| The 50/50 concept provides a framework for examining an
organization's current situation and helping it to achieve a balance |
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Finding this 50/50 balance helps to ensure that retention of
participants will be increased, so that there will be less need to
continually recruit and train or assess new people. The organization
thus becomes more efficient and cost-effective. The 50/50 concept
provides a framework for examining an organization's current situation
and helping it to achieve this balance while continuing to operate the
program. |
| Retention of both students and volunteers is
recognized as key to effective literacy programs |
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How is the Concept Useful?
At the tutor/student level, for example, program staff might examine
the extent to which their energies are spent on continually intaking
and matching new pairs. If it seems that most of their efforts are
being placed here (as often happens in volunteer programs), staff need
to examine how a greater focus can be placed on supporting the matched
pairs so that they stay in the program longer. This is important
because retention of both students and volunteers is recognized as key
to effective literacy programs (Mikulecky, 1993). A period of
adjustment may be necessary to allow the 50/50 balance to be achieved,
and regular monitoring will ensure that the balance is maintained. The
result will be a program that is more effectively planned and managed
and that will provide a high quality of service to students and
tutors.
However, the 50/50 concept goes further. It can also be applied to
the organizational structure of the program and to the leadership team
(staff and board), and finally, to the financial underpinnings of the
program. By applying the 50/50 concept to a board of directors, for
example, an organization can ensure that the intake focus (analysing
membership needs, selecting, preparing and nominating members) is
balanced by the support focus (orientation, ongoing training and
assessment of members' contributions).
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Implications for Funding
Using the 50/50 concept, the organization can also analyse its
operating costs as related to the intake and support focus objectives
in order to develop fundable "packages." These packages—for
example, the cost to create an initial match or to support a match for
one year—can be used to make presentations for funds to |