1. Simulation Description
Nonprofit Organizations PAD 5142
Mary Ann Feldheim
This course offers an overview of nonprofit organizations and management. The method
of instruction is to use a simulation, where students act as Board Members of a
“fictitious” nonprofit organization that the Board is seeking to establish. Each student is
required to serve on one Board Committee, to review two articles from peer reviewed
journals on specific areas of nonprofit management, and as a committee member to
research an area of nonprofit management and to write a detailed report for the Board by
the end of the semester.
Included in the course are the following: a history of nonprofit organizations, discussion
of the legal framework of the nonprofit sector, board development and ethical leadership,
executive leadership and management of ethical issues in the nonprofit sector, resource
development and management of financial resources, strategic planning, and the
management of volunteers and employees.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Successfully complete a web class;
• Discuss the place of nonprofit organizations in American society;
• Identify the responsibilities of the Board of Directors;
• Describe the legal and ethical framework of nonprofit organizations;
• List the legal mandates governing a nonprofit in the state of Florida;
• Identify the components of a good mission statement;
• Discuss the importance of the mission statement in the strategic planning process;
• Read and understand a simple budget;
• Describe the responsibilities of the Board in selecting a CEO;
• List the legal mandates governing volunteers and paid staff;
• Identify ways to market an organization to the community;
• Discuss ways to develop and enhance organizational resources.
Committee Descriptions
Executive Committee
This committee is composed of three members for this course, the Board Chair, the
Secretary, and the Treasurer. At the end of the course, the Executive Committee
completes a report on the responsibilities of Board leadership and the progress of our
Board in developing a nonprofit organization giving an overview of the process and the
key functions of each committee, and detailing board responsibilities. A description for
each position is given below.
• Board Chair – The Chair is responsible for working with the instructor to develop
an agenda for each Board Meeting and for posting the agenda in the Meeting prior
to the opening of the meeting. The Chair is also responsible for following up on
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2. committee reports to be sure those who are to report have done so. During the
meeting, the Chair is to keep the discussions focused, and at the conclusion of the
meeting to summarize what has been accomplished. The Chair is also responsible
for writing the final report with the Secretary and Treasurer detailing the process
the Board used to create our nonprofit organization
• Treasurer – The Treasurer is responsible for chairing the Finance Committee and
for assuring that there are financial policies, a realistic budget for a new nonprofit,
and a system of accounts. The Treasurer helps write the final report with the
Finance Committee.
• Secretary – The Secretary is responsible for developing minutes for each of the
Board Meetings and for posting these within 48 hours of the close of the meeting.
In addition, the secretary is responsible for writing the final report with the Chair
detailing the process the Board used to create our nonprofit organization.
Bylaws Committee
This committee is responsible for developing the bylaws for our organization, which
must be done early in the semester. The bylaws are to be written, discussed, voted upon,
and finalized early in the semester.
Incorporation Committee
This committee is responsible for researching the legal requirements for our organization
to become incorporated as a nonprofit in the state of Florida and for our organization to
become a 501c (3) with the IRS. A detailed plan is to be developed and presented to the
Board to accomplish these goals, including a draft of the Articles of Incorporation. This
is to be done early in the semester.
Planning Committee
This committee will work with all of the other committees to develop a strategic plan for
the growth of our organization. The work of this committee begins early in the semester
and continues throughout. Committee members are responsible for leading the discussion
the mission early in the class. Members will work with the Incorporation, Personnel, and
Finance Committees to identify the organizations mandates and stakeholders. Members
will work the full Board to conduct an environmental analysis and with the Executive
Committee to identify the issues facing the new organization. The development of an
issues management, implementation, and evaluation plan requires the committee
members incorporate the work of all the committees into a cohesive whole.
Finance Committee
The Treasurer is the chair of this committee, which is responsible for researching the
“Best Practices” for financial management of a nonprofit organization and for developing
financial policies for the organization. The role of the Board in financial oversight is to be
stressed, and the reporting requirements and accountability standards used to develop the
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3. financial policies. A sample budget for new nonprofit organization is to be developed
with the fundraising committee reflecting where the initial monies will come from.
Personnel Committee
This committee is to research the legal requirements (state and federal) for volunteer
workers and paid workers in our organization. Then the committee is to draft a personnel
manual with policies and job descriptions for our new organization that is appropriate for
a new organization without employees.
Fundraising Committee
This committee will develop a revenue-generating plan that addresses how the Board, the
staff, and the volunteers will raise monies. This plan is to utilize diverse sources of
revenue such as trusts, grants, and fee for services.
Search Committee
This committee will research and instruct the Board on its responsibilities in hiring and
overseeing the Executive Director of our organization. Then the committee will write a
detailed job description and present a recruitment plan for an executive director. The
committee will also develop a plan for service provision before an Executive Director is
hired.
Marketing Committee
This committee will work with the Planning Committee to scan the environment and to
develop an extensive plan to address threats from the environment and to capitalize on
the strengths of the new organization. The marketing plan will focus on utilizing the
Board and volunteers to accomplish its goals.
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