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Schedule

The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments.

Lesson 1 Introduction to the Nonprofit Organization

Readings:
  • Hopkins, B. R., & Gross, V. G. (2010). Chapter 2: The legal framework of the nonprofit sector in the United States. In D. O. Renz & Associates (Eds.), Jossey-Bass handbook of nonprofit leadership and management (hereafter referred to as JBH) (pp. 43–76). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Required Resource Review:
    • The Nonprofit Almanac 2015 flyer
    • The Nonprofit Sector in Brief 2015
  • Hall, P. D. (2010). Chapter 1: Historical perspectives on nonprofit organizations in the United States. In D. O. Renz & Associates (Eds.), JBH (pp. 3–42). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (optional reading to get some overview of the history of the field)

Assignments:
  1. Share your information via the class map activity (optional).
  2. Participate in Lesson 1 Self-introduction via VoiceThread.
  3. Complete the required readings.
  4. Participate in the Lesson 1 Prohibition of Political Activity Discussion.
  5. Sign up the lesson topic for the Current Issues requirement.
Lesson 2 Nonprofit Organizations in Domestic and Global Perspectives

Readings:
  • Van Til, J. (1994). Chapter 2: Nonprofit organizations and social institutions. In R. D. Herman & Associates (Eds.), The Jossey-Bass handbook of nonprofit leadership and management (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. (e-Reserves)
  • Reread pp. 21–31 of Chapter 1 in JBH.
  • Reimann, K. D. (2006). A view from the top: International politics, norms and the worldwide growth of NGOs. International Studies Quarterly, 50(1), 45–68.
  • Spero, J. E. (2010). The global role of U.S. foundations. The Foundation Center. (Note: This is the reading for group discussion.)
  • es).

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 2 Topic 1 Cultural and Political Sensitivity Discussion Forum or Lesson 2 Topic 2 International Funding Challenge Discussion.
  3. If you sign up for the Lesson 3 topic, submit your current Issues presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
Lesson 3  Board Governance

Readings:
  • Renz, D. O. (2010). Chapter 5: Leadership, governance, and the work of the board. JBH (pp. 125–156). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Axelrod, N. R. (2008). Chapter 6: Board leadership and development. JBH (pp. 131–151). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (e-Reserves)
  • Miller-Millesen, J. (2003). Understanding the behavior of nonprofit boards of directors: A theory-based approach. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 32(4), 521–547.

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 3 Ground Rules Group Discussions and Lesson 3 Weekly Group Discussions: Anna Fixx.
  3. Provide at least one comment on current issues presentations of your classmate by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday. (You are required to comment on five current issues presentation in total during the entire semester.)
  4. If you sign up for the Lesson 4 topic, submit your presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
International Organization Memo Work Week

Readings:
  • None.

Assignments:

Submit your memo.
Lesson 4 Executive Leadership

Readings:

Required:

  • Herman, R. D.  (2010). Chapter 6: Executive leadership. In JBH (pp. 157–177). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Holland, T. P., & Ritvo, R. A. (2008). Chapter 6: Leading and managing nonprofit organizations. In Nonprofit organizations principles and practices. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. (e-Reserves)
  • Van Wart, M. (2010). Chapter 6: Public-sector leadership theory: An assessment. In J. L. Perry (Ed.), Jossey-Bass reader on public and nonprofit leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. (e-Reserves)
  • Jäger, U. P., & Rehli, F. (2012). Cooperative power relations between nonprofit board chairs and executive directors. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 23(2), 219–236.

Optional Readings for Those Interested in Knowling More about NPO leadership

  • Harrison, Y. D., & Murray, V. (2012). Perspectives on the leadership of chairs of nonprofit organization boards of directors: A grounded theory mixed‐method study. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 22(4), 411–437.
  • Suarez, D. F. (2010). Street credentials and management backgrounds: Careers of nonprofit executives in an evolving sector. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 39(4), 696–716.


Optional General Text on Leadership Without a Specific Focus on Nonprofit Organizations:

  • Yukl, G.A. (2012). Leadership for organizations (8th ed.). Prentice Hall; New Jersey.

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 4 Weekly Group Discussions: Youth Haven Case.
  3. Provide at least one comment on current issues presentations of your classmate by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday. (You are required to comment on five current issues presentation in total during the entire semester.)
  4. If you sign up for the Lesson 5 topic, submit your presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
  5. Complete the Memo Group peer evaluation.
Lesson 5 Human Resource Management

Readings:
  • Waston, M. R., & Abzug, R. (2010). Chapter 24: Effective human practices: Recruitment and retention in nonprofit organizations. In JBH (pp. 43–76). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Brudney, J. L. (2010). Chapter 26: Designing and managing volunteer programs. In JBH (pp. 43–76). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Handy, F., Mook, L., & Quarter, J. (2008). The interchangeability of paid staff and volunteers in nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 37(1), 76–92.
  • Studer, S. (2016). "Volunteer management: Responding to the uniqueness of volunteers." Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 45(4), 688-714.

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 5 Weekly Group Discussions: Volunteers and People-First Approach.
  3. Provide at least one comment on current issues presentations of your classmate by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday. (You are required to comment on five current issues presentation in total during the entire semester.)
  4. If you sign up for the Lesson 6 topic, submit your presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
Lesson 6 Strategic Planning

Readings:
  • Brown, W. A. (2010). Chapter 8: Strategic management in JBH (pp. 206–229). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Bryson, J. M. (2010). Chapter 9: Strategic planning and the strategy change cycle. In JBH (pp. 230–261). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Golensky, M. (2011). Chapter 8: Strategic planning. In Strategic leadership and management in nonprofit organizations. Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books, Inc. (e-Reserves).

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 6 Weekly Group Discussions: YSN's Strategic Plan.
  3. Provide at least one comment on current issues presentations of your classmate by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday. (You are required to comment on five current issues presentation in total during the entire semester.)
  4. If you sign up for the Lesson 7 topic, submit your presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
Lesson 7 Fundraising

Readings:
  • Holland, T. P., & Ritvo, R. A. (2008). Chapter 12: Principles and practices of effective fund-raising. In Nonprofit organizations principles and practices. New York, NY: Columbia University Press (e-Reserves).
  • Young, D. R. (2010). Chapter 18: Developing nonprofit resources. In JBH (pp. 482–504). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Fogal, R. E. (2010). Chapter 19: Designing and managing the fundraising program. In JBH (pp. 505–523). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Panic, K., Hudders, L., & Cauberghe, V. (2016). "Fundraising in an Interactive online environment." Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 45(2), 333-350.

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 7 Weekly Group Discussions: Fundraising.
  3. Provide at least one comment on current issues presentations of your classmate by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday. (You are required to comment on five current issues presentation in total during the entire semester.)
  4. If you sign up for the Lesson 8 topic, submit your presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
  5. The midterm issue brief is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) next Sunday.
Issue Brief Work Week

Readings:
  • None.

Assignments:

Submit the individual Midterm Issue Brief.
Lesson 8 Networks, Collaboration, and Partnerships

Readings:

Required:

  • Yankey, J. A., & Willen, C. K. (2010). Chapter 14: Collaboration and strategic alliance. In JBH (pp. 375–400). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Smith, S. R. (2010). Chapter 21: Managing the challenges of government contracts. In JBH (pp. 553–579). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Young, D. R. (2000). Alternative models of government-nonprofit sector relations: theoretical and international perspectives. Nonprofit and voluntary sector quarterly, 29(1), 149–172.

Optional Resources:

  • Kim, Y. W., & Brown, T. L. (2012). The importance of contract design. Public Administration Review, 72(5), 687–696.
  • Malatesta, D., & Smith, C. R. (2014). Lessons from resource dependence theory for contemporary public and nonprofit management. Public Administration Review, 74(1), 14–25.
  • Najam, A. (2000). The four C's of government third sector‐government relations. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 10(4), 375–396.
  • Cornforth, C., Hayes, J. P., Vangen, S. (2015). Nonprofit-Public collaborations: Understanding governance dynamics. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quaterly, 44(4), 775-597.
  • Urban Institute State Profiles Report

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 8 Weekly Group Discussions: Collaboration.
  3. Provide at least one comment on current issues presentations of your classmate by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday. (You are required to comment on five current issues presentation in total during the entire semester.)
  4. If you sign up for the Lesson 9 topic, submit your presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
Lesson 9 Ethics and Accountability

Readings:
  • Ebrahim, A. (2010). Chapter 4: The many faces of nonprofit accountability. In JBH (pp. 101–122). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Jeavons, T. H. (2010). Chapter 7: Ethical nonprofit management. In JBH (pp. 178–205). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Archambeault, D. S., Webber, S., & Greenlee, J. (2015). Fraud and corruption in U.S. nonprofit entities: A summary of press reports 2008-2011. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 44(6), 1194-1224.

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 9 Weekly Group Discussions: When Basic Values Conflict.
  3. Provide at least one comment on minimum of five presentations of your classmates by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday.
  4. If you sign up for the Lesson 10 topic, submit your presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
Lesson 10 Performance Measurement and Management

Readings:

Required:

  • Thomas, J. C. (2010). Chapter 15: Outcome assessment and program evaluation. In JBH (pp. 401–430). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Marshall, J. H., & Suárez, D. (2013). The flow of management practices: An analysis of NGO monitoring and evaluation dynamics. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly.
  • Benjamin, L. M. (2013). The potential of outcome measurement for strengthening nonprofits' accountability to beneficiaries. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 42(6), 1224–1244. First published on September 10, 2012.
  • Compassion Capital Fund National Resource Center. (2010). Measuring outcomes. Strengthening nonprofits: A capacity builder's resource library. Dare Mighty Things, Inc.

Optional Resources:

  • Lehtonen, M. (2014). Evaluating megaprojects: From the "iron triangle" to network mapping. Evaluation, 20(3), 278–295.
  • McNamara, C. (n.d.). Basic guide to outcomes-based evaluation for nonprofit organizations with very limited resources. Field guide to nonprofit design, marketing, and evaluation. Authenticity Consulting, LLC.

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 10 Weekly Group Discussions: Opportunity International (Note: For this assignment, you have to purchase "Opportunity International: Measurement and Mission" from the Harvard Business Publishing Education.  Articles are approximately $8.95 each. You need to register on the site to create a username if you do not have one. Please see the case information on the Harvard Business Publishing Case Reading page)
  3. Provide at least one comment on minimum of five presentations of your classmates by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday.
  4. If you sign up for the Lesson 11 topic, submit your presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
Lesson 11 Marketing and Communication

Readings:
  • Gainer, B. (2010). Chapter 11: Marketing for nonprofit organization. In JBH (pp. 301–328). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Kylander, N., & Stone, C. (2012). The role of brand in the nonprofit sector. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 10(2), 36–41.

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 11 Weekly Group Discussions: Amnesty International.
  3. Provide at least one comment on minimum of five presentations of your classmates by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday.
  4. If you sign up for the Lesson 12 topic, submit your presnations by 11:59 pm (ET) Sunday.
Lesson 12 Social Entrepreneurship

Readings:
  • Nash, M. T. A. (2010). Chapter 10: Social entrepreneurship. In JBH (pp. 262–298). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Trivedi, C., & Stokols, D. (2011). Social enterprises and corporate enterprises: Fundamental differences and defining features. Journal of Entrepreneurship, 20(1), 1–32.
  • Sastre-Castillo, M. A., Peris-Ortiz, M., & Valle I. D. (2015). What is different about the profile of the social entrepreneur? Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 25(4), 349-369.
  • Watch Dan Pallotta's "The way we think about charity is dead wrong" on Ted Talk: Social Good, Inc.-

Assignments:
  1. Complete the required readings.
  2. Participate in the Lesson 12 Weekly Group Discussions: BRAC.
  3. Provide at least one comment on minimum of five presentations of your classmates by 11:59 pm (ET) Thursday.
Final Case Analysis Work Week

Readings:
  • None.

Assignments:
  1. Submit the Toolkit Development assignment.
  2. Complete the Discussion Group peer evaluation.

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