(NACC DRAFT) UNDERGRADUATE GUIDELINES
Please note the following questions:
In my notes from our discussion, there seemed to be one section for issues that I have
separated into 2 sections here (section 8 and 9) … we should review/discuss this!
For “up front” Information
1. Audience—To inform students who are going to be in the degree as well as inform what
all students need to know … What is it that every BA student should know?
2. Make the point that as more children go through Learning to Give, we’ll need to “up the
ante” at the college level
3. Full degree document, references various ways to use and apply guidelines (gene d
courses, a major, non credit, professional development, etc.)
4. Another shorter document—“teaser” type—what every UG needs to know
5. Acknowledge that weighting of content and topics will be different for UG but similar
topics
6. Indicate that this information could be handled/addressed in a variety of ways … by
topic; by level of knowledge or depth; by individual, organization, society; by desired
competencies
7. Address pedagogy
a.
b.
c.
d.
Internship
Service learning—reflective practice component
Reference Harvard’s 6 components of a liberal arts education?
For the careerist side—the case study approach many not work at UG level for
pre-service students
8. Emphasize that full undergraduate degree is incomplete without community engagement
9. Also reference various web sites and resources, e.g., …
a. Learning to Give web site
b. American Democracy Project
c. SHU (Roseanne’s website)
1.0 Foundations of Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Sector
1.1 The definition and mission of philanthropy in civil society across time and place
1.2 The role of civil society organizations (nonprofit, nongovernmental, voluntary) across
time and place
1.3 The size, impact and trends in philanthropy and associational development
throughout the world
1.4 The diversity of forms of philanthropic action and the diversity of fields of activity
1.5 The relationship and dynamics among the governmental, nonprofit, for-profit and
family sectors
2.0 Global and Comparative Perspectives on Voluntary Action
2.1 An international understanding of the sector
2.2 Knowledge of civil society and associational forms across the globe
2.3 How individual philanthropy is expressed both in the U.S. and abroad
2.4 Trans-boundary philanthropy and voluntary behavior
3.0 Ethics and Values
3.1 Consideration and understanding of the values embodied in philanthropy and
voluntary action, such as trust, stewardship, service, voluntarism, freedom of association
and social justice
3.2 The foundations and theories of ethics as a discipline and as applied in order to
make ethical decisions
3.3 Knowledge and appreciation for issues arising out of the various dimensions of
diversity and their implications for mission achievement
3.4 Knowledge and awareness of the standards and codes of conduct that are
appropriate to professionals and volunteers working in philanthropy and the nonprofit
sector
4.0 Nonprofit Governance and Leadership
4.1 The history and function of governance and the role of boards and executive
leadership in achieving the mission and vision of nonprofit organizations
4.2 The history, role and functions of nonprofit governing boards and how these roles
and functions compare to governing boards in the public and for-profit sectors
4.3 The role of nonprofit boards and nonprofit executives as agent(s) of and for social
change and social justice at both the organizational and societal level
5.0 Advocacy, Public Policy and the Law
5.1 Roles of nonprofit organizations and voluntary action in effecting social change and
influencing the public policy process in both the North American and international
contexts
Key public policies and their past, current and potential impact on the nonprofit sector,
nonprofit organizations and philanthropic behaviors
5.3 How nonprofit organizations shape public policy through such advocacy strategies
and techniques as policy research, public education, lobbying, and litigation
6.1 The legal frameworks under which nonprofit organizations operate and are regulated
in the U.S.
6.3 Legal and tax implications related to charitable giving, advocacy, lobbying, political
and commercial activities of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations
6.0 Economics and Markets
6.1 An understanding of economic theory as it applies to the nonprofit sector
6.2 Knowledge of market impact on the sector as a whole and within sub-sectors
6.3 An understanding of interactions between sectors
6.4 An understanding of recent and emerging trends such as social enterprise and
entrepreneurship as a means of and for mission achievement
7.0 Nonprofit Finance and Financial Management
7.3 7.1 Theory of nonprofit finance, including knowledge of the various types of revenues
pursued by nonprofit organizations, the strategic choices and issues associated with
each type of revenue, and the methods used to generate these revenues
7.2 The relationship between and among earned income, government funding and
philanthropic gifts and grants, and how they influence fulfillment of an organization’s
mission
7.3 Application of accounting principles and concepts including financial and managerial
accounting (including fund accounting) systems in nonprofit organizations
7.4 Financial management including financial planning and budgeting, management of
cash flows, short- and long-term financing, and endowment management policies and
practices
8.0 Leading and Managing Organizations
8.1 Organizational theories and behavior as they are experienced in nonprofit and
voluntary organizations
8.2 Knowledge of theories of leadership and leadership styles
8.3 The role of strategic thinking and organizational planning, including an ability to
identify, assess and formulate appropriate strategies
8.4 Something about work design issues? How to get the work done?
8.5 Awareness and appreciation for the role of networks, partnerships and collaborations
in achieving organizational missions
8.6 Methods and modes to evaluate performance at both organizational and
programmatic levels
9.0 Managing Staff and Volunteers
9.1 Knowledge of human resource issues within both formal and informal nonprofit
organizations and how human resource issues, as experienced in nonprofit
organizations, are different from the experience in public and for-profit organizations
9.2 An understanding of teamwork and group dynamics and its implications for
supervision and staff development
9.3 The role, value and dynamics of volunteerism in carrying out the work, and fulfilling
the missions, of nonprofit organizations
9.4 Knowledge of human resource management process and systems for both staff and
volunteers
9.5 An understanding of the dimensions of individual and organizational diversity within
the nonprofit sector and their impact on human resource management
11.310.0 Fund Raising, Marketing and Communications
10.1 The emergence and development of philanthropy and the raising of philanthropic
gifts and grants as distinctive dimensions of the nonprofit sector
10.2 Knowledge of the fund development process and different fund-raising strategies,
such as annual appeals, special events, major gifts, capital campaigns and planned
giving
10.3 How the fields of communications, fund-raising and marketing intersect within a
nonprofit context
10.4 The theory, dynamics and principles of marketing “mission” in a nonprofit context
11.210.5 Marketing principles and techniques in general and then as applied in a
philanthropic and/or nonprofit environment
11.410.6 Various types of communication strategies and their use and function in a
nonprofit context, particularly as these relate to the variety of stakeholder groups
11.0 Decision-Making and Analytic Methods
11.1 Knowledge of decision-making models and methods and how to apply them in
nonprofit organizational settings
11.2 Ability to analyze and apply both quantitative and qualitative data for purposes of
strengthening nonprofit organizations, the nonprofit sector and the larger society
11.3 Role and function of information technology in the pursuit of a nonprofit
organization’s mission
13.311.4 Methods and modes of assessment and evaluation
12.0 Career Development and Exploration
12.1 Knowledge of career options and pathways
12.2 Role of mentoring in one’s professional development
12.3 Knowledge of the ways that various professionals contribute to and are engaged
with philanthropic and nonprofit sectors
12.4 Awareness of the opportunities for service and volunteerism that exist in the
community
12.5 The role of professional associations in career development
12.6 An understanding of professional comportment
13.0 Learning through Experience (or Service Learning?)
13.1 Service learning opportunities that increase knowledge and awareness of
philanthropy and the nonprofit sector
13.2 Service learning opportunities that create an understanding of the nonprofit sector
in a global context