PAD 508, Financial Management and Resource Bases for Nonprofit
OrganizationsCourse Description: Nonprofit organizations depend on philanthropic, governmental, and fee-based funding. This course will address the nature and the implications of these alternatives, as well as planning and budgeting for resource adequacy. The role of governmental regulation and funding for the nonprofit sector will be a key focus. The course also covers the theory and practice of fund raising and development among nonprofit organizations.
The course will provide students with a background in the issues and procedures involved in properly managing the finances of a nonprofit organization. The course is designed to expose the student to the various accountability issues which face nonprofit organizations and the critical role of accountability plays in achieving the nonprofit's mission. Students will gain insight into accounting and financial reporting practices common to most nonprofit organizations.
Class sessions include instructor and student presentations, whole-class discussions, and small-group exercises. Class members are expected to attend and to be active participants in class discussion.
Budget Project: Class members will prepare an organizational budget and present their budget reports to the class. At the option of the professor, students may work in groups.
Students will present their findings in a class presentation not to exceed ten minutes for a one-person presentation or five minutes per person in a team presentation. The presentation will be accompanied by a one-page handout summary of highlights.
Reading Summaries: At the beginning of each of the class sessions with assigned readings, students will submit summaries of the readings, not to exceed two double-spaced pages in length. Summaries will be graded as adequate or inadequate. Adequate summaries will identify and discuss what the class member believes to be the most important ideas in the readings.
Take Home Papers: Class members will write mid-term and final papers, each not to exceed nine double spaced pages. The papers are designed to give the student an opportunity to draw upon course material in creatively addressing three or four broad questions (in each paper) on topics central to the course.
Threshold Writing Requirement: The ability to communicate accurately and effectively in writing is an essential part of academic and professional work. Since this is a university level course and a course within a professional academic degree program, there is a required threshold of competence in writing which preempts grading on other aspects of students performance. This means that to pass the course, class members must in all written work use appropriate language, structure and citation style.
Grading: There will be 70 points possible in the course, as follows: budget presentation, 16 points; 12 reading summaries, 24 points; take-home papers, 10 points; class participation, 10 points. Late work will be accepted with a penalty.