This document summarizes a group presentation on ethical approaches for a nonprofit public kitchen facing financial crisis. The group recommends laying off 2 employees and eliminating the Meals on Wheels program, which would save the required $365,000 while minimizing negative impacts. This option is consistent with the organization's mission and advocacy for healthy nutrition. The group analyzes the situation using a Potter Box framework, considering facts, values, principles of utility, and loyalties. They address potential impacts on the community and reputation, and why other options are less desirable. The group suggests an open statement to address concerns around donor relations, finances, and potential protests.

1. Jour 510. Midterm
Ethical approach for Whole-Hearted Public
Kitchen
Presented By: Maria Fernanda Lopez
Palacios
Yanxin Zhou
Brandon Masters
Akanksha Garg

2. Group Spirit
Ground rules: Values
Respond the email within a Excellence
day Punctuality
Google docs Respect each other’s
opinion
PowerPoint Try everybody’s best
Texting is fine Showing the sense of
responsibility

3. SUGGESTED COURSE OF ACTION
 Option Two
“Lay off 2 of WHPK’s 10 employees and
eliminate the Meals on Wheels (MoW)
program, which delivers 1 meal to 200
homebound residents, 5 days a week.”

4. RATIONALE OF OUR DECISION
 Creates the least number of victims.
 Consistent with WHPK’s mission business
statement.
 Consistent with the Government’s advocacy for
healthier nutrition among kids and elders.

5. POTTER BOX
Facts: Values:
25 years Non-Profit Org. Healthy Food → At-need People
Financial Crisis Survival
Limited Choices Honesty + Transparency
10 Paid Staff + Volunteers Least Negative Impacts
Critical Renovations
Loyalties:
First allegiance is to Principle:
the customers, the
public that is need of Mill’s Principle of
food: local at-need Utility: Best for Most
adults and children.

6. FACTS
• WHPK has been a non-profit
org. for 25 years;
• The General Budget has been
suffering a significant decrease;
• Projected donations for this year
are inadequate;
• A paid staff of 10 people+
Volunteers;
• Must save $365,000 in operating
cost to avoid bankruptcy;
• A must-made decision with 3
choices;
• Renovations were criticized by
the Media.

7. Values
Public PR
Organization
Kitchen Campaign
• Best efforts • Survival • Be honest
to provide from the and
healthy food financial transparent
to the widest crisis. to the target
range of at- • Least audiences.
need people. damaging • Effectively
• Least decisions to manage
negative the Donor
impacts on reputation. relations.
the
community.

8. Principle
 Mill’s Principle of Utility
Best for Most:“We must
seek the greatest happiness
for the greatest number of
people.”
----John Stuart
Mill

9. Loyalty
 Local at-need children and
adults.
 Donors.

10. Impact of our decision

11. Impacts on Community
1 Meal/Day;
5 Days/Week
$ $315,00 Contiguously
Serving
50,000 0 Healthy Food
Affected People:
Option #1:250 Option #2: 200+ 2 Option
#3: 700

12. Impacts on Community
 Community would be
protesting WHPK.
 Clarify that #2 will free
up the funds needed
to continue serving
the majority of
community.

13. Impacts on Community
The
Call-to-Action Community’s
Taking
Responsibility
“Our hopes are that the
Make the community
MoW program will be
partly responsible for
sustainable through
helping those in need.
volunteer efforts and that
Thus, they’ll be less
the 200 homebound
inclined to “blame”
residents will also be
WHPK.
served.”

14. Impacts on Reputation
• The fired two employees might Create
negative comments/Advocate
protesting against WHPK/;
• Public would argue to lower director’s
salary;
• Media would bring up the renovation
issues.

15. Why the other two options are less desirable

16. Option #1 Option #3
 Affects more people  It is not consistent with
than #2 does. the organization’s
business purpose;
 Jeopardizes the
audiences’ health;
 Could bring unwanted
attention from
government and the
Media.

17. Addressing the Board’s Top 3
Concerns

18. Donor Relations Risk:
• Adjustment of MoW is
securing the survival of
the organization;
• Laying off employees
demonstrates that WHPK
considers its at-need
audience as a priority.

19. Charges of Mishandling Finances
 Renovations were necessary so that the
organization could meet the consumer’s
necessities and the challenges of the
community.
 Highlighting how we sacrificed the
internal audience to ensure serving our
primary audiences.

20. Demonstrations of Community Protest
 WHPK should allow  WHPK is seeking all
the dissent, possible volunteer
encourage interactive support to recover
communication and MoW.
hold positive attitude
for improvements.  WHPK would never
sacrifice the quality
 The employees who and healthy nutrition
lost their job would be of the food.
asked to show their
support.

21. Seeking
Support
Ensure
Open
Food’s
Attitude
Quality
Grabbing
Initiative
in Facing
Protest

22. Suggested Statement:
Our organization was faced with the tough
decision to discontinue the Meals of Wheels
program, which resulted in the elimination of two
internal positions. We have the full support of our
employees in this decision and we will preserve
our loyalty to the community we serve, providing
them with nutritious meals. We humbly ask those
who support our cause to rise up to the
challenge, volunteer and help us recover MoW.

23. Thank You
Questions/Comments