, Connections collaborate with government, community, corporate and

other philanthropic partners to maximize services to its most vulnerable citizens. Connections

continues to grow its services to its community by providing an array of services such as

medical, mental health are and addiction treatment. Connections story is steady growing while

creating social service and health care programs to help the most vulnerable citizens. Working

with Connections, I’ve learned that each day the job responsibility of the staff and administration

team is to end homeless for Veterans and their families, integrate behavioral and primary care for

people with mental illness, enhance independent for people with disabilities, help children and

families to navigate crisis and deliver coordinated care in correctional facilities.

I quickly learned and adapt to my department: Supportive Services for Veterans Families.

While working hands on with my site supervisor, fighting to end homelessness for Veterans was

my specific assignment to master. While Connections provides an array of many services to its

community, I will provide a SWOT Analysis on Connections. In this passage I will Break down
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in four sections starting with the Strength then moving forward to Weakness, Opportunity and

Threats of the Organization Connections.

Strengths

Connections CSP has a clear vision and long history associated with its mission.

Connection original story is personal and is created by Catherine DeVaney McKay who is the

President and CEO. Mrs. Catherine started her vision as a single program that supported older

adults moving from institutionalization into the community and quickly grew into one of the

largest organizations in Delaware providing residential, assertive community treatment, and

outpatient services for adults with mental illness. The strength of Connections has multifaceted

its nonprofit organization to provide an array of services to its community. The strength of the

organization success not only comes from their partnership and dedicated employers their

strength comes from the people they serve and their desire to improve their lives. Major strength

of Connections CSP is that Connections CSP is the only organization in the Delaware Region

area to provide such array of services to its community. There is no direct competition to the

organization. Connections has passionate volunteers and donor base. Connections donor base is

additional great source that makes the organization have great internal strength. Connections has

valuable services that they provide to its community and those they serve. Connections continues

to show how their service impact their community and reaches the needs of the community.

Another strength of Connections is that Connections has a diverse board member that is compose

of different backgrounds. Connections Board members are supportive and responsive. While

Connections board members are supportive and responsive Connections board members engages

with their staff which is an awesome connect. Connections has a solid collaborative structure and
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strong network with makes gives them the strength in the SWOT analysis. Additional great

aspects that compose the strength of Connections is that Connections continues to provide

continuum of care resources. Connections has a long history and understanding of its region

challenges which display the understanding. Connections shows great strength; therefore, the

organization continues to expand and provide excellent services to its community.

Major strengths that makes Connections awesome are:

 Connections is a provider of Vocational Assessment, Direct Placement,

On-the-Job Training and Specific training in culinary arts and janitorial

services for the Delaware Department of Labor Division of Vocational

Rehabilitation.

 Connections operates as evidence-based supported employment program.

 Connections placed more people with behavioral health problems in

employment than all other DVR providers combine.

 Connections has a funded ACT Team (6 in total)

 Connection has history of providing vocational and pre-vocational

services to adults with disabilities

 Connections help more than 500 individuals get and keep employment

over the last 3 years.

 Connections is the largest vendor services

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Weakness

After listing the strengths of Connections, weakness is the next on the SWOT analysis.

Weakness display characteristic that the organization gives disadvantages relative to others.

Weakness are not only negative, but it is internal factors that affect your organization success.

While undercovering the weakness factors of Connections can help the focus on growing the

organization and attracting new clients and vendors. One of Connections weakness that I

observe is poor online presence on social media. Social media has been one of the essential tools

that connects each other in the world through digital technology. Connections does have an

active social media pages that visible to the community and public eye. The social media aspect

should be more engaging and boost up community participation. Connections only serves the

Delaware Region with just recently expanding its services to Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Connections provides an array of services to its community, with the success and continue

evolvement in the Delaware Region, Connections could expand its services to other states with

the usage and free media advertisement of social media. While social media is a weakness due to

Connections not fully utilizing the social media platform, Connection is losing out on the

engagement, communication and building bridges over barriers with the usage of social media.

Through social media, every individual can communicate and learn more about Connections

organization. Poor online presence could lose vendors, donors and clients if the organization

does not keep their online presence up to par. Another weakness for Connections is that due to

high volume various programs and large staffing, work environment can be frustrating.

Employers at times can be asked to do more work with fewer resources. It is stated that the pace

of change is often slower than it is in a nonprofit environment. This creates so many opinions

that can give an unclear message. In addition, the level of burnout is high. Heavy weight on staff,
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administration shoulders can easily burn out those who are providing the care and services.

Moving forward, another weakness is the Constance focus on gaining vendors, grants, donations

and other monetary to keep the organization programs running. On another note, vacant land is

another weakness for the organization. The organization continues to grow and expand services

to its various programs. Finding vacant land and building is a challenge. For some programs such

as your substance abuse clinics needs to be expanded. There are stimulations and restriction in

some judications of certain towns and cities. Due to capacity and high volume some site centers

need to expand due to the continuing growing of services. While finding vacant land and space is

a weakness, having available transportation has been a challenge and weakness for the

organization. Many clients need transportation to get to and from various sites location. In the

lower Sussex Area, the public transportation does not pick up in certain areas which is a hardship

for those who need transportation.

List of Connections Weakness

 Small volunteer base

 Staff burnout

 Too much reliance on finance department

 In need of Vacant land

 Building and site reaching capacity and need to expand

 Need more social media presence

 Monetary from donations, vendors and grants to keep the organization operating

its programs
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Opportunity

Connections has impacted a lot of people, business and its surrounding area that the

organization continues to create great opportunity. Connections creates opportunity to develop

partnership with other local nonprofits especially since there is no direct competition.

Connections has inspired and educate their community with its stories and designs programs to

meet the needs of its community. Connections has been such a successful program in the State of

Delaware that Connections has placed more people with behavioral health problems in

employment than all other DVR providers combine. Connections has an agreement with

Delaware Department of Labor Division of Vocational Rehabilitation that work together to

identify the individuals who are in most in need and likely to benefit from induvial placement

and support. Connections provides the opportunity to address each residents/client hopes,

dreams, strength and preference as well as any service to support needed to get the individual on

the right path. Connections provides opportunity to a team approach with the person/client while

proving opportunity for one-to-one assistance from a qualified profession to meet the career

choice and needs. Connections provides the opportunity for preference-based employment,

competitive employment, individualization of support, ongoing, time-unlimited supports.

 Preference-based employment opportunity has shown that people who work in

areas of their preference and choice tend to stay longer and perform better. The

employment specialist prioritizes the individual preference for their employment

or educational experience and incorporate preference into vocational plans.

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 Competitive employment-Connections has shown that persons with

behavioral health condition want to work will be able to work in integrated

competitive settings. Opportunity has created or crave out work in competitive

setting and provide appropriate, individualized support necessary for the person to

manage his or her illness and be successful at work.

 Individualization of support- The opportunity shows the different kinds of

support to succeed in employment. This allows an assessment to help them seek,

obtain and maintain work.

 Opportunity for Connections has allowed strategies to help their clients to obtain

employment to build revenue of more than $4 million per year. Connections

formed Connect to Work in 2009 which us an economic development company

with the mission to create jobs for individuals who are hard to employ because of

criminal records, disabilities and low education attainment.

 Opportunity for Connections to develop small business in which persons served I

any of its programs can obtain completive employment.

Threats

Organizations like Connections faces many risks and threat to its organization. Financial

instability, damaged reputation and liability just to name a few are some key exposures that are

some threats to Connections. Major threats to Connections are theft. Starting with theft, theft of

funds can be perpetrated by an employee, third party vendor or even a client. Connections has

resources and liquidity with that said any lost dollar can have an impact on its ability to deliver
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services or other fulfill core functions of its programs. These limitation makes it harder for

nonprofits to implement stringent theft control. The next threat is fundraising fraud. Large

organizations like Connections can risk losing donors trust and could be held liable if any

mishaps occur for fundraising fraud. Connections must protect its brand and logo while

monitoring for any misuse and prosecute any imposters to deter future instance of fraud. Third

threat is reputation. Connections build their brand and must continue to keep their brand safe and

clear from any damaging that may hurt their brand. Reputation in the community is rely heavily

in positive public perception and the confidence of their donor base. Threats take affect if loosing

its reputation would make it impossible for Connections to obtain grants and charitable donations

it need to deliver the services it promises and could drive away clients who don’t want to accept

the help of an institution that has garnered negative press for things like fiduciary

mismanagement, theft or any claims of discrimination or harassment, The fourth threat for

Connection is regulatory compliance. Connections must maintain their tax-exempt status.

Connection is subject to specific rules set by IRS. Connections must demonstrate its organization

is using its funds for a charitable purpose and not for any type of financial or political gain.

Another threat is volunteer staff. Bringing on board the wrong volunteer staff could damage the

organization. Connection should take the approach to screening and training volunteer. If a

volunteer case injury o damage or even steals from the organization, Connections could face

claims of negligence. Moving forward, another threat would be developing a donor network.

This task alone is difficult. The threat comes in play when there are restrictions on the amount of

money people can claim for charitable giving when filling their taxes. May people write off their

donations in their taxes. If the government reduces the savings American can achieve on their

taxes, then there will be a fewer donations sent to Connections. Lastly, finding qualified leaders
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to continue to run Connection is a challenge and threat. Connections must be proactive in

recruiting qualified candidates to help guide Connections to the future and potential success.

List of Threats

 Decrease in funding, federal/state budget

 Difficult economic

 Insufficient public transportation

 Lack of self-sustaining employment

 Increase competition for supporters’ donations and time

 Platform and providers confusion to emerging trends

 Insufficient resources commitment

 Decline in services provided

 New laws and regulations

 Aggressive competition

 Board of directors divided on the direction on the organization and disagreeing

how to spend funds

Working with Connections, I’ve learned that each day the job responsibility of the staff

and administration team is to end homeless for Veterans and their families, integrate behavioral

and primary care for people with mental illness, enhance independent for people with

disabilities, help children and families to navigate crisis and deliver coordinated care in

correctional facilities. Connections is the largest non-profit organization is Delaware. Like all

organizations Connection have some Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats. In this
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passage I highlight SWOT analysis of Connections. Connections continues to lead as #1 in

Delaware showing great strength, with little weakness Connections continues to grow and

provide opportunity with little threats.