Core Course: Funding and Financial Stability This class is an in-depth look at the challenges of continued funding and financial stability. Although special focus will be given to funding non-profit strategy, a close look at leading authorities in financial management, public funds trends and current economic circumstance will be addressed. You are an important participant in this conversation in class. There will also be several experienced financial experts as guest speakers to class. The class conversations, readings, writing assignments, and presentations are intended to improve your practice as a leader. This course is constructed to improve your skills as a leader in providing financial awareness and stability to an organization. The knowledge of types of funding, application, sustainability and broad based strategic planning will be addressed in the context of the external financial environment. The class emphasizes discussion and action-based learning with the active involvement of participants. Preparation: Please complete all readings of texts and articles for each class prior to the start of class times. The intensive class format will include extensive class discussions. The discussions build on each participant’s insights, reflections, and professional experience to develop an understanding of the readings. The assigned readings are the foundation for all class activities. The class will be responsive to the needs and emergent concerns of the participant. The curriculum will be determined in part by the expert guest lecturers who are present.
Learning Objectives 1) Knowledge of current financial conditions in nonprofit and governmental arenas. 2) How to best plan to manoeuver and thrive in your specific organization/agency. 3) Financial Leadership skills still include being the best listener- suppressing your ego.
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4) Develop your financial leadership knowledge through other’s experience and lessons. 5) Clarity of the asset development and connectivity importance even in good economic times. 6) Understanding the importance of mission, perseverance and systems across the public and nonprofit sectors, and across intergovernmental dimensions of local, county, regional, state, and federal levels of government. How does one manoeuver politically, administratively, and strategically to move forward with a degree of stability? What are they key factors (relevance, impact, efficiency, asset map, outreach, governance, strong and effective leadership)?
Course Requirements 1) Each participant will be responsible for writing a three- page review of an economic article or book — not from the class readings — published in the past two years. Due at the start of the second day of class. 2) Class participation and group presentations. Class members will rotate into different teams during the class to have opportunities to work with everyone in class. Groups will present case studies and sets of reading. The quality of discussion is evaluated. 3) Team project: Each team project is an analysis of a real public sector or nonprofit financial challenge- must be specific. Each team will submit a written analysis (no more than 10 pages) and make a presentation of 20 minutes to the class on day 4. The written analysis is due four weeks after the last day of class. 4) Individual leadership Learning Impact paper of at least four pages due two weeks after class. Please use the class readings for concepts that you will apply to your leadership practices. Please discuss the most important concepts from the readings and how you intend to apply them when you serve in the public or non-profit sector. Explain your role in detail.
Required Readings Krugman, Paul. 2003. The Great Unravelling, Losing Our Way In The New Century. Reich, Robert. 2010. After-Shock.
Recommended Readings Stiglitz, Joseph E., 2015.The Great Divide, Unequal Societies and What We Can Do About Them. Parts I through VIII and afterword. Bell, Jeanne and Schaeffer, Elizabeth. 2005. Financial Leadership for Nonprofit Executives, Guiding your Organization to Long-Term Success. 2
Performance Evaluation Written review of article or book Team project- presentation Team Project- written analysis Participation in discussions on readings Learning Impact Paper
20% 25% 25% 10% 20%
Class Schedule: Topics and Assigned Reading Session 1: Day 1 – AM—Leadership Introduction • Self—introductions. •
Course overview.
Small group exercise: Discussion and report out of student expectations Funding and Financial Stability • Dependence on nonprofits by the public sector. • How did we get here? • What have been the key factors leading to recession (or worse) • Could there be alternate strategies for us? If so, what are they? • Brainstorm the mistakes made. Readings: Krugman, Paul. 2003. The Great Unravelling, Losing Our Way In The New Century. Day 1 – PM—The Next Economy and America’s Future Challenges • How does bold systems change happen? • What are the odds? • Transformational and Transactional leadership in forming a next economy Reading: Reich, Robert. 2010. After-Shock. (focus on Part II and III)
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Day 2- AM — An Unequal Society (Guest Speaker) • • • •
How has the division of society been exacerbated in the last decade? Which leaders have helped/hindered integration? What policies have played a part in attempted integration and who were the leaders? How has the taxation policy and simultaneous recession impacted integration/division?
Day 2- PM— What can We do About the Divide • Internal systems change. • External environmental systems change – Can external change help? • How does the populace engage? Voter Rights? Right of speech. • Leadership in a time of continued turbulence and uncertainty. • How do we continue to be heard? Reading: Stiglitz, Joseph E., 2015.The Great Divide, Unequal Societies and What We Can Do About Them. Parts I through VIII and afterword Project teams- discuss their proposed membership and leadership research topic Presentations expectations
Session 2: Day 3—AM— The Nonprofit Forum • Powerful grass roots organizations working with the public sector. • Leading change. How can nonprofits collaborate? • Commitment to serve overlapping constituencies – a sophisticated approach. • Finding support through collaboration and asset mapping • Strategies of engagement for change. Bell, Jeanne and Schaeffer, Elizabeth. 2005. Financial Leadership for Nonprofit Executives, Guiding your Organization to Long-Term Success. Day 3—PM Team Presentations begin after discussion and recap below. Funding and Financial Stability Strategy • Stay informed. Look beyond your organization • Sometimes it’s more effective to seek forgiveness, than permission. 4
• Issue framing is critical to ultimate effectiveness. • Recap of Course Day 4 —AM (Guest Speakers from the Community)
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Leadership In Financially Challenging Times Leadership in non-profit and public sectors in time of uncertainty and turbulence. Cross-sectional leadership across intergovernmental and private nonprofit entities. Critical thinking, reflective practice, and effective communications are keys to successful leadership in these times and times of plenty.
Team Presentations Class Reflections and Wrap-up by 3:00 PM.
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Appendix Team Project Overview The team project for class is an analysis of a public sector or non-profit sector leader in a financial crisis situation (eg recession examples). Students will clear the selection with faculty for this course. Students will join teams. Each group will: 1. Select an actual leader who is an executive in charge currently or recently working on a specific financial crisis situation in a public organization or nonprofit organization. 2. Read material about the leader selected. 3. Interview the leader if possible or provide written evidence of the situation and process. 4. Analyze the leader in the crisis situation and the specific challenge; APPLY various class readings and the strategy model. Please answer the following questions: •
Context: Who is the specific leader and what is his or her role and what is the context?
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Motivation: What drives this leader in this crisis situation?
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Level of Leadership: What do you see about leadership skills in situation at the following levels: These levels will be discussed in detail in class, prior to doing this assignment o Individual o Team inclusion o Interagency collaboration o Research and advocacy as applicable
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Assessment: To what extent has the leader succeeded in moving forward on his/her challenge? Is your assessment shared by the participants? Why or why not? APPLY class readings to develop frameworks and models for assessment.
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Lessons: What have you learned that enhances your understanding of leadership in times of uncertainty and turmoil?
5. Present the analysis to the class. The presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes to address questions from your classmates.
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6. E-Mail the written report of the analysis to: _____________ 7. The Learning Impact Paper is due two weeks after the last day of class. (Please no more than 10 pages).
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