OL 665 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

2/6/24, 2:33 PM Assignment Information

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OL 665 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

Not-for-pro�t organizations represent a signi�cant hiring pool for new graduates in the United States. The absence of a monetary pro�t goal is what de�nes not-for-pro�t organizations.

Typically, the not-for-pro�t organization exists to provide a public bene�t. Not-for-pro�t organizations exist across industries like education, healthcare, development, and environmental

work. Examples of not-for-pro�t organizations include Doctors Without Borders, the American Red Cross, Teach for America, and the World Food Program.

Not-for-pro�t organizations require leaders who can manage them as businesses while understanding the needs of the communities they serve. Inspirational leaders can help not-for-pro�t

organizations achieve their missions and reach their altruistic goals. In addition, good communication practices promote positive public relations and attract supporters.

For this project, you will conduct a strategic analysis of a not-for-pro�t organization of your choice. This project will help you develop the critical skills necessary for leadership and

management careers in the not-for-pro�t business sector.

To conduct your analysis, you will:

Identify key �nancial considerations,

Explore unique public relations considerations,

Consider issues of sustainability within organizations with a not-for-pro�t designation.

Your work on this project will increase your versatility as a leader and improve your appeal as a potential employee within the not-for-pro�t business sector. You will critically evaluate factors

that contribute to the overall success of a not-for-pro�t organization. The �nal product will demonstrate your competency.

The project is divided into three milestones. You will submit each milestone at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure the quality of your �nal submission. You will

submit these milestones in Modules Three, Five, and Seven. You will submit the �nal product in Module Nine. Remember that your �nal submission will have a conclusion that summarizes the

milestone work in a closing section.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

Evaluate management strategies and organizational structures of not-for-pro�t organizations for their effectiveness in managing boards, volunteers, and staff

Analyze communication strategies used by not-for-pro�t organizations for how they advance shared values, attitudes, and goals with all stakeholders

Analyze resource and budgetary considerations within not-for-pro�t organizations for determining potential challenges to �nancial operations

Analyze ethical considerations within not-for-pro�t entities for their impact on public image

Evaluate how operational strengths and weaknesses of not-for-pro�t organizations impact their long-term sustainability

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Prompt

For this project, you will choose a not-for-pro�t organization and develop a strategic analysis. Note that you must choose a 501(c)(3) organization. You will report on key areas of the

organization and evaluate each one for how well it contributes to the organization’s sustainability. Use the following question to guide your strategic analysis: How well is your chosen not-for-

pro�t organization operating to ensure its continued sustainability?

Speci�cally, address the following critical elements:

I. Introduction: Introduce your chosen organization. Include background information relevant to communicating your strategic analysis. Consider when, where, and how the organization

was founded.

II. Analysis

A. Leadership:

1. Discuss the speci�c board structure of your chosen organization, including the bene�ts of this structure.

2. Discuss the current management strategies for recruiting, using, and retaining human capital, including to what extent a succession plan is in place.

3. Evaluate the current leadership strategies and organizational structure for strengths and weaknesses in managing boards, volunteers, and staff.

B. Communications:

1. Discuss the organization’s current communication strategies internal and external, for promoting the organization's shared values.

2. Discuss the organization’s public relations strategies and speci�c branding techniques.

3. Evaluate the current communication strategies for opportunities for advancing the goals of the organization both internally and externally.

C. Finances:

1. Discuss the organization’s current budgetary resources, structure, and responsibilities.

2. Discuss the organization’s current fundraising campaigns, grant possibilities, and planned giving opportunities and their impact on the overall budget.

3. Determine potential challenges to the organization’s �nancial operation based on your analysis of its overall �nancial management.

D. Ethics:

1. Discuss the organization’s handling of budget and fundraising transparency, speci�cally regarding its adherence to established codes, principles, and ethics of the industry.

2. Discuss ethical considerations the organization faces related to con�ict of interest, privacy, and compensation.

3. Evaluate the impact of the organization’s ethical practices on its public image.

III. Evaluation

A. Summarize the most signi�cant strengths and weaknesses of the not-for-pro�t organization.

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B. Evaluate the organization’s long-term sustainability under the current operational strategies, considering how the major strengths and weaknesses of this organization factor into

its sustainability.

IV. Conclusion: Summarize your position on the organization’s long-term sustainability, including suggestions for the organization to support future sustainability. Support each suggestion

with your rationale.

Milestones

Milestone One: Organizational Pro�le

In Module Three, you will develop a detailed pro�le of the not-for-pro�t organization on which you will perform your strategic analysis. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One

Rubric.

Milestone Two: Leadership and Communication

In Module Five, you will analyze the leadership strategies and communication practices of the not-for-pro�t organization on which you will perform your strategic analysis. This milestone will

be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

Milestone Three: Financial Management and Ethics

In Module Seven, you will analyze the �nancial management and ethical practices of the not-for-pro�t organization on which you will perform your strategic analysis. This milestone will be

graded with the Milestone Three Rubric.

Final Submission: Strategic Analysis of a Not-for-Pro�t Organization

In Module Nine, you will submit your �nal project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the �nal product. It should incorporate feedback gained

throughout the course. Conclude your plan by applying what you have learned during the project. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

What to Submit

Your strategic analysis should be 10–12 pages (not including the title page or references) with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and APA formatting.

Final Project Rubric

Criteria Exemplary (100%) Pro�cient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Introduction Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

introduction demonstrates a

sophisticated awareness of the

details that contribute to

communicating the strategic

analysis

Introduces chosen

organization, including all

necessary background

information relevant to

communicating the strategic

analysis

Introduces chosen

organization, including all

necessary background

information relevant to

communicating the strategic

analysis, but introduction is

cursory

Does not introduce chosen

organization

5

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Criteria Exemplary (100%) Pro�cient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Leadership: Board Structure Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

discussion demonstrates a

sophisticated awareness of the

nuances of board types within

not-for-pro�t organizations

Discusses the speci�c board

structure present in chosen

organization, including the

bene�ts of this structure

Discusses the speci�c board

structure present in chosen

organization, but discussion is

cursory, contains inaccuracies,

or does not include bene�ts

Does not discuss the speci�c

board structure present in

chosen organization

6

Leadership: Management

Strategies

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

discussion demonstrates a

complex grasp of personnel

management strategies

Discusses the current

management strategies for

recruiting, using, and retaining

human capital, including to

what extent a succession plan is

in place

Discusses the current

management strategies for

recruiting, using, and retaining

human capital, including to

what extent a succession plan is

in place, but discussion is

cursory or contains

inaccuracies

Does not discuss the current

management strategies for

recruiting, using, and retaining

human capital

6

Leadership: Leadership

Strategies

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

evaluation demonstrates

nuanced understanding of how

leadership strategies and

organizational structure

in�uence managing boards,

volunteers, and staff

Evaluates the current

leadership strategies and

organizational structure for

strengths and weaknesses in

managing boards, volunteers,

and staff

Evaluates the current

leadership strategies and

organizational structure but

evaluation is cursory or

contains inaccuracies

Does not evaluate the current

leadership strategies and

organizational structure

6

Communications:

Communication Strategies

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

discussion demonstrates a

sophisticated grasp of

communication strategies used

to promote shared values

Discusses the organization’s

current communication

strategies, internal and

external, for promoting the

organization's shared values

Discusses the current

communication strategies,

internal and external, for

promoting the organization's

shared values, but discussion is

cursory or contains

inaccuracies

Does not discuss the current

communication strategies the

organization uses

6

Communications: Public

Relations

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

description demonstrates

nuanced understanding of the

organization's public relations

strategies and branding

techniques

Discusses the organization's

public relations strategies and

speci�c branding techniques

Discusses the organization's

public relations strategies and

speci�c branding techniques,

but discussion is cursory or

contains inaccuracies

Does not discuss the

organization's public relations

strategies and speci�c branding

techniques

6

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Criteria Exemplary (100%) Pro�cient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Communications: Advancing

the Goals

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

evaluation demonstrates

nuanced understanding of how

communication strategies can

support advancing the goals of

the organization

Evaluates the current

communication strategies for

opportunities for advancing the

goals of the organization both

internally and externally

Evaluates the current

communication strategies for

opportunities for advancing the

goals of the organization both

internally and externally, but

evaluation is cursory or

contains inaccuracies

Does not evaluate the current

communication strategies for

opportunities for advancing the

goals of the organization both

internally and externally

6

Finances: Budgetary

Resources, Structure, and

Responsibilities

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

discussion demonstrates

nuanced understanding of

budgetary resources, structure,

and responsibilities

Discusses the organization's

current budgetary resources,

structure, and responsibilities

Discusses the organization's

current budgetary resources,

structure, and responsibilities,

but discussion is cursory or

includes inaccuracies

Does not discuss the

organization's current

budgetary resources, structure,

and responsibilities

6

Finances: Fundraising

Campaigns, Grant

Possibilities, and Planned

Giving Opportunities

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

discussion demonstrates a

sophisticated awareness of the

impact of fundraising on the

organization’s budget

Discusses the organization’s

current fundraising campaigns,

grant possibilities, and planned

giving opportunities and their

impact on the overall budget

Discusses the organization’s

current fundraising campaigns,

grant possibilities, and planned

giving opportunities and their

impact on the overall budget,

but discussion is cursory or

includes inaccuracies

Does not discuss the

organization’s current

fundraising campaigns, grant

possibilities, and planned giving

opportunities and their impact

on the overall budget

6

Finances: Financial

Management

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

determination demonstrates

nuanced understanding of

�nancial management and

�duciary responsibilities

Determines potential

challenges to the organization’s

�nancial operation based on

the analysis of its overall

�nancial management

Determines potential

challenges to the organization’s

�nancial operation based on

the analysis of its overall

�nancial management, but

determinations are cursory or

illogical

Does not determine potential

challenges to the organization’s

�nancial operation based on

the analysis of its overall

�nancial management

6

Ethics: Budget and

Fundraising Transparency

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

discussion demonstrates a

sophisticated awareness of

transparency and industry-

wide ethical standards

Discusses the organization's

handling of budget and

fundraising transparency,

speci�cally regarding

adherence to established

codes, principles, and ethics of

the industry

Discusses the organization's

handling of budget and

fundraising transparency,

speci�cally regarding

adherence to established

codes, principles, and ethics of

the industry, but discussion is

cursory or includes

inaccuracies

Does not discuss the

organization's handling of

budget and fundraising

transparency

6

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Criteria Exemplary (100%) Pro�cient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Ethics: Ethical

Considerations

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

discussion demonstrates a

sophisticated awareness of

ethical considerations related

to a not-for-pro�t organization

Discusses ethical

considerations the organization

faces related to con�ict of

interest, privacy, and

compensation

Discusses ethical

considerations the organization

faces related to con�ict of

interest, privacy, and

compensation, but discussion is

cursory or overlooks key

concerns

Does not discuss additional

ethical considerations related

to con�ict of interest, privacy,

and compensation

6

Ethics: Public Image Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

evaluation demonstrates

nuanced understanding of

ethical considerations

Evaluates the impact of the

organization’s ethical practices

on its public image

Evaluates the impact of the

organization’s ethical practices

on its public image, but

evaluation is cursory

Does not evaluate the impact of

the organization’s ethical

practices on its public image

6

Evaluation: Strengths and

Weaknesses

Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

summary demonstrates

sophisticated grasp of the

factors that become strengths

or weaknesses within not-for-

pro�t organizations

Summarizes the most

signi�cant strengths and

weaknesses of this not-for-

pro�t organization

Summarizes the most

signi�cant strengths and

weaknesses of this not-for-

pro�t organization, but

summary is cursory or contains

inaccuracies

Does not summarize the most

signi�cant strengths and

weaknesses of this not-for-

pro�t organization

6

Evaluation: Sustainability Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

evaluation demonstrates a

sophisticated understanding of

how organizational strengths

and weakness factor into long-

term sustainability

Evaluates the organization’s

long-term sustainability under

the current operational

strategies, considering how

major strengths and

weaknesses factor into its

sustainability

Evaluates the organization’s

long-term sustainability under

the current operational

strategies, considering how

major strengths and

weaknesses factor into its

sustainability, but evaluation

lacks detail or is illogical

Does not evaluate the

organization’s long-term

sustainability under the current

operational strategies

6

Conclusion Meets “Pro�cient” criteria, and

rationale demonstrates a

sophisticated grasp of

sustainability considerations

Summarizes position on the

organization’s long-term

sustainability, including

suggestions for the

organization to support future

sustainability, and supports

each suggestion with rationale

Summarizes position on the

organization’s long-term

sustainability, including

suggestions for the

organization to support future

sustainability, but summary is

cursory or illogical, or

suggestions lack supporting

rationale

Does not summarize position

on the organization’s long-term

sustainability

6

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Criteria Exemplary (100%) Pro�cient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Articulation of Response Submission is free of errors

related to citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, and

organization and is presented

in a professional and easy to

read format

Submission has no major errors

related to citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors

related to citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, or organization

that negatively impact

readability and articulation of

main ideas

Submission has critical errors

related to citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, or organization

that prevent understanding of

ideas

5

Total: 100%