Week 1 discussion
Legal Forms of Nonprofit Organization
Phil is an Iraq war veteran who lost one of his arms in
combat. Upon an honorable discharge from the military, he decided to form a
nonprofit organization to assist wounded veterans to obtain/retain employment
when released. Phil knows that the organization needs to become tax exempt.
Advise him on how and what else is needed to get started.
Week 2 discussion
Role of the Board
Molly is the executive director of a state-wide nonprofit
organization that consists of five offices strategically placed around the
state. The purpose of the organization is to provide food for homeless
children. Each office has a board of directors for the local office and a major
board of directors for the organization overall. Each local office board has
one of their board of directors as a member of the overall board of directors.
Community and business leaders complete the 12 members of the main board of
directors. Molly needs to know what should be the role and duties of the main
board as well as the local office board. She contracted with you as a
consultant to give advice. What advice will you give Molly on this request?
Explain your rationale.
Week 3 discussion
Motivating and Managing Volunteers
Dave is an executive director of a drug rehabilitation
nonprofit organization that relies heavily on the use of unpaid volunteers on
staff. The board of directors developed employee-related policies and posted
them in an employee handbook. Each new paid and volunteer employee staff member
undergoes an orientation training program. This training includes these
policies and potential consequences for violation. One of these policies
prohibits the use of the organization’s telephone and Internet for personal
reasons. Barbara is a volunteer who has been with the organization for 3 years
working primarily as a clerical employee. Dave recently caught Barbara for a
third time misusing the Internet and spending an unusually long time on
personal calls. She has been given a verbal and written reprimand in the past.
When Barbara is not on the telephone and Internet for personal reasons, she is
a very valuable volunteer. Advise Dave on what to do next. Explain your
rationale.
Week 4 discussion
Strategic Planning Process
The local United Way agency is concerned about helping
welfare recipients become self-sufficient. A local consortium was formed
consisting of 300 volunteer community leaders in collaboration with the state
and local welfare departments. After an initial effort to organize and
stabilize this consortium, the task is to identify areas that can help the
welfare recipients. Supposing you are one of the members, what difficulties or
barriers can you identify from the standpoint of the welfare recipients?
Week 5 discussion
Financial Issues and Information Systems
Sally is the executive director of an organization
consisting of 33 offices that deal with providing services to persons and
families with epilepsy in their local area. The large number of offices is
causing Sally and the board of directors to consider an information system. As
Sally’s consultant, what factors would you recommend her to consider before
making recommendations to the board?
Week 6 discussion
Marketing and Fund-Raising in a Nonprofit Organization
Mike is the executive director of a nonprofit organization
that serves persons who were recently incarcerated and their families. In
looking over the anticipated needs of the organization, Mike and the board of
directors project a need for $1,000,000 for the coming year’s operations. At
present, funding is only available for a $900,000 budget. They are seeking your
advice on how to raise the additional $100,000 needed. Advise them on what
steps they should take, and give your rationale.
Week 7 discussion
Ethics In A Nonprofit Organization
A manager in a state career center office notices that an
employee is using the office’s computer to operate a private employment agency
after hours. The state ethics commission prohibits using state equipment for
personal gain. What steps will you take? Explain.
