QENO Objectives and Guiding Principals of Effective Management
Technical assistance, education and other needs of nonprofits will be identified through focus groups and surveys.
- Needs Assessment: A needs assessment has been completed that identifies (a) information required by funding sources and prospective donors to encourage greater giving, and (b) the management systems that enhance the delivery of quality services and management practices. Components include focus group dialogues with key informants from groups representing funders and nonprofit's. It also includes surveys and other methods of needs assessment. The needs assessment process was conducted by MPA students and was completed July 2006. Click here to see the document or PPT. Slides: QENO nonprofit needs assessment; QENO NEEDS ASSESSMENT-PPT.
- White papers: Academic papers describing the unique socioeconomic characteristics distinctive to specific geographic areas will be produced, as needed, beginning with a white paper on Southeastern North Carolina. These academic papers will serve as an important resource for grant proposals and material for academic presentations.
A curriculum of education, professional development and technical assistance for the nonprofit community will be developed and implemented in response to the results of the needs assessment; the first offerings no later than fall, 2006.
- Exemplary Practice Initiative: This activity will provide nonprofit managers and donors with a better understanding of exemplary management practices. It may include a speakers featuring academicians and practices who will present topics identified by nonprofit staff and donors relevant to nonprofit capacity building.
- Continuing Education and Professional Development: The Division for Public Service and Continuing Studies will offer a series of continuing education classes to increase the skills of nonprofit executive directors and other staff. Offerings will be determined based on the needs assessment. These offerings will complement the current Department of Political Science Strategic Management Academy offered to mid-level area government officials.
- Executive Mentoring Program: This program will recruit and train retired executives to act as volunteer mentors to nonprofit executive directors and other staff. These mentors will receive orientation and training to familiarize them with the culture of nonprofit's and how it differs from the private sector. They then will engage in intense mentoring of nonprofit staff to provide both technical assistance and training for helping nonprofit agencies improve the quality of management practices and the delivery of services. The program will be developed and sustained by the Division for Public Service and Continuing Studies with input from departments within the College of Arts and Sciences and the Cameron School of Business.
The nonprofit organizations that participate in the QENO Initiative will be acknowledged publicly for their efforts, contributing to a regional environment of stronger funder and donor confidence.
- Standards of Excellence: Tiered Standards of Excellence will be developed that recognize nonprofit management excellence. The standards will be developed and controlled by a group representing QENO membership but will govern itself independently.
- Exemplary Practices Promotion Campaign: A project that will promote the recognition and appreciation of high standards of nonprofit management quality throughout the region will be developed.
- Best Practices Celebration: An annual event will be held to highlight the activities of QENO; to share “best practices” through presentations by academicians and practitioners; and to honor exemplary nonprofit organizations and managers.
UNCW will endeavor to incorporate the activities of this initiative in faculty and student teaching and research activities.
- Faculty Research Opportunities: Opportunities will be identified and promoted to a variety of departments to engage faculty in applied research projects to support the initiative and establish best practices in nonprofit development and capacity building, beginning with the initial process of assessing regional nonprofit needs.
- Service-Learning: Opportunities will be developed within UNCW departments, particularly Social Work, Political Science, Sociology, Business and Psychology, within an interdisciplinary framework, for students and faculty to engage with nonprofit organizations through service learning courses.
- Evaluation: All components of the initiative will be evaluated to determine their effectiveness. Along with other methodology, focus groups of nonprofit staff and funders and donors will be held to hear their thoughts about the strengths of the initiative and the need for improvements.
Financial and human resources will be acquired to support and sustain the QENO Initiative and its expected growth.
- Funding: Applications will be submitted to foundations with an interest in nonprofit development.
- Philanthropy: Local philanthropic efforts will be generated in partnership with the Initiative.
- In Kind Contributions: Several organizations are already contributing time and effort to the development of QENO and are committed to provide continued support
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