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Non for Profit Glossary

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Object-Oriented A method of software-development that groups related functions and data into reusable chunks.
Objective A significant step towards a goal; or a precise, measurable, time-phased result. 
Objectivity Emphasizing or expressing the nature of reality as it is apart from personal reflection or feelings; independence of mind.   
Obligations Orders placed, contracts awarded, services received and similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or future period. Such amounts include outlays for which obligations had not been previously recorded and reflect adjustments for differences between obligations previously recorded and actual outlays to liquidate those obligations.
Observation Guides Forms designed to help the trainer or supervisor to assess, through observation, the participant's grasp of the subject(s) being taught.
Observational Research A type of informal research that involves taking note of what can be directly observed or infered. Observational research can be used to collect more obvious details such as approximate age, gender and race.
OCR Optical Character Recognition. A program that converts shapes and letters into a text document on the computer. While the program will often have a few errors that need to be corrected, conversion is faster than typing text manually.
ODBC Open Database Connectivity. This set of application programming interfaces that defines how to move information in and out of any PC database that supports the standard.
OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer. OEM describes a company that produced hardware to be marketed under another company's brand.
Off The Record The practice of providing confidential information to journalists on the understanding that it will not be openly published or broadcast with attribution.
Off-Budget Entities The budget authority, outlays, and receipts of certain Federal entities that have been excluded from budget totals under provisions of law. At present, off-budget entities include the Social Security trust funds and the Postal Service.
Offer What you want your prospective customer to do; the second (and second in importance) of the three elements of direct marketing.
Office Administration Those functions necessary to support the work of a business, which do not involve direct service activities.
Official Donations Receipt A registered charity issues an "official donation receipt" to a donor to acknowledge the gift it received from the donor. The donor needs such a receipt to support a claim for tax credit or deduction for charitable donations.  
Officiers A listing of the names and positions of the company's executive officers.
OLE Object Linking and Embedding. OLE allows users to copy objects between applications, with each object containing enough information about its format and its creation application to work in a variety of OLE-enabled applications.
On Call A measure has been heard but did not garner enough votes for passage, so it is placed "on call" while the author attempts to enlist additional votes. The measure can be brought up at a later time before the same body for reconsideration
On-the-Job Training The structured provision of training in skills and knowledge through actual work experience rather than indirect methods such as workshops, conferences, or simulations.
One-Minute Speeches Addresses by House members at the beginning of a legislative day. The speeches may cover any subject but are limited to one minute.
Ongoing Volunteers Volunteers that make a long-term commitment, usually six months or more, to a program or a customer relationship.
Online Banner Ad A stationary (though sometimes animated) advertisement on a nonrelated Web page that links to an advertiser's site or a landing page. Banners are the most common type of Web advertising, and they come in a broad variety of square and rectangular sizes.
Technology
Online Fundraising A method of using the Internet to find and solicit funds.
Open Source Any program whose source code is made available for use or modification by users, developers, or hackers.
Operating Budgets Budgets associated with the income-producing activities of an organization.
Operating Foundation Private foundations that use the bulk of their income to provide charitable services or to run charitable programs of their own. They make few, if any, grants to outside organizations. To qualify as an operating foundation, the organization must follow specific rules in addition to the applicable rules for private foundations. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Getty Trust are examples of operating foundations.  
Operating Funds Funds to cover the regular personnel, administrative and other expenses for an existing program or project.
Operating Margin, 5 Year Average (%) This value measures the percent of revenues remaining after paying all operating expenses. It is calculated by first determining the Operating Margin for each of the last 5 fiscal years and then averaging the values.
Operating Margin, TTM (%) This value measures the percent of revenues remaining after paying all operating expenses. It is calculated as the trailing 12 months Operating Income divided by the trailing 12 months Total Revenue, multiplied by 100.
Operating Plan A short range, detailed plan, often with precise specifications of objectives and intended actions.
Operating Support A contribution given to cover an organization's day-to-day, ongoing expenses, such as salaries, utilities, office supplies, etc. 
Operating Support Grant A grant made to further the general purpose or work of an organization, rather than for a specific purpose or project.  
Operational Indicator A measure that signifies the extent to which a program is using resources and conducting activities according to the work plan.
Operational Information Information that is needed to plan program activities and is used to assess how well a program is functioning.
Opinion Letter The formal written opinion from the CPA or CPA firm, expressing an opinion about the organization’s financial condition. This opinion can be unqualified (the financials clearly reflect the financial position of the organization), qualified (states exceptions where the financials may not be accurate), disclaimed (unable to state an opinion), or adverse (the financials do not fairly present the financial position of the organization or there is a question as to whether or not the organization is a going concern).
Opinion Surveys Surveys used to assess the reaction of consumers to a change in a product or service.
Opportunities External forces creating a positive situation for the organization and/or product.
Opportunity Cost The lost output by choosing one option over another.
Opposition Clause Prohibits retaliation against employees or job applicants who have opposed an unlawful employment practice.
Opt-In E-mail communication the user has given his/her permission to receive. (The opposite of "spam".)
Optical Fiber Thin filaments of glass (or other transparent materials) that carry beams of light. Commonly used because they are less susceptible to noise and interference than other kinds of cables, optical fibers can transmit data greater distances without amplification.
Option A contract right to acquire an asset or right on or before a fixed date in the future, usually for a price and terms fixed in the option.
Organic Growth The growth of the company by slow and steady expansion without purchasing another company.
Organization''s Legal Name The official name of an organization as listed on an IRS Letter of Determination.
Organizational Behavior The system of culture, leadership, communication, and group dynamics that determines an organization's actions.
Organizational Capacity An organization’s capability and competence as measured by its ability to fulfill its mission and programmatic objectives through responsible stewardship of organizational plans and resources.  
Organizational Chart A graphical representation of how authority and responsibility is distributed within a company.
Organizational Culture The written and unwritten rules that shape and reflect the way an organization operates.  
Organizational Development The tools and skills that enable a board and staff to run a nonprofit organization effectively and efficiently. Those include: resource development, financial management, strategic planning, board recruitment and development, and communications.
Organizational Effectiveness The ability of an organization to fulfill its mission through a blend of sound management, strong governance, and a persistent rededication to achieving results.
Organizational Structure The formal system of working relationships within an organization, showing the reporting relationships between different functions and positions of the management and staff. This structure is often represented in the form of a diagram or chart.
Organizational Theory The study of human organizations and groups.
Organized Sectors The sectors of a community that are formally organized.
Orientation The act of introducing new employees to their responsibilities, or of retraining current employees.
Original Bill A bill drafted by a committee. It is introduced by the committee or subcommittee chairman after the committee votes to report it, and placed directly on the Senate's Calendar of Business.
OS Operating System. The foundation software of a computer system, responsible for controlling and launching the installed applications and computer peripherals.
Other Earned Revenue Other earned revenue is additional income generated by a program from ancillary activities.
Other Earned Revenue Other earned revenue is income that is generated by a program from ancillary activities such as sales of T-shirts, box lunches or concessions at a performance. This definition may vary slightly depending on the format of the specific grant application or budget you are using.
Out-Tasking A word coined to further define the area to be tasked to an outsource provider.
Outcome Evaluation An evaluation used to identify the results of a program’s effort. This type of evaluation provides knowledge about (1) the extent to which the problems and needs that gave rise to the program still exist, (2) ways to ameliorate adverse impacts and enhance desirable impacts, and (3) program design adjustments that may be indicated for the future.  S
Outcomes The measurable results of a project. The positive or negative changes that occur in conditions, people, and policies as a result of an organization’s or program’s inputs, activities, and outputs. 
Outer Envelope or Mailing Panels The outer envelope or the outer panels of a self-mailer brochure are the first thing the prospective customer will see.
Outlays Payments made (generally through the issuance of checks or disbursement of cash) to liquidate obligations. Outlays during a fiscal year may be for the payment of obligations incurred in prior years or in the same year.
Output The tangible products of a project or program activities.
Output Indicator A measure showing the product or accomplishment of the activities of an organization or individual employee, over a specific period of time.
Outright Gift The simple transfer of gift property to the donee without any conditions or terms of trust.
Outside Evaluator An evaluator not affiliated with the agency prior to the program evaluation. Also known as a third-party evaluator.
Over the Transom Unsolicited grant requests received by a foundation.
Overclocking A way to boost the speed of a computer by changing motherboard settings in order to push components beyond their rated speeds.
Overkill vs. Underkill In specifying the level of unduplication, overkill indicates very tight parameters in eliminating names. Underkill refers to loose parameters in unduplicating names.
Override a Veto If the president disapproves a bill and sends it back to Congress with his objections, Congress may try to override his veto and enact the bill into law. The override of a veto requires a recorded vote with a two-thirds majority in each chamber.
Oversight Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
Oversight Committee A congressional committee, or designated subcommittee of a committee, charged with general oversight of one or more federal agencies activities. Usually, the oversight panel for a particular agency also is the authorizing committee for that agency’s programs and operations.
Own Brands Products which have the brand name of their retailer in them (such as Kleenex).

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Glossary information provided by the Nonprofit Good Practice Guide, a project of the Philanthropic and Nonprofit Knowledge Management Initiative (PNKM) at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership.
 
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