{"id":442663,"date":"2010-03-18T11:17:38","date_gmt":"2010-03-18T15:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.compact.org\/?p=10184"},"modified":"2010-03-18T11:17:38","modified_gmt":"2010-03-18T15:17:38","slug":"issues-in-nonprofit-administration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/442663","title":{"rendered":"Issues in Nonprofit Administration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Course Description<\/span><\/h4>\n

Effective management and leadership in the nonprofit sector requires both an understanding of the basic principles of nonprofit organization and associated management challenges (covered in PAFF 551) and familiarity with current debates that are changing how they operate (PAFF 552).<\/p>\n

The purpose of PAFF 552 is to introduce students to a range of challenges facing nonprofit organizations and to identify approaches that nonprofit practitioners and academics have proposed for addressing those challenges.<\/p>\n

PAFF 552 is an \u201cIssues\u201d course, intended to introduce students to a range of topics. This year, as last year, I have organized the course to address the role philanthropy plays in the nonprofit sector. The course has a central service learning component, the distribution of grants to local nonprofit organizations, with funding from Campus Compact\/Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, South Central New York Community Foundation and fundraising by students and alumni.<\/p>\n

The course will involve close collaboration with the Social Work course, Advanced Social Work Practice with Communities, which also meets on Tuesday afternoons. The two classes will meet together periodically for discussions and presentations by outside speakers. One team assignment and organization site visits will involve members of both classes working together. In addition grantmaking decisions will be a shared process involving both classes.<\/p>\n

Course Goals<\/span><\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. To review the role of nonprofit organizations in the United States and the context within which they operate (theoretical explanations for nonprofit organizations, tax and legal setting, etc).<\/li>\n
  2. To introduce students to various forms of institutional philanthropy, how they operate and their strengths and limitations.<\/li>\n
  3. To review strategies and concerns related to grant making, including accountability, performance measurement, capacity building and relevant data analysis.<\/li>\n
  4. To introduce students to innovative approaches to nonprofit work, emphasizing marketization and social entrepreneurship.<\/li>\n
  5. To expose students to similarities and differences in the approach to nonprofit organizations in social work and public administration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Course Knowledge & Skill Objectives<\/span><\/h4>\n

    Upon successful completion of PAFF 552, students should be able to:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Discuss theories that explain the reason for a nonprofit sector and the implications of those theories for management;<\/li>\n
    2. Demonstrate critical thinking and writing skills;<\/li>\n
    3. Identify current and historic approaches to philanthropy, their strengths and weaknesses and their impact on nonprofit organizations.<\/li>\n
    4. Assess what information is useful in evaluating nonprofit organizations and requests for funding, with particular attention to accountability, capacity and data analysis.<\/li>\n
    5. Identify emerging debates in philanthropy and nonprofit management and relevant sources of information about them.<\/li>\n
    6. Identify and discuss differences in approaches to nonprofit organizations in social work and public administration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      I have organized the course content to cover this material in several blocks or units:<\/p>\n

      Week 1-2: \tNonprofit Sector Role and Context and the Philanthropy Incubator
      \nWeeks 2-6: \tPhilanthropy, its Institutional Mechanisms, Strategy
      \nWeeks 6-10:\tManagement Issues in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations.
      \nWeeks 11-14\tEmerging Approaches to Philanthropy and Nonprofit Work<\/p>\n

      Course Timeline<\/span><\/h4>\n

      The distribution of funds to local nonprofit organizations is central to this course. To complete the process of assessing organizations and making grants requires careful adherence to deadlines. I have summarized below key course milestones:<\/p>\n

      Timeline for Key Philanthropy Incubator Milestones<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Feb 9: \tFocus Area Selected<\/li>\n
      • Feb 23: \tDraft RFP<\/li>\n
      • March 2: \tFinalize and Distribute RFP<\/li>\n
      • March 23: \tRFP Due, Final Proposal Evaluation Rubric Developed<\/li>\n
      • April 6: \tInitial Review of Applications<\/li>\n
      • April 6-20\tSite Visits<\/li>\n
      • April 20\tFunding Decisions<\/li>\n
      • May 4\t\tAwards Ceremony<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Required Texts<\/span><\/h4>\n

        I require two books for purchase. Other reading will be available through the BU library (e-journals), on electronic reserve, from websites (links provided) or handed out.<\/p>\n

        Texts for Purchase:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Fleishman, J. (2007). The Foundation, A Great American Secret: How Private Wealth is Changing the World<\/em> (Paperback Ed.). New York: Public Affairs<\/p>\n

        Frumkin, P. (2006). Strategic Philanthropy.<\/em> Chicago: University of Chicago Press:<\/p>\n

        Discussion expectations:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        In pursuit of critical thinking, students are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following principles:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Recognize the difference between reason and emotion, thinking and feeling;<\/li>\n
        • Build arguments with evidence, not feelings.<\/li>\n
        • Realize that reason and critical thought are necessary inside and outside of the classroom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Given these principles, the goal for this class is to emphasize civil discourse, establish fact-based viewpoints, and engage in focused discussions, rather than win arguments or engage in verbal altercations.<\/p>\n

          Assignments<\/span><\/h4>\n

          1) Class Participation (20 points)<\/p>\n

          Because students must work together in this class to accomplish a collective goal, class participation in this class is a more significant portion of your final grade than in other courses I teach. Participation is essential for creating an effective grants program.<\/p>\n

          Reading assigned material and participating in class discussion is central to success in this course. Readings are to be completed in preparation for class on the date listed. These are to be read by ALL students. The readings will serve as the starting point for lecture, discussion, the application of concepts, and the practice of essential skills. Readings and assignments have been selected to introduce students to issues in philanthropy that will make it possible for students to act as effective grantmakers. Students are expected to come to class having read the assigned readings and prepared to discuss those readings. Students may be called upon to lead discussions or explain sections of the readings without prior warning.<\/p>\n

          Class participation will be evaluated based on the contribution you make to class sessions and the work of the Philanthropy Incubator. I will assign participation grades at four points during the semester (after weeks 4, 8, 10 and at the end of the semester).<\/p>\n

          2) Team Work (30 points total\u201415 team, 15 individual)<\/p>\n

          Students will work in teams across classes. The teams will be responsible for the major elements of the Philanthropy Incubator project: choosing a focus, designing an RFP, establishing criteria for evaluating proposals, conducting and reporting on site visits and analyzing proposals. Team members will receive both individual and team grades. Each team member will be responsible for one component of the team project; however, the full team will have responsibility for providing input and feedback to that team as he\/she develops that element.<\/p>\n

          At each point in the semester when one of the components is due and the class must make a decision about its grantmaking process, three teams will present their recommendations (I expect there will be six to seven total teams). Teams that do not present will be asked to respond to the team presentations, adding any ideas that are substantially different from those presented. Each team will be responsible for two formal presentations over the course of the semester.<\/p>\n

          At the end of the semester students will assess the contribution of their team members to the work of the group and determine the distribution of five points of the other team members\u2019 grade.<\/p>\n

          Team work will involve the following components:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Each member of the team will be responsible for making recommendations for one elements of the Philanthropy Incubator. (15 points):\n
              \n
            • Focus Area Recommendation. <\/em> Develop a recommendation for the area on which the Philanthropy Incubator should focus. Use data about community needs to make your recommendation. (Due February 9th)<\/li>\n
            • Request for Proposal.<\/em> Design an RFP for the Philanthropy Incubator; provide a rationale to accompany it that explains your choices. (Due February 23rd)<\/li>\n
            • Evaluation Tools.<\/em> Develop a rubric for evaluating proposals. Provide a rationale to accompany that explains your choices. (Due March 23rd)<\/li>\n
            • Site Visit Report. <\/em> Provide an analytic report about what you learned on your visit(s) to grant applicants. (Due April 20).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Analyses of Final Proposals. (10 points). Each group will be assigned a set of final proposals to review and analyze. (Due April 20th)<\/li>\n
            • Team Participation (5 points)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              3.\tCourse Reflection Papers (50 points)<\/p>\n

              Every week, students will be responsible for a one-to-two page, single-spaced reflection on the reading for the week. Questions for the reflection will be posted the week before. Reflection papers will be due at the beginning of each class session.<\/p>\n

              To generate a dialogue about course issues, I have set up a course blog. The address for the blog is: http:\/\/buphilanthropyincubator.blogspot.com. Students will be responsible for posting all or parts of their reflections on the course blog, This blog is private and only available to students in PAFF 552, SW525, CCPA faculty and administrators and selected stakeholders (such as project funders). I will enter your names as blog authors to allow you to post.<\/p>\n

              Students may post on the blog at ANY time; however, you must post to the blog at least three times during the semester. In addition, ALL students must comment on the blog at least once a week. I will provide you with a posting schedule at the second week of class. If you are scheduled to post on the blog, you must make your post by the Saturday before class to provide other students with the opportunity to respond to your post.<\/p>\n

              I intend the reflection papers to provide you with an opportunity to engage with the course reading material and reflect on how those concepts relate to the issues we discuss in class. Your primary sources for your reflection papers are course readings, discussions, presentations from outside speakers, and if appropriate other scholarly writing or current events related to philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. I will evaluate reflection papers based on how well they address the reflection question, their engagement with the course reading, the use of evidence (based on experience, data or other reading) to support arguments and how well they demonstrate the ability to apply theoretical concepts to the practical work of nonprofit organizations and philanthropy.<\/p>\n

              Class Schedule, Reading and Assignments<\/span><\/h4>\n

              Date Topic\tReading\tP.I. Milestone or Class Assignment Possible Speaker<\/p>\n

              Jan 26\tNonprofit Sector Overview<\/p>\n

              Philanthropy Incubator Overview<\/p>\n

              Public Administration\/ Social Work Values and Ethics\tStudents4Giving Materials
              \nReview Students4Giving Application, available under course materials on BlackBoard.<\/p>\n

              Review Fidelity charitable gift fund website: www.charitablegift.org<\/p>\n

              \u201cThe Nonprofit Sector in Brief.\u201d Use hyperlink or available at: http:\/\/www.urban.org\/UploadedPDF\/411664_facts_and_figures.pdf<\/p>\n

              Read: The Looking Glass World of Nonprofit Money: Managing in For-Profits Shadow Universe, Clara Miller, http:\/\/www.nonprofitfinancefund.org\/docs\/The%20Looking%20Glass%20World%20of%20Nonprofit%20Money.pdf<\/p>\n

              Fleishman, Chapter 2: The Third Great Force: America\u2019s Civic Sector<\/p>\n

              Recommended (for students who have not had PAFF 551):<\/p>\n

              Salamon, Nonprofit Sector Overview (on e-reserve). \tList of Eligible Grantees<\/p>\n

              Feb 2\tWhat is philanthropy?<\/p>\n

              Landscape of American Philanthropy<\/p>\n

              Selecting a Focus Area\tFrumkin, Introduction<\/p>\n

              Fleishman, Introduction and Preface<\/p>\n

              Video: The Grantmakers Role: http:\/\/www.grantcraft.org\/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=608<\/p>\n

              Shared Reading\/Discussion: Scanning the Landscape: Finding Out What\u2019s Going on. Available at: http:\/\/www.grantcraft.org\/index.cfm?pageId=627. (Free registration required.)<\/p>\n

              Feb 9\tRole of Philanthropy<\/p>\n

              Selecting a Focus Area
              \nFrumkin, Chapter 1<\/p>\n

              Fleishman, Chapters 1, 3
              \nFocus Area Selected<\/p>\n

              Feb 16\tInstitutional Philanthropy<\/p>\n

              Foundations
              \nUnited Way\tComplete foundation tutorial \u201cFoundations today\u201d available (with free registration) at the Foundation Center (www.foundationcenter.org):<\/p>\n

              After registration, access tutorial at: http:\/\/foundationcenter.org\/getstarted\/tutorials\/ft_tutorial\/<\/p>\n

              Boris, E. (1998). Foundations. In J. Shafritz (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Public Policy and Administration (pp. 928-935). Boulder, CO: Westview.<\/p>\n

              Frumkin, Chapters 2-3<\/p>\n

              Ostrower, F. Limited Life Foundations: Motivations, Experiences and Strategies. Available at the Urban Institute website: http:\/\/www.urban.org\/UploadedPDF\/411836_limitedlifefoundations.pdf<\/p>\n

              Feb 23\tStrategy and Effectiveness in Philanthropy
              \nFleishman, Chapters 4-6
              \nFrumkin, Chapters 4-5<\/p>\n

              Center for Effective Philanthropy Beyond the Rhetoric: Foundation Strategy, at http:\/\/strategy.effectivephilanthropy.org<\/p>\n

              Using Competitions & RFPs, available at: http:\/\/www.grantcraft.org\/index.cfm?pageId=631 (registration required).<\/p>\n

              Draft RFP<\/p>\n

              March 2\tEmerging Forms of Philanthropy and Approaches to Strategy<\/p>\n

              Donor Advised Funds, Giving Circles\tFrumkin, Chapters 6-8<\/p>\n

              Review \u201cGiving Circles Network\u201d website (www.givingcircles.org), particularly \u201cAbout Us,\u201d \u201cKnowledge Center\u201d and \u201cGiving Circle Central.\u201d<\/p>\n

              \u201cDonors Turn to Giving Circles as Economy Drops,\u201d available at: http:\/\/www.npr.org\/templates\/story\/story.php?storyId=104151828<\/p>\n

              Review Fidelity charitable gift fund website: www.charitablegift.org<\/p>\n

              Kramer, M. (2009). Catalytic Philanthropy. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 7(4), 30-35
              \nRFP Finalized and Distributed<\/p>\n

              March 9\tAccountability
              \nFleishman, Chapter 9<\/p>\n

              BBB\/Wise Giving Alliance Standards
              \nReview the assessment for two to three nonprofit organizations. Select at least one that does not meet the standards<\/p>\n

              Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Standards of Excellence<\/p>\n

              Recommended:
              \nBenjamin, L. (2008). How accountability requirements shape nonprofit practice. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 37(2), 201-223.<\/p>\n

              March 16\tOrganizational Data Analysis and Grant Making<\/p>\n

              Review Charity Navigator website. (www.charitynavigator.org) and article \u201cSix Questions to ask Charities Before Donating,\u201d available at: http:\/\/www.charitynavigator.org\/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=28<\/p>\n

              Charity Navigator: Methodology (all navigation bar elements) Available at: http:\/\/www.charitynavigator.org\/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=33<\/p>\n

              Tuckman, H. & Chang, C. (1991). A methodology for measuring the financial vulnerability of charitable nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 20, 445-460.<\/p>\n

              Greenlee, J. & Trussel, J. (2000). Predicting the financial vulnerability of charitable organizations. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 11(2), 199-210<\/p>\n

              Lammers, J. (2003). Know your ratios? Everyone ELSE does. Nonprofit Quarterly, 10 (1), 34-39.<\/p>\n

              \u201cFive Questions for Tom Pollak\u201d available at: http:\/\/www.urban.org\/toolkit\/fivequestions\/TPollak.cfm<\/p>\n

              March 23\tPerformance Measurement and Effectiveness in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations
              \nFrumkin, Chapter 10<\/p>\n

              Fleishman, Chapter 15<\/p>\n

              Herman, R. & Renz, D. (2008). Advancing nonprofit organizational effectiveness research and theory: Nine theses. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 18(4), 399-415.<\/p>\n

              Easterling, D. (2000). Using outcome evaluation to guide grant making: Theory, reality and possibilities. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 29, 482-486.<\/p>\n

              Carson, E. (2000). On foundations and outcome evaluation. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 29, 479-481.<\/p>\n

              Campbell, D. \u201cProvider Perceptions of Feedback Practices in Nonprofit Human Service Organizations.\u201d (On Blackboard). \tProposals Due<\/p>\n

              Criteria for Evaluation Presented and Discussed<\/p>\n

              March 30 No Class: Spring Break<\/p>\n

              April 6\tMaking Site Visits<\/p>\n

              Collaborative Decision Making\t\u201cDeveloping a Site Visit Program,\u201d available at https:\/\/www.cof.org\/templates\/311.cfm?itemNumber=16027<\/p>\n

              \u201cWhy We\u2019re Sold on Site Visits,\u201d available at: http:\/\/www.cof.org\/files\/Documents\/Family_Foundations\/Site%20Visit%20Companion\/Why_We’re_Sold_on_Site_Visits.pdf<\/p>\n

              \u201cThe Truth About Site Visits,\u201d MN Council on Foundations, available at: http:\/\/www.mcf.org\/Mcf\/forum\/1999\/sitevisit.htm<\/p>\n

              Site Visit Worksheet: available at: http:\/\/www.cof.org\/files\/Documents\/WebNotebook\/July2003\/Grants\/Sample_Site_Visit_Worksheet.pdf<\/p>\n

              Sample Site Visit Evaluation: http:\/\/www.cof.org\/templates\/311.cfm?ItemNumber=16518<\/p>\n

              Sample Site Visit Checklist:
              \nAvailable at: http:\/\/www.cof.org\/templates\/311.cfm?ItemNumber=16517
              \nInitial Evaluation of Proposals<\/p>\n

              Proposed sample site visit evaluation forms.<\/p>\n

              Site Visits Assigned<\/p>\n

              April 13\tSocial Enterprise and Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector\tEikenberry, A. (2009). Refusing the Market: A Democratic Discourse for Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 38(4), 564-581.<\/p>\n

              Phills, J., Deiglmeier, K., & Miller, D. (2008). Rediscovering Social Innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review, available at: http:\/\/www.ssireview.org\/articles\/entry\/rediscovering_social_innovation<\/p>\n

              Review the Rockefeller Foundation\u2019s Initiative: Advancing Innovation Processes to Solve Social Problems. Available at: http:\/\/www.rockefellerfoundation.org\/what-we-do\/current-work\/advancing-innovation-processes-solve<\/p>\n

              Select and listen to two Social Innovation Podcasts<\/p>\n

              \u201cScaling a Social Enterprise through Crowdsourcing\u201d available at: http:\/\/sic.conversationsnetwork.org\/series\/socialEntrepreneurship.html<\/p>\n

              \u201cPatient Capital and the Solution to Poverty\u201d available at: http:\/\/sic.conversationsnetwork.org\/series\/philanthropy.html<\/p>\n

              April 20\tSite Visit Reports and Analyses<\/p>\n

              Collaborative Decision Making\t\tAward Decisions Completed<\/p>\n

              April 27\tDebates and Discourse in Philanthropy
              \nWhite House Social Innovation Fund. Review draft \u201cNotice of Funding Availability,\u201d on reserve.<\/p>\n

              Philanthropy Blog Analysis. Select two of the blogs listed earlier in the syllabus and read through the posts from January 1 through this class day. Come prepared to discuss: a) What are the primary concerns of this blogger over the recent four months and how have readers responded; b) How does that content related to the issues we\u2019ve discussed in this class; c) How do you evaluate the arguments made by the blogger and his\/her respondents?<\/p>\n

              May 4\tDinner and Reflection\t\tAwards Ceremony<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Course Description Effective management and leadership in the nonprofit sector requires both an understanding of the basic principles of nonprofit organization and associated management challenges (covered in PAFF 551) and familiarity with current debates that are changing how they operate (PAFF 552). The purpose of PAFF 552 is to introduce students to a range of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-442663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=442663"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442663\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=442663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=442663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=442663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}