My Nonprofit Reviews
Aspie_Advocate
Review for nonPareil Institute, Plano, TX, USA
The lie that nP perpetuates is hope. And that "hope" comes in the form of lies about employment. Do nP crew members get a job? Sometimes. Especially if your parent properly demonstrates "skin in the game" and is employed there as well. Case in point---the bloviating mess that is the Director of "power sourcing". At his humble beginning, a seemingly grateful parent who wanted to help out---at his worst, an unprofessional, career know-nothing bureaucrat who's clueless about business development, project management, or dealing with people in general. He fumbled his way to this job by being a hatchet man for the uppers. But the kicker is his abject failure at site ops...the consistent turnover of staff and the inability to recognize the illicit sexual relationships between other full time staff who were married and purge them. Or perhaps his worst misstep of all...discriminating against the very Crew staff he alleges to advocate employment for during company Christmas parties by not including them. One would think a parent of a child on the spectrum would have some empathy...but sadly he did not until he was confronted by other staff for it. After all, at nP, they play games better than they make them. This one thinks he's a player too. Perhaps he should relegate his shtick of stratego to the comic book stores.
Review for My Possibilities, Plano, TX, USA
Finally, it is good to see a real difference being made in the special needs community, unlike the failing Nonpareil brand. Kudos to the team here from fundraising to community involvement. I know that the HIPsters look forward to the campus when it arrives. Good work and good luck to the team!
Review for nonPareil Institute, Plano, TX, USA
On October 7, 2017, Nonpareil held a fundraiser to help support those on the autistic spectrum. During this event, the funding for a bus to transport the crew was raised in the form of some $50,000.
I can see how crucial this need is for many of those that attend Nonpareil, especially those that cannot drive. It was framed that the social events would be expanded and that more engagement would result. My question is, what is holding this up? These monies were fully funded over one and a half years ago. I imagine that those who have donated over the years are as equally frustrated as myself. This was pitched as a vital request and yet nothing has been done.
I have been patient with this organization as it is small and chronically understaffed. But this issue make me question whether the senior leadership can collectively do its job. This is no small sum of money generously given to help. What has become of these funds?
More importantly, what happens if the bus never shows up?
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If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
UPDATE: It would seem that this is even more a fiasco as more questions are now raised. First, why would the leadership team not do their due diligence before raising these funds concerning licenses, maintenance, new employees, or insurance? Or was this just a clever bait and switch to draw out monies from generous donors knowing that this project could not be funded in the manner it was described initially? And where were these funds diverted? A public announcement would have been appropriate.
Proceeds from that fundraiser request – less than $50,000 – were never adequate to purchase a bus, provide maintenance and insurance for a bus and pay a driver for the bus. All who donated towards that proposed project have been contacted; nearly all have generously agreed to allow their donations to be moved to other, more vital needs. nonPareil has expanded social events considerably since 2017. Carpooling is almost always available to help Crewmembers participate.
