HUSV 3570 Strategic Philanthropy & Nonprofit Management
Fall 2014 Syllabus
Meeting Time:
Wednesday and Friday, 11:45-1:25
Room: 154 Ryder
Instructor:
Rebecca Riccio
cell: 617-794-9504
office: 617-373-4020
email: r.riccio@neu.edu
TA:
Name: Alex Vipond
cell: (262) 751-7761
email: vipond.a@husky.neu.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 pm or by appointment, Renaissance Park, Room 310C. Please contact the instructor or TA by
email if you need to arrange an appointment. Twenty-four hours advance notice is appreciated.
Course description
The goals of the course are to:
1.) Understand the theory and contemporary best practices of sound nonprofit management and philanthropy.
2.) Build practical skills in nonprofit program management by designing and implementing a project that supports the development
of Northeastern Students4Giving (described below); and
3.) Develop practical skills in strategic philanthropy through a student-led grant-making initiative.
This is a service-learning course. Through theoretical and experiential learning, the class will explore the role of the nonprofit sector in
the U.S. and various aspects of nonprofit management, including strategic planning, the program life cycle from needs assessment
through evaluation, the relationship between sound program design and successful fundraising, and governance. Students will manage
multiple components of a real-dollar grant-making cycle and participate in a group project to support the work of Northeastern
Students4Giving (NS4G), a student-led philanthropy initiative established to make grants to nonprofit organizations in communities
neighboring Northeastern University. The philanthropy component of the course provides a platform for examining funding mechanisms
in the nonprofit sector, various philanthropic models and approaches, and the relationship between nonprofit organizations and donors.
During the fall semester, students choose the funding priority for the current year, develop a request for proposals (RFP), and update
application materials. During the spring semester, students review proposals, conduct site visits, and make grant determinations.
Completion of readings and assignments, active engagement in group work, and regular participation in classroom discussions are
required.
Requirements
Service-learning Project: Student teams will work on projects related to the current program management needs of NS4G. Past projects
have been related to marketing and communications (including social media and web site development), business planning and
fundraising, relationship cultivation, impact assessment, and program development. Individually and as a team, students will develop a
strategy statement to articulate the purpose of their project and a rationale or strategy for implementing it. Each team will design a
work plan to define specific activities, research requirements, the deliverable to be produced, a timeline, and team member work
assignments. The work plan must be approved by the instructor. Each group member is expected to participate equally in developing and
executing the team project. The work plan must clearly reflect how roles and responsibilities will be defined and shared. A reasonable
amount of class time will be devoted to discussing the elements of the work plan and working in groups, but all students are expected to
work on their projects outside of class time. The deliverable to be produced through the work plan must include an oral presentation at
the end of the semester and written documentation (e.g., a report, analysis, recommendations) that may be utilized by NS4G.
Active class participation is required. Students are expected to contribute to all discussions, to carry a fair share of the responsibility for
their team’s progress reports and presentations, and to engage actively in the collective management of NS4G. Class participation should
demonstrate that students are reading and analyzing assigned materials. Students will synthesize and reflect upon what they are
learning in three two-page analysis and reflection papers synthesizing course content and their experience of the course.
Additional NS4G assignments may be decided upon collectively as part of the student management of NS4G. Students may also be
invited to participate in other activities (e.g., surveys, phone interviews) in conjunction with research projects assessing the teaching of
philanthropy at the undergraduate level. The final exam will be a take-home exam to be completed individually. No group work will be
allowed on the final exam. At the end of the course, students are expected to participate in TRACE surveys as requested by the
university.
There is no textbook for this course. Required readings are listed as assignments in the syllabus with links available on Blackboard.
Assignments and Final Grade Calculation
The requirements and grading system for all assignments will be distributed well in advance of their due dates. Assignments will carry
the following weight in the calculation of the final grade:
Assignment
Strategy Statement
S-L Team Work Plan
Group Project – Presentation
Group Project – Documentation
Reflection papers
Final Exam
Class participation
Attendance
Weight
10%
15%
15%
15%
15%
20%
10%
± base grade
Due Date
9/26
10/15
11/21
12/3
9/19, 10/24, 12/3
December 10, 5 p.m.
Ongoing
(See below.)
Professional standards for spelling, usage, and grammar must be adhered to in all writing assignments. The quality of the writing will
factor into the grade for the assignment. The content and delivery of oral presentations must reflect guidelines for effective public
speaking and thoughtful preparation and planning. Extensions will only be granted when arranged with the instructor before an
assignment is due. Unexcused late assignments will receive a 5% grade reduction for every day past due. Assignments must be
submitted in hard copy unless otherwise indicated by the instructor.
Grading Policy
The guidelines for each assignment will include a grading rubric. For the final grade, the following scale will be applied:
94-100 = A
80-83 = B67-69 = D+
90-93 = A77-79 = C+
64-66 = D
87-89 = B+
74-76 = C
60-63 = D84-86 = B
70-73 = C0-59 = F
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Anyone submitting someone else’s work as their own will receive a failing grade. Students are expected
to comply with the NU Academic Integrity Policy at http://www.northeastern.edu/osccr/academicintegrity/index.html.
Attendance Policy
Attendance will affect the final grade. The success of this course depends on the presence and active participation of all students in every
class. Unexcused absences and tardiness will result in deductions from the final grade, regardless of a student’s overall performance or the
quality of assignments submitted. Two absences are allowed without penalty. Each subsequent absence will result in a deduction from the
final grade (e.g., from a B to a B-), even if this results in a failing grade for the course. Arrival in class more than 15 minutes after it begins
will count against the class participation grade. In case of a personal emergency or extenuating circumstance, including health issues,
family crises, etc., the instructor may excuse absences. You must contact the instructor to discuss this type of situation. Documentation
may be required from the appropriate university office to substantiate requests to excuse excessive absences.
Confidentiality and Professional Conduct
All work related to NS4G and NS4G grant applicants, including verbal and written communication and on-site activities, must be
conducted with the highest professional standards. The confidentiality of NS4G applicants and their clients must be protected at all
times. Students may be asked to sign a communications release form and/or a conflict of interest disclosure as part of their work on
NS4G.
Appropriate Use of Email and Phone
Please feel free to email the instructor and TA for clarification on course material and assignments. For more serious issues, for example
if you cannot meet a deadline or attend class regularly, or if you have concerns about your grade, please arrange a meeting with one of
us. If you urgently need a response to a question, please contact the instructor by phone.
Electronic Devices
Laptops and tablets may be used solely for note taking and team work. All other electronic devices should be turned off and remain off
during class. Anyone using their laptop or tablet for personal reasons will be asked to leave class and marked absent for the day.
Topics and Assignments


You may be required to commit up to 4 hours per week to your S-L project in addition to readings and assignments, although this
time is likely to vary from week to week.
Please look ahead so you can plan accordingly for busy periods for your S-L team and longer reading assignments.
Date
Topic
9/3
Course Overview
9/5
The Nonprofit Sector
in the U.S.
9/10
Nonprofit Structure
and Governance
9/12
The RISE Framework
9/17
Understanding
Stakeholders and the
Environment:
Collective Impact,
Systems Thinking,
Relationship
Mapping
Assignment due for this class (Readings and links available on Blackboard.)
Note: All readings are available free of charge online, but you may need to register as a user at
some sites to access the material.
 Hall, PD, A Historical Overview of Philanthropy, Voluntary Associations, and Nonprofit
Organizations in the United States, 1600–2000 at
www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/phall/Powell%20Essay-Final%20-%20rev.pdf
 Pettijohn, Sarah L. for the Urban Institute, The Nonprofit Sector in Brief 2013 at
www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412923-The-Nonprofit-Sector-in-Brief.pdf
 Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the web sites www.guidestar.org and
www.charitynavigator.org. At Charity Navigator's Tips & Resources, read Questions to ask a
Charity Before Donating and Top 10 Best Practices of Savvy Donors.
 Go to the non-profit look-up feature of MelissaDATA at
www.melissadata.com/lookups/np.asp to find out how many and what kinds of NPOs are
listed in your hometown. Make note of their assets. Be prepared to discuss the role these
nonprofits play in your community; what, if any, influence they have had in your or your
family's life; and any insights you gained into the nonprofit sector from this exercise.
In class: Complete survey form on service-learning team interests.
 Review the Life Cycle of a Public Charity at
www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=122670,00.html and the graphical depiction at
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/Life_Cycle_Public_Charity_graphical.pdf
 Anheier, Helmut K. Stakeholders, "Governance, and Accountability," in Nonprofit
Organizations: Theory, Management, Policy (available online through Northeastern University
Libraries.)
 Skim: Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, The Skill the Nonprofit Sector Requires of its Managers
and Leaders at
www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org/cnp/cnprevalidation/Final%20Report.pdf
 Skim: Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and
Foundations at www.independentsector.org/principles_guide_summary
 From the Board Source Community Resources, download and read Board Basics: Thinking
about Joining a Board of Directors? and Board Responsibilities and Structures at
www.boardsource.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=BDS2012&WebKey=0ad59d92-cf7a425e-a271-a6001b53484a
In class: Exchange contact information and schedules with S-L team members.
 Colby et al, Zeroing in on Impact at www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/zeroing_in_on_impact
 Gregory and Howard, The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle, at
www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/the_nonprofit_starvation_cycle/
 Skim Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence, PDF at
www.minnesotanonprofits.org/nonprofit-resources/principles-and-practices/principles-andpractices-for-nonprofit-excellence-2014/principles-and-practices-for-nonprofit-excellence
 Skim: Huang et al., for The Center for Effective Philanthropy, In Search of Impact at
www.effectivephilanthropy.org/portfolio-items/in-search-of-impact/
 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Logic Model Development Guide at www.wkkf.org/knowledgecenter/resources/2006/02/WK-Kellogg-Foundation-Logic-Model-Development-Guide.aspx
 Kania, John and Mark Kramer, Collective Impact at
www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/collective_impact
 Brown, Tim and Jocelyn Watt, Design Thinking for Social Innovation at
www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/design_thinking_for_social_innovation
 Kivell, Natalia, Systems Thinking In Organizations (including Prezi), for the Leonard Turkel
Nonprofit Network at www.specway.org/wiki/systems_thinking_in_organizations
Introduction of S-L
Projects
9/19
Program Design and
Evaluation
9/24
Planning to Succeed
9/26
Philanthropy in the
U.S.
10/1
Philanthropic
Models
10/3
Nonprofit Business
Models, Fundraising,
and Sustainability
 GrantCraft, Scanning the Landscape 2.0 at
http://www.grantcraft.org/assets/content/resources/scan20.pdf
 Familiarize yourself with the Kumu relationship mapping software at https://kumu.io/
Begin developing S-L team Strategy Statement.
 Sawhill, John C. and David Williamson, "Mission Impossible? Measuring Success in Nonprofit
Organizations," Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 2001, Vol.11 (3) (Available online
from Northeastern University Libraries.)
 GrantCraft's Mapping Change: Using a Theory of Change to Guide Planning and Evaluation at
www.grantcraft.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewpage&pageid=808
 Preskill, Hallie and Katelyn Mack, Building a Strategic Learning and Evaluation Culture for Your
Organization at
ww.fsg.org/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/PDF/Building_an_Evaluation_System.pdf
 Skim Chapters 1-3 of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook at
http://www.wkkf.org/knowledge-center/resources/2010/W-K-Kellogg-FoundationEvaluation-Handbook.aspx
FIRST REFLECTION DUE.
Continue developing S-L team Strategy Statement.
 Campbell & Haley for The Bridgespan Group, Business Planning: What it is and why it matters
at www.bridgespan.org/Publications-and-Tools/Strategy-Development/Business-Planningfor-Nonprofits-What-It-Is-and-Wh.aspx#.UiSJ5NJ4wlQ
Finalize work on S-L team Strategy Statement.
 Fleishman, Joel, "Foundations: What They Do and How They Do It," in The Foundation: A
Great American Secret, pp 1-45. Available on Blackboard.
 Giving USA 2013 Report Highlights store.givingusareports.org/Giving-USA-2013-ReportHighlights-P98.aspx
 Foundation Center tutorials Foundations and Their Role in Philanthropy and Foundations
Today Tutorial at www.foundationcenter.org/grantmakers/basics.html (Free with online
registration.)
S-L TEAM STRATEGY STATEMENT DUE.
Start developing S-L team work plan.
 Anheier, Helmut, "Giving, Philanthropy, and Foundations", Chapter 6 in Nonprofit
Organizations: Theory, Management, Policy (Available online through Northeastern
University Libraries.)
 National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, Understanding Social Justice Philanthropy
at http://www.ncrp.org/files/Understanding_Social_Justice_Philanthropy.pdf
 Review the following web sites sufficiently to understand each funder or funding
intermediary's mission, structure, funding priorities, and funding mechanism(s). Be prepared
to advocate for or challenge their philanthropic approaches.
 Kiva http://www.kiva.org/
 Root Cause, especially the Social Innovation Forum http://www.rootcause.org/
 EdVestors http://www.edvestors.org/
 GreenLight Fund www.greenlightfund.org
 Gates Foundation www.gatesfoundation.org
 The Jessie B. Cox Trust http://www.jbcoxtrust.org/
 State Street Foundation http://www.statestreet.com (from main page, follow links to
About State Street, Corporate Citizenship, State Street Foundation)
 Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund http://www.charitablegift.org/
 Giving Circles http://www.givingcircles.org/
Continue developing S-L team work plan.
 Kaplan, Saul, Business Models Aren't Just for Business,
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/04/business_models_arent_just_for.html
 Foster, William L. et al., Ten Nonprofit Funding Models
http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/ten_nonprofit_funding_models/
 Go to your favorite nonprofit organization's web site and find out as much as you can about
its business model and fundraising and/or revenue generating techniques. Be prepared to
discuss in class.
Continue developing S-L Team work plan.
NOTE: Rebecca will be holding extended office hours Oct. 6-10 to discuss S-L work plans.
10/8
S-L Team Work Day
Continue developing S-L Team work plan.
10/10
Grant Seeking and
Proposal Writing
10/15
Grant Seeking and
Proposal Writing,
cont.
10/17
Review of Past NS4G
RFPs and
Applications
10/22
Demystifying
Nonprofit Finances
Guest Speaker: Mark
Alexander
10/24
Panel: NS4G
Grantees
10/29
The Giving Common
10/31
Community Needs
Assessment Reports
Selection of 2013-14
NS4G Funding
Priorities
NS4G RFP &
Application
 Read all components of the Foundation Center's Proposal Writing Short Course at
http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html
 At the Associated Grantmakers of Massachusetts, review the AGM Common Proposal Form
and the AGM Common Report Form at http://www.agmconnect.org/GrantSeekers/
Continue developing S-L Team work plan.
 Thoroughly study all the NS4G Grants tabs on the Social Impact Lab web site, including the
2014 guidelines, request for proposals, and application guidelines at
www.northeastern.edu/impactlab/2014-grants/
S-L WORK PLAN DUE.
 Kramer, Mark, Catalytic Philanthropy (inc. comments) at
www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/catalytic_philanthropy/
 Read the 2014 NS4G grant applications posted on Blackboard.
Begin implementing S-L team work plans.
 Swords, Peter, How to Read the New IRS Form 990
http://www.npccny.org/new990/new990.htm
 Thoroughly familiarize yourself with The Joyful Heart Foundation's web site at
www.joyfulheartfoundation.org
Continue implementing S-L team work plans.
 When speakers are confirmed, you will be asked to review their application to NS4G and their
web sites.
Continue implementing S-L team work plans.
SECOND REFLECTION DUE
 Thoroughly study the Giving Common at http://www.givingcommon.org/
Continue implementing S-L team work plans.
 Review Community Scan materials developed by Human Services Professions students.
Continue implementing S-L team work plans.
 Grant Craft, Using Competitions and RFPs at http://www.grantcraft.org/?pageid=1374
Continue implementing S-L team work plans.
11/5
11/7
11/12
Guest Speaker
Videos
11/14
S-L Team Work Day
11/19
Finalization of NS4G
RFP & Application
S-L Presentations
11/21
12/3
12/10
Tying It All Together:
Class Discussion
 Bolduc, Kevin, et al. for The Center for Effective Philanthropy, Beyond the Rhetoric at
www.effectivephilanthropy.org/assets/pdfs/CEP_BeyondTheRhetoric.pdf
 Fulton and Blau for the Global Business Network and Monitor Institute, Looking out for the
Future: An Orientation for 21st Century Philanthropists,
www.futureofphilanthropy.org/files/finalreport.pdf
Continue implementing S-L team work plans.
 Lewis, Nicole, Giving Pledge Signers Give Big in 2013," Chronicle of Philanthropy, Feb. 9, 2014
http://philanthropy.com/article/Signers-of-the-Giving-Pledge/144567/
 Review the Giving Pledge website at http://givingpledge.org/
Continue implementing S-L team work plans.
Continue implementing S-L team work plans. Work on final presentations.
 Review draft documents on Blackboard. Come to class prepared to suggest revisions.
S-L PRESENTATIONS
 Watch and come prepared to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments made
in these TED Talks by drawing on specific concepts, articles, and lectures from the course:
Peter Singer: The why and how of effective altruism
http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_singer_the_why_and_how_of_effective_altruism.html
Dan Pallotta: The way we think about charity is dead wrong
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong.
html
THIRD REFLECTION DUE
FINAL PROJECT DUE
FINAL EXAM DUE BY 5 P.M.