CAS 2033.001 Fundamentals of Nonprofit Management I
University of Oklahoma
Spring 2015 | TR 9:00AM - 10:15AM | Adams 104
Office Hours: DAHT 304L, T 10:30AM – 11:30AM & W 9:30AM – 11:30AM, or by appointment
Course Objectives:
This course aims to achieve two primary purposes. First, it introduces the basic concepts of what the
nonprofit sector is and does. Discussions will include the nature, scope, functions, main activities, legal
and tax frameworks, and governing structures of nonprofit organizations. Second, it exposes students to a
wide range of management issues today’s nonprofits face in pursuing their missions and daily operations.
Issues can include: securing funds, managing staff and volunteers, improving performance, and ensuring
internal and external accountabilities. Whenever relevant, contemporary issues, debates, and news reports
concerning nonprofits’ managerial practices or pending policy proposals that affect nonprofits will be
discussed so that students can acquire better understanding and analytical skills regarding nonprofit
management and the related policy implications.
Required Texts:
1. Grobman, Gary M. An Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector, 3rd edition. ISBN: 9781929109272
2. Other required readings will be posted under the content section of Desire2Learn (D2L) at
(http://learn.ou.edu). Check the syllabus for readings noted as D2L.
Instructional Methods and Communication:
A website has been set up specifically for this course at the OU Desire2Learn (D2L) website
(http://learn.ou.edu). All course information, activities, and announcements will be posted on this site. All
official correspondence from the instructor will be sent only to students’ @ou.edu address.
Assignments and Grading:
5% Participation: Participation will be evaluated based on class attendance and participation in
discussions and in-class exercises.
15% Homework: Throughout the semester, students will be responsible for several assignments to be
completed outside of class individually. These assignments include an analysis of the National Center for
Charitable Statistics data, a resume exercise, and a website critique.
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NTEE Assignment: Students will be assigned a section of the NCCS (http://nccsweb.urban.org)
database to familiarize themselves with the scope of the nonprofit sector and the NTEE coding
scheme. Using the provided template, identify the characteristics (sector, location, income, etc.)
of each organization using the NCCS summary, Form 990, and organization’s website. Due
January 24th by 5PM to dropbox.
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Resume: A resume is one of the most important documents you will prepare as a jobseeker.
Create (or update) your resume targeting the nonprofit sector. Resumes should be limited to 1
page using 12 point Times New Roman or similar font with your contact information at the top.
In the body, include: education and your anticipated graduation date (do not include high school,
you may include courses highlighting skills), and professional experience with short descriptions
and dates (this may include volunteer or internship experience). You may also include technical
skills such as languages, computer skills, etc., major accomplishments, hobbies, talents, travel,
and other relevant information. Due February 26th in class (hardcopy).
CAS 2033.001 Fundamentals of Nonprofit Management I
University of Oklahoma
Spring 2015 | TR 9:00AM - 10:15AM | Adams 104

Website Critique: The internet is an important tool for gaining support for an issue, fundraising,
and providing information to beneficiaries. Each student will choose a nonprofit that is of interest
to them. After examining the nonprofit’s website, students will write a 500 –750 word doublespaced paper that discusses the design, content, and ease of use of the website. In addition,
students will make two recommendations about how to improve the website and provide an
explanation for these recommendations. Due April 9th by 5PM to dropbox.
25% Group Project: Students will form small groups at the start of the semester and work with their
group throughout the semester to form a nonprofit, a multi-stage project. Several in-class sessions will be
given to plan and develop ideas, but groups should also meet outside of class. Students will be evaluated
based on group products and a peer evaluation. Due March 10th and April 28th.
20% Midterm: The midterm exam will be based on readings, lectures, and in-class discussions. The
exam is scheduled for March 5th.
10% Twitter: Each group will become “experts” in a competency area. Your group is required to manage
a twitter profile for a topic and tweet about that topic 2-3 times per week (hint: assign a different member
each week to be responsible for tweeting). Each group will follow people who tweet on its competency
area and use a hashtag associated with that topic. You should use the experts and resources your group
curates to contribute to in-class discussions and apply themes covered. Your group will be evaluated on
the tweeting frequency, the quality of the tweets, and your discussion in class. An anonymous peer
assessment at the end of the semester will be used assess individual group member twitter contributions.
25% Final Exam: .001 May 8th, 8:00AM – 10:00AM, Adams 104 / .002 May 3rd, 1:30PM – 3:30PM,
Physical Sciences Center 416
All written assignments will be turned in electronically to D2L in .doc or .docx format ONLY (i.e.,
Microsoft Word). Late assignments will be reduced by 1/3 of a letter grade for each day they are
late. All papers in class will be scanned using plagiarism detection software. Please see the information
below regarding academic misconduct and plagiarism. Plagiarism is not tolerated at the University of
Oklahoma and will not be tolerated in this course.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is expected from students in this course. Students should be familiar with the
University of Oklahoma’s policy on academic integrity, updated August 2011 (http://integrity.ou.edu).
Using the work of others without properly crediting them either verbatim or paraphrasing is considered
plagiarism. Any act of plagiarism or academic misconduct will result in an automatic F for the semester
and official charges of misconduct with the university. Students accused of academic misconduct have the
right to a hearing if desired and the right to appeal. The penalties for academic misconduct are severe and
include suspension, loss of academic credit, required community service, and permanent record of
misconduct on transcripts.
Accommodation Policy
Any student with a disability that may prevent him or her from demonstrating his or her abilities should
CAS 2033.001 Fundamentals of Nonprofit Management I
University of Oklahoma
Spring 2015 | TR 9:00AM - 10:15AM | Adams 104
contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full
participation and facilitate your educational opportunities. Students with disabilities are required to
register with the Office of Disability Services (Goddard, Suite 166/tel. (405) 325-3852, TDD (405) 3254173) before receiving accommodations in this course.
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and
to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required assignments that
may fall on religious holidays. Students who plan to observe a holiday should notify me immediately in
order to make appropriate arrangements.
Class Cancellations
If class must be canceled for any reason (instructor illness, severe weather, etc.) continue reading the
course material, as it is currently scheduled in the syllabus.
Changes to Syllabus
I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus during the semester. Any changes will be announced in
class, via e-mail, or via D2L.
Course Schedule
January 13th & 15th: Introduction to Nonprofits
Grobman. Ch2: History of the Nonprofit Sector, pp. 35-52
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Review Syllabus
Group Project Instruction
NTEE Code Assignment Instruction
January 15th: NO CLASS – Instructor Travel
January 20th & 22nd: Classification and Scope of the Nonprofit Sector
Urban Institute. 2013 Nonprofit Almanac in Brief (D2L), pp. 1-8
LeMay. “Getting to Know the Nonprofit World” in The Generosity Plan, pp. 73-86 (D2L)
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Group Meetings: discuss nonprofit organization, mission statement, 3 programs
January 24th: NTEE Assignment due
January 27th & 29th: Incorporating a Nonprofit and Governance
Grobman. Ch4: Legal and Regulatory Issues, pp. 65-89
Grobman. Ch5: Bylaws and Governance, pp. 93-83
Implications of Sarbanes-Oxley (D2L), pp. 1-11
Grobman. Ch6: Mission Statements, pp. 111-118
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
IRS Form 1023 (D2L)
IRS Guide on Governance (D2L)
CAS 2033.001 Fundamentals of Nonprofit Management I
University of Oklahoma
Spring 2015 | TR 9:00AM - 10:15AM | Adams 104
February 3rd & 5th: Strategic Planning and Program Development
Grobman. Ch15: Strategic Planning and Change Management, pp. 267-295
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Group Meeting: mission statement, programs, legal documents
February 10th & 12th: Financial Management
Grobman. Ch10: Financial Management, pp. 165-186
American Diabetes Association Consolidated Financial Report 2013 (D2L)
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In-Class: Group Budgeting Exercise
Group Meeting: if time allows
February 17th & 19th: Fundraising and Grant Management
Grobman. Ch8: Fundraising, pp. 141-151; Ch9: Grant Management, pp. 153-164
Wymer and Dollinger. Charity appeals using celebrity endorsers: Celebrity attributes most predictive of
audience donation intentions, pp. 1- 11 (D2L)

Group Meeting: budgets and financing (if time allows)
February 24th & 26th: Managing Human Resources
Grobman. Ch11: Personnel, pp. 187-216
Rotolo and Wilson. State-Level Differences in Volunteerism in the United States (D2L), pp. 452-473
Visit Virtual Volunteering Page and read through the guide (links on left):
http://www.serviceleader.org/virtual
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February 26th: Resume due (bring hardcopy to class)
In-class: Hiring Exercise
Group Meeting: human resources/volunteer management (if time allows)
March 3rd & 5th: Midterm
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March 3rdth: Midterm Q&A / catch-up day
March 5th: Midterm in-class
March 10th & 12th: Group Presentations
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March 10th: Part I of Group Projects due
 Turn-in: mission statement, program plans, advertising, and legal documents
 Present: nonprofit, mission statement, program plans, and advertising with powerpoint
March 16th – March 20th: SPRING BREAK
CAS 2033.001 Fundamentals of Nonprofit Management I
University of Oklahoma
Spring 2015 | TR 9:00AM - 10:15AM | Adams 104
March 24th & 26th: Political Participation, Communication and Public Relations
Grobman. Ch13: Lobbying, pp. 229-239
IRS Fact Sheet on Political Participation for 501(c)(3) (D2L)
Grobman. Ch12: Communications and Public Relations, pp. 217-228

In Class: Advocacy Exercise
March 31st & April 2nd: Ethics and Program Evaluation
Grobman. Ch7: Ethics, pp. 119-139
A Simple Guide to Program Evaluation (D2L)

In Class: Logic Model Exercise
April 7th & 9th: The Internet and Social Media / Risk Management
Young. How Nonprofits Manage Risk (D2L), pp. 33-46
Guo and Saxton. Tweeting Social Change (D2L), pp. 57-79

April 9th: Website critique due
April 14th & 16th: Collaboration
AL-Tabaa et al. Collaboration Between Nonprofit and Business Sectors (D2L)
Guo and Acar. Understanding Collaboration Among Nonprofit Organizations, pp. 343-349 (D2L)

Group Meeting / Catch-up
April 21st & 23rd: International Organizations
Worth. Governing and Managing International and Global Organizations (D2L), pp. 380 – 394
Gryzbowski, C. We NGOs: A Controversial Way of Being and Acting (D2L), pp. 436-444
April 28th & 30th: Group Presentations

April 28th: Part II of group projects due
o Turn-in: completed Part II and Part I edits if applicable
o Present: budget, fundraising plan, human resources, volunteer management plans, and
program evaluation with powerpoint

April 30th: Final Q&A
Final Exams
.001 May 8th, 8:00AM – 10:00AM, Adams 104