Third Answer

EQ: What is the best way for an educational non-profit organization to raise funds for resources to help underprivileged students attend college?

The best way for an educational non-profit organization to raise funds for resources to help underprivileged students attend college is by expanding their overhead budget.

• Most non-profit organizations skimp out on their overhead expenditures.
• With less money to spend overhead, non-profits aren't able to afford the services and items they might need to keep the organization running fluidly. 
• A larger overhead budget means that employees are better payed, resulting in better services provided and increased productivity.
• A better payed employee is always a harder working employee.
• Larger overhead spending means that non-profits are less prone to under-report their spending.
• Under-reporting leads to funders providing NPO's with less money to spend overhead, therefore putting more burden on NPO's. They must work harder with less money to make up the deficit. 

Non-profits have to increase their overhead spending in order to revitalize themselves with trained and able staff, adequate services, and better programs. 

Senior Project, The Holiday

1. Over the break, amid the chaos of the holidays, I wasn't able to go into the office to volunteer because the staff was out on break for most of the break, since their schedule closely follows that of the students who are part of the program. I was, however, able to conduct some research online, and found a couple interesting facts about non-profit organizations.
2. The most important thing I learned from my research was that the concept of non-profit work has been around for far longer than most people think. 90% of the non-profit organizations still around today were founded before 1950. I find this to be important because it demonstrates just how successful a non-profit organization can be if properly managed. My goal is to find out what it takes to sustain a non-profit for as long as those found in that 90%. My source was a paper written by American author Peter Dobkin Hall. I found it on a Harvard sponsored website.
3. If I were going to do a 10 question interview, which I'm sure we'll have to do at some point, I would interview Nancy Mintie, the director and founder of Uncommon Good, the non-profit organization at which I'm volunteering. She'd best be able to answer my questions because she's the founder. She has years of experience and the organization has thrived, meaning that the goal she intended the organization to have has been well supported. She obviously knows what she's doing, which is why I choose her as my most viable interview candidate

EQ

Essential Question 

• I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.
  
• EQ Analysis

• Yes. The EQ takes a stance, is clear, and requires you to do research in order to arrive at a good answer.
• No. The wording is odd. The EQ is difficult to understand.
• Yes. The wording is adequate and it takes a stance. Lastly, it requires research in order to answer it.
• No. There isn't much depth to it. The obvious answer is "the proper administration of anesthesia and/or other pain relievers/sedatives."

• What is the best way to manage a non-profit organization in order for it to accomplish its goal?

Research and Working EQ

Blog-post 8

1. My working EQ as of now is: "What's the best way to ensure the success of a non-profit organization?"
   
2. Promote the organization to an appropriate audience in an effective manner and keep a good public relationship.
   
3. Thus far, the most important source I've found that's helped me answer my EQ has been "Developing an Information Security Awareness Program for a Non-Profit Organization." This was the second source I found since we started doing research checks. It was very specific and insightful.
4. My mentor is Carlos Carrillo. He, along with Uncommon Good (organization at which I volunteer), have helped me come closer to answering my EQ by allowing me to witness, firsthand, how good public relationships are maintained and developed.

Blog 5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

Pentagon

1) One positive thing that has happened as a result of the research I've done is that I've become more knowledgeable about non-profit organizations. Prior to researching, all I knew was that they weren't profit oriented and that their main goal was to help the community/people. I am now familiar with the inner-workings of a non profit organization and the many types of non-profits there are out there.

2) "The Open University Launches New Creative Learning Initiative" This article really put into perspective just how much a non-profit organization can accomplish. The "Open University" is a massive online database where students and other scholars can share information and learn for free. This is amazing to me because it provides and excellent education for no cost at all.

3) One of thing that has worked out for me/my senior project has been the summer mentorship. Direct/ hands on work has definitely helped me understand what one does at the office of a non-profit organization and how it differs from the activities performed in the office of a profit-oriented company.

4) The only thing that hasn't really worked for me so far is the way I do research. Eventually, I'll find something interesting and relevant, but I just feel that it takes way too long to get to that point. I'd like to hone my researching skills to the point where I can find what I'm looking for almost right away.

5) a) A question I might want to study this year (as a working EQ) could be: What are the fundamentals for success when working with a non-profit organization?
b) I'm not 100% sure of where I'd like to mentor, but I'm thinking that a non-profit law firm or a non- profit news organization would be the most adequate.

2013 2-Hour Presentation Reflections

1 ) Salvador - Soccer

Jacob - Teaching History
JD - Pastry Art
Kendall - Coping With Cancer
Rachel - Teaching Chemistry
Ana - Event Planning
Reann - Wildlife Conservation
Jada - Autism/Psychiatry
Raul - Remote Controlled Car Racing
Joseph - Integrate Native Species
Andrea - Painting
Roxana - Daycare Centers
Jaime - Navy
Leslie - Zombie Culture

2) What exactly is it that the teachers want to see? What are they looking for? I know that thorough understanding of the topic is key, but what else do you guys want? And what was the initial purpose of the senior project? I want to know what you guys were thinking when you thought this up.

3) After watching these presentations, I have come to the conclusion that the most important part of a good senior project is to have a good mentor and a good internship.

4) I am considering doing something politically or legally oriented. The reason for this is that it interests me.