Spring 2010 Panel Topics
In the weekly seminar on nonprofit management, students learn about the nonprofit world from a professor and professional partners, utilizing case studies that reflect the issue area of the nonprofit in which they are consulting.
campusCATALYST supplements this in-class experience by providing in-class panel discussions with nonprofit and corporate leaders.
In-class panels are usually about a 1 hour commitment and take place at the University of Chicago or Northwestern University campus (Hyde Park and Evanston respectively) on a weekday evening. Panelists would be speaking in front of the Community Analysts, which are undergraduate students. Below are the topics of our in-class panels. If you are interested in serving as a speaker please contact Ken Jones and briefly talk about how your background and experience can lend itself well to this topic.
Measuring Performance, Effectiveness and Impact
What is evaluation and what are the different ways it can be accomplished? Is there a downside to focusing heavily on metrics and impact measurement? What is the difference between high impact and high performance organizations?
Northwestern University
1897 Sheridan Road
University Hall 101
Tuesday, April 27
6pm-7pm
*Parking Available in the Lucy Lot, 1850 Campus Drive
Leadership and Governance in the Social Sector
What are the duties and responsibilities of a board of directors? Are they different for nonprofits than for for-profit corporations? What qualities and capabilities are most important for the leader of a nonprofit organization? What are the common pitfalls of nonprofit board performance?
Northwestern University
1897 Sheridan Road
University Hall 101
Tuesday, May 4
6pm-7pm
*Parking Available in the Lucy Lot, 1850 Campus Drive
We are looking for a panel of 2-3 nonprofit leaders to talk about their experiences working with boards. Preferably we would like panelists that have either seen a board evolve (from start-up to established), had lengthy experience working with boards in a senior level nonprofit role, or someone that has a new age opinion on the role of the boards.
Philanthropy, Old & New
What are the major sources of philanthropic support for US nonprofits? What is “venture philanthropy” and how does it differ from traditional forms of giving? Are certain kinds of contributions more or less valuable to their recipients? How much revenue diversification is enough? Should nonprofits engage in commercial ventures to diversify revenue?
Northwestern University
1897 Sheridan Road
University Hall 101
Tuesday, May 11
6pm-7pm
*Parking Available in the Lucy Lot, 1850 Campus Drive
New Models for Social Change
What is “social entrepreneurship?” Social enterprise? What are “hybrid organizations?” How do these models differ from ordinary nonprofits? Are there ways in which public policy, private investment practice, and/or philanthropy should change in order to help new types of social enterprises and “for-benefit” businesses succeed?
Northwestern University
1897 Sheridan Road
University Hall 101
Tuesday, May 25
6pm-7pm
*Parking Available in the Lucy Lot, 1850 Campus Drive
Are you a social entrepreneur? Does your organization blend the line between public and private? Do you think your organization is changing the word in a “new” way? We would love to have you on our panel to talk about your organization. Be prepared to talk in depth about the rationale for starting your organization and your overall view of the social venture/entrepreneurship/enterprise movement!