PADM 6302/POLS 4050– Introduction to Nonprofit Management

Tuesday and Thursday, 11:30-12:45

Allgood Hall, Room E157

Instructor: Wesley L. Meares, PhD

Teaching Assistant: Allison Vick

Office: 309 Allgood

Phone: (706)-729-2099

E-mail: [Use PADM6302/POLS 4050 in subject line of all emails]

Office Hours: T&R 9:00-11:00 and by appointment

This course is designed to give MPA, MBA, and Nonprofit Management Minor students a broad view of management issues facing the nonprofit sector. The materials presented in this course will introduce students to the body of literature on nonprofit and voluntary organizations. The topics covered in this course will prepare students for further study of nonprofit management, as well as provide a practical foundation for students who may work with nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, or forge other relationships with third sector organizations while working in the public service.

The material and exercises in this course will address the following learning objectives:

1.  Identify the key concepts related to nonprofit management.

2.  Explain the similarities and differences between non-profit, for-profit, and governmental organizations.

3.  Summarize the role of a nonprofit agency’s mission as it relates

4.  Develop knowledge about nonprofit budgeting, financial management, and fundraising.

5.  Understand governance and human resources within the nonprofit sector, especially as it relates to Board of Directors, executive management, and volunteers.

6.  Develop knowledge about managing organizational effectiveness, including strategic planning and program evaluation.

Required Texts:

Rowe, W. Glenn and Mary Conway Dato-on. Introduction to Nonprofit Management: Text and Cases. Thousand Oaks: Sage 2013.

David O. Renz & Associates. The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit Leadership and Management, third edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass 2010.

Course Requirements and Evaluation:

Assignments 15 %

Midterm 20 %

Final 20 %

Final Paper 20 %

Final Paper Presentation 15 %

Course Participation 10 %

Please note that all assignments and papers should be submitted in paper and on time. Late assignments will be accepted with a letter grade reductions per every class late.

Assignments: Assignments will involve examining case studies used in the Rowe and Dato-On text, and will require students to critically analyze each case study. Students will select _____ case studies and present their analysis of the study to the class. Assignments should be no less than one page in length using a double-spaced, 12-point font with 1” margins. Students will select cases on the second Tuesday of the semester.

Midterm: A midterm will be given on October 13th. This test may include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.

Final: The final will be given on Dec. 7th. This test may include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.

Final Project/Presentation: Nonprofit Assessment Paper

You will be required to write a paper, 8 pages minimum 12 pages maximum[1]. The paper should include the following components:

-  Discussion and analysis of agency’s mission, services, stakeholders, goals, organizational structure, and staffing (including volunteers).

-  Discussion of the external environment and the agency’s role within that environment.

-  Analysis of the agency’s most recent available 990 form.

-  Discussion of strengths and weaknesses of the agency’s financial condition.

-  Critique of the agency’s website as a marketing/PR/fundraising tool.

This should include a discussion of the challenges facing the agency, how the agency is addressing these challenges, and the agency’s greatest accomplishments.

Using the support of readings, outside resources, and classroom discussions, provide a comprehensive analysis of the agency related to the focus area and develop a plan that could be utilized by the agency.

Include any documents (budget, 990 form, strategic plan, etc.) discussed in the paper – these do not count towards the necessary pages.

On the last week of class, students will present their agency and paper. A portion of the student’s grade will reflect in the student’s presentation.

NOTE: Successful completion of this assignment requires that you interview and receive information from representatives from your assigned agency. Information related to interviews should be documented in your paper.

Course Participation: Student participation is arguably the most valuable component of this course. Students should attend class prepared to discuss the readings and engage in conversations about the subject matter. It is important to note that students will not automatically receive a full grade for simply showing up to class or asking an occasional question. Rather, students are expected to earn their participation grade by acquainting themselves with the course material ahead of time and discussing it with the instructor and other students.

Attendance: (From the GRU Student Manual)

Regular, punctual attendance is expected of students in all classes at Georgia Regents University and is counted from the first class meeting each term. Professors are required to monitor student attendance or ongoing participation in courses. Students who incur an excessive number of absences are subject to academic penalty. Additional attendance requirements may be established by the individual schools or programs at Georgia Regents University as well as by the faculty for distance learning courses.

Professors will be responsible for counseling with their students regarding the academic consequences of absences from their classes or laboratories. Students are obligated to adhere to the requirements of each course and each course professor.
To assist the University in complying with federal regulations pertaining to financial aid, faculty members are also required to maintain a record of and report student non-attendance at the start of each academic term. The Vice Provost is responsible for informing faculty of the duration of the nonattendance verification period and appropriate reporting method at the beginning of each academic term. In accordance with this policy, a student who does not attend a class or begin participation in an online course during the non-attendance verification period will be dropped from the course by the professor unless they have contacted their professor and notified them of their reason for non-attendance. In the event a student is dropped for non-attendance during this designated time period, the effect is the same as if the student never registered for the class and the course will not appear on the student’s transcript.
Professors will be flexible enough in their attendance and grading policies to allow students a reasonable number of absences without penalty for extraordinary personal reasons or for officially representing the university. However, if the student has been absent for more than the equivalent of 10 percent of class time, regardless of cause, then the professor may withdraw the student from the class for excessive absences.
It is important to note that the instructor may—or may not—withdraw a student from class based upon attendance. No student should assume that the instructor has initiated a withdrawal. A student not withdrawn from a course who stops attending class (or who never attends class) is subject to receiving a grade of WF or F for the course.

Online Component:

This course entails a significant online component. Meaning, classes will be conducted in-person as well as online. Students will need to frequently participate in online class sessions and discussions. In addition, students will need to complete online class assignments on their respective due dates in order to receive the maximum amount of points. Also, students will need to know the course material covered through online course content (e.g., online lectures, notes, discussions, exercises and activities) for each exam. Furthermore, announcements regarding online class sessions, assignments and discussions will be announced in class as well as through email. Therefore, students must check their email regularly to stay up to date regarding online course content and activities.

Class Decorum

Every person in class is expected to behave professionally. Each person is responsible for all of the readings and material covered in class even if you do not attend class. Also, please arrive to class on time. Students showing up more than five minutes late to class will be counted absent. Students that arrive late to class more than two times will be dropped from the course. Assignments should be turned in when they are due. Late assignments will not be accepted.[2]

Each class member is expected to treat their fellow class members and the professor with respect at all times throughout the course (this includes during in-person class sessions as well as during on-line class sessions/online class activities and assignments). Personal attacks, rudeness and acts of disrespect will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Personal attacks, rudeness and acts of disrespect will result in a student being immediately dropped from the course. Also, students disrupting class will be immediately dropped from the course. Inappropriate behavior that will result in a student being immediately dropped from the course includes but is not limited to: insulting another student or the professor in the course; talking while another student or the professor is talking; displaying rude or disrespectful behavior that is directed at another student or the professor in the course during in-person class sessions; displaying rude or disrespectful behavior that is directed at another student or the professor during online class discussions, online debates and online exercises and assignments.

ADA Compliance and Disability Statement

The University will make reasonable academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students should contact Testing and Disability Services (Galloway Hall; 706-737-1469; http://www.gru.edu/admin/tds/) as soon as possible for more information and/or to initiate the process for accessing academic accommodations. If you are registered with Testing and Disability Services and have not met with me yet. Please see me as soon as possible to discuss your accommodations and how I may be of assistance to you throughout the course.

Georgia Regents University abides by the Americans with Disabilities Act (equal and timely access) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (non-discrimination on the basis of disability). If you have a disability and are in need of academic accommodations but have not yet registered with Testing and Disability Services (TDS) (Galloway Hall; 706-737-1469; http://www.gru.edu/admin/tds/) please contact the office as soon as possible for more information and/or to initiate the process for accessing academic accommodations. I also encourage students with disabilities receiving accommodations through TDS to discuss these with me, after class or during my office hours, so that I may be better informed on how to assist you during the semester.

Any student with a documented disability receiving academic accommodations through the Testing and Disability Services is requested to speak with me as soon as possible. All discussions will remain confidential and are intended to assist me with ensuring your accommodations are appropriately implemented throughout the course.

Students with disabilities who believe they may need academic accommodations are encourage to speak with me after class and will need to contact Testing and Disability Services (TDS) (Galloway Hall; 706-737-1469; http://www.gru.edu/admin/tds/) as soon as possible for more information and/or to initiate the process for accessing academic accommodations


Academic Integrity:

It is expected that a student will refrain from plagiarism and cheating. Plagiarism and cheating are serious breaches of academic conduct and may result in permanent dismissal. Each student is advised to become familiar with the various forms of academic dishonesty as explained in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities in either the Undergraduate or Graduate Catalog on the Georgia Regents University website. A plea of ignorance is not acceptable as a defense against the charge of academic dishonesty.

Instructors may use a range of strategies (including plagiarism-prevention software at the university) to compare student works with private and public information resources in order to identify possible plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Comparisons of student works may require submitting a copy of the original work to the plagiarism-prevention service. The service may retain that copy in some circumstances. Academic units or programs may establish a more rigorous standard of review or consent, which will be noted in the relevant guidelines.

Plagiarism: To adopt and reproduce as one’s own, to appropriate to one’s own use and incorporate in one’s own work without acknowledgement, the ideas of others

or passages from their writings and works.

Collusion: To obtain from another party, without specific approval in advance by the professor, assistance in the production of work offered for credit to the extent

that the work reflects the ideas or skills of the party consulted rather than those of the person in whose name the work is submitted.

Duplicity: To offer for credit identical or substantially unchanged work in two or more courses, without specific advance approval of the professors involved.

Other Course Policies

All other aspects of this course will follow the Pamplin Course Policies posted online at this URL: www.gru.edu/colleges/pamplin/coursepolicies.pdf. Please read them carefully, as they include important information about Academic Honesty, Disruptive Behavior, Accommodations for Disabilities, Withdrawals, and other topics. By remaining in this course, you agree to abide by these policies.

Useful Websites:

www.nonprofit.about.com www.grassrootsfundraising.org www.allianceonline.org www.blueavocado.org www.managementhelp.org www.nonprofitrisk.org

www.irs.gov/charities/index.html www.ssireview.org www.npsolutions.org www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/ www.vscpa.com/Financial_Fitness/Nonprofit_Resources

www.nonprofitquarterly.org www.nonprofitassistancefund.org www.guidestar.org www.idealist.org www.bridgespan.org www.nonprofitfinancefund.org www.compasspoint.org www.nptimes.com www.npgoodpractice.org www.cnpe.org

www.ynpn.org

Course Schedule:

Please note that the dates for each topic are tentative. Some topics will require greater discussion and more time than others. Students are expected to attend all class sessions and to be prepared for the next topic by completing readings ahead of time.

The course syllabus is subject to change – any changes will be announced during class sessions.

Date / Topic / Reading
Week 1
18-Aug / First Day of Class / Syllabus
Week 2
23-Aug / Nonprofit Overview / JB: Chapter 1
25-Aug / Rowe: Chapter 1
Week 3
30-Aug / Starting a Nonprofit and Compliance Issues / JB: Chapter 2
1-Sep / Rowe: Chapter 2
Week 4
6-Sep / Nonprofit Governance / JB: Chapter 5
8-Sep / Rowe: Chapter 3
Week 5
13-Sep / Performance Management / JB: Chapter 16
15-Sep / Rowe: Chapter 5
Week 6
20-Sep / Online Class / JB: Chapter 6
22-Sep / Leadership / Rowe: Chapter 4
Week 7
27-Sep / Strategic Management / JB: Chapter 8
29-Sep / Rowe: Chapter 6
Week 8
4-Oct / Organizational Capacity and Networks / JB: Chapter 14
6-Oct / Rowe: Chapter 7
Week 9
11-Oct / MIDTERM
13-Oct / Fall Pause
Week 10
20-Oct / Online Class / JB: Chapter 11
22-Oct / Marketing Strategies / Rowe: Chapter 9
Week 11
25-Oct / Human Resource and Volunteer Management / JB: Chapter 26
27-Oct / Rowe: Chapter 8
Week 12
1-Nov / Fundraising / JB: Chapter 19
3-Nov / Rowe: Chapter 10
Week 13
8-Nov VOTE! / Nonprofits in the Future and Global Context: Online Classes / Assigned Readings
10-Nov / Rowe: Chapter 13
Week 14
15-Nov / Online Class / JB: Chapter13
17-Nov / Advocacy/Lobbying / Rowe: Chapter 12
Week 15
22-Nov / Thanksgiving Week: Work on Paper and Presentations
24-Nov
Week 16
29-Nov / Presentations (ALL PAPERS DUE) / No Reading
1-Dec / Presentations / No Reading
Week 16
6-Dec Final Last Day of Class

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