Challenges Facing DSH: Middleman Woes

Summary: As a third party intermediary, DSH face unique challenges it would not face as a direct service provider (e.g., a school). These challenges, however, are far outweighed by the opportunity to effect widespread systemic change as an intermediary.

The DSH model is not a direct service model; as a third party, DSH is an enabler, a way to achieve better results. As such, DSH faces some unique challenges, the main ones being:

Fundraising: For most nonprofits, fundraising is the biggest challenge. However, it is often even more difficult for an intermediary like DSH; most folks want to see their money having direct impact and going directly to the ultimate beneficiary (the students). For that reason, schools and service providers will have a much easier time getting funding.

Partnerships: DSH cannot run without committed partners, whether they be on the user side (schools, teachers, etc.) or the content development side. Finding partners who share your priorities and agenda, however, can often be difficult. And, even with the perfect partner, maintaining the relationship is no easy task.

Accountability: As an enabler, DSH has to operate through schools and teachers. One of the biggest challenges in doing so is that DSH does not have the authority to hold people accountable. We can’t fire teachers who don’t show up to class. Instead, we have to work within the confines of the broken system, to try to improve incrementally.

Impact: We don’t get to see how our work is impacting the students day in and day out. Instead, we have to rely on intermittent field visits and the teachers’ word, making it hard to assess the actual impact of our work. Additionally, this leads to another challenge of truly understanding what works well and what doesn’t.

On the other hand, there are distinct benefits to being an intermediary, which far outweigh the challenges. That is, we can ultimately have broader impact as a third party than we can have as direct service provider. Therefore, we have a greater opportunity to effect widespread systemic change.