Oxfam Study Case
C1. Oxfam
For more than 60 years, Oxfam has worked through and with its donors, staff, project partners and project participants to overcome poverty and injustice around the world. Early in World War II, Greece was occupied by German Nazis. Allied forces created a naval blockade around Greece to prevent further German expansion; however, the blockade created severe shortages of food and medicine among Geek civilian communities. In 1942, a number of Famine Relief Committees were establish in Great Britain to emergency supplies through the Allied blockade. Although most of these committees ceased operations after the war ended, the Oxford Committee for Faime Relief saw a continuing need and enlarged its operations to provide aid through post war Europe, and in later years, the rest of the world. The committee eventually became known by its abbreviated telegraph address, Oxfam and the name was formally adopted in 1965. Oxfam’s success and growth was due to many dedicated volunteers and donors who continued and expanded their financial support of the organization. In the 1960s, Oxfam began to generate significant revenues from its retail stores. These shops, located throughout Great Britain, accept donations of goods and handcrafted items from overseas for resale. Today, those stores number more than 800 and are staffed by more than 20.000 volunteers. Oxfam often deals with humanitarian disasters that are beyond the scope of its resources. In these cases, the organization provides aid by mobilizing an international lobbying staff that has contacts with key aid agencies based in other countries, governments in the affected area, and the United Nations. In 1996, Oxfam opened a Web site to provide information about its effort to supporters and potential donors. The web site included detailed reports on Oxfam’s work, past and present, and allows site visitors to make donations to the organization. Although Oxfam gladly accepts any donations, it encourages supporters
For more than 60 years, Oxfam has worked through and with its donors, staff, project partners and project participants to overcome poverty and injustice around the world. Early in World War II, Greece was occupied by German Nazis. Allied forces created a naval blockade around Greece to prevent further German expansion; however, the blockade created severe shortages of food and medicine among Geek civilian communities. In 1942, a number of Famine Relief Committees were establish in Great Britain to emergency supplies through the Allied blockade. Although most of these committees ceased operations after the war ended, the Oxford Committee for Faime Relief saw a continuing need and enlarged its operations to provide aid through post war Europe, and in later years, the rest of the world. The committee eventually became known by its abbreviated telegraph address, Oxfam and the name was formally adopted in 1965. Oxfam’s success and growth was due to many dedicated volunteers and donors who continued and expanded their financial support of the organization. In the 1960s, Oxfam began to generate significant revenues from its retail stores. These shops, located throughout Great Britain, accept donations of goods and handcrafted items from overseas for resale. Today, those stores number more than 800 and are staffed by more than 20.000 volunteers. Oxfam often deals with humanitarian disasters that are beyond the scope of its resources. In these cases, the organization provides aid by mobilizing an international lobbying staff that has contacts with key aid agencies based in other countries, governments in the affected area, and the United Nations. In 1996, Oxfam opened a Web site to provide information about its effort to supporters and potential donors. The web site included detailed reports on Oxfam’s work, past and present, and allows site visitors to make donations to the organization. Although Oxfam gladly accepts any donations, it encourages supporters