IDS 390W: NOT-FOR-PROFIT ASSIGNMENTS 1-99/GNV

Assignment Parts                                                                Due Dates

Individual Briefing Report (1-2 pages)                             Mar. 1/2

Team Budgeting/Funding Report to Board                     Mar. 3/4

Team Presentations                                                          Mar. 8/16

Board Questions (team as "Board of Directors") due day of presentation

Individual Briefing Report

Your role: Professional Staff Accountant

Audience: Manager in a Public Accounting firm who has been asked to serve on an Advisory Board of a not-for-profit organization, social agency, or public service group.

Task: Select a local not-for-profit organization focusing on a societal concern (the arts, literacy, family planning, domestic violence, youth sports, etc.) This organization becomes the one your manager was asked to serve on and needs you to research. Prepare a 1-2 page briefing report in memo form to your manager describing what the agency does, how it is funded, what other financing options are available. You may want to interview someone involved in the organization; use its home page, check for recent articles on the organization to see if red flags exist, and find out what kinds of fund raisers the organization is already holding. DO NOT CHOOSE a religious organization, Red Cross, Heart or Cancer Societies, Make-a Wish types, Surfrider (or similar orgs). GET APPROVAL of your organization from Dr. Vik/Lyons-Lawrence.

Required: Attachment listing all research sources in appropriate MLA or APA format. CITE SOURCES in text when borrowing through paraphrase OR quote.

Team Draft, Final Report, Presentation

Your Role: Members of a not-for-profit organization

Audience: Board of Directors of a corporation that you are asking for money.

Task: Each team selects one agency or organization for the individual briefing papers by team members. Prepare a team presentation and accompanying documentation that requests funding and demonstrates the value of your cause/project, the benefits to the sponsoring organization, and your overall business expertise.

Scenario: Your organization is requesting funds from a corporation to help underwrite the costs of a community service or fund raising event that will raise awareness of your chosen organization’s cause. You need a donor to underwrite the basic costs of organizing and setting up the event. You need to convince the donor of the soundness and value of your proposal. Originality counts.

Required Proposal: Transmittal letter, Executive summary (2 page limit), Pro Forma budget, and assumptions used in preparing the budget.

Presentation: Prepare a 9-11 minute presentation to the Board of Directors of the donor including appropriate visual aids and handouts. Minimum inclusions: necessary budgets, a list of the assumptions used to formulate the budgets.

Board Questions (Team as "Board of Directors")

Your Role: Board of Directors of a corporation being solicited for money.

Audience: Members of a not-for-profit organization

Task: Using a copy of another team’s report, prepare a list of questions that will help you decide whether to fund its request. Write a list of questions (use a mix of types: limiting or expanding the information, gathering facts, opinions and values) that follow a logical pattern showing why you are asking these specific questions. Pose these questions at the end of the presentation and turn in a typed copy of your questions.