NOW ACCEPTING RFP’s FOR FALL 2008
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008

The College of Urban Affairs of Cleveland State University currently offers management capacity building for community-based and faith-based nonprofits in the Cleveland area through the Levin College’s Center for Nonprofit Policy and Practice. Among the services offered are our course directed projects which provide opportunities for nonprofit organizations to receive assistance from graduate students and faculty in the College of Urban Affairs, the College of Business, and the Departments of Communications and Social Work. Host organizations must be nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in Cuyahoga County. This project provides local nonprofits with services and products generated by graduate students in university courses acting under the supervision of faculty members.

Nonprofits that participate in Nonprofit Community Assistance Projects (NCAP’s) are matched with faculty and graduate students based on their organizational needs and course objectives. Many of our graduate students have extensive experience in the management of nonprofit and government organizations. Interested nonprofit groups are asked to submit proposals outlining a clearly defined project for students to undertake. Faculty select proposals based upon applicability to course content and ability to complete the project(s) within one semester.

Although agencies are invited to submit proposals for a variety of nonprofit management issues; the following topics will receive priority:

Human Resources

• Review of agency compensation and benefits programs to determine equity and comparability;
• Performance measurement: Review of organizational and individual performance evaluation systems to determine effective methods for establishing organizational and individual objectives, communicating progress, and measuring results;

Financial Management of Nonprofits

• Review of existing accounting procedures manual or preparation of a new one; or evaluation of internal financial controls; or review of financial record keeping to assess compatibility with reporting requirements on IRS Form 990, including indirect cost allocation and functional expense classification. Students will not prepare Form 990 for participating NPOs.

Organizational Behavior

• Evaluation and review of organizational behavior issues such as: employee development, managing diversity, improving motivation and performance, changing organizational culture, team development, group dynamics, empowerment, or leadership development;
• Review of personnel records for maintaining employee files to assure orderly, complete and confidential records; development of human resource policy handbook
• Design of an evaluation of a program;

Law and Public Administration

• Evaluation and review of organizational by-laws.

Business Practices

• Review and update of strategic plan

Proposal Writing and Program Development

• First drafts of fund raising proposals (includes researching funding sources and assistance with program planning);

Proposals should include three (3) copies of the following materials.

1. A completed application form (in pdf format).

2. A brief narrative (no more than 5 pages) describing the project including;

• Statement of need or problem to be addressed or analyzed
• Estimated amount of time the project will entail
• Information the organization can make available to students in order to address or analyze the need.
• Brief description of the organization, including its mission, history, clientele, and programs.
• Identification of the staff person who will serve as the major liaison between the organization and the student or student team.

Faculty interested in incorporating a Nonprofit Community Service Project in their curriculum can visit the faculty pages for more information.