Nonprofit organizations, also known as social enterprises, are the growth engines for building communities and implementing social change. How do nonprofit agencies operate in American society?  How do they interact with private and public agencies?  What makes a nonprofit business successful, fiscally, socially, and ethically? How do nonprofits cultivate a culture of altruism, enrich communities, promote social services, and develop responsible goals and missions?  How do nonprofit leaders use storytelling as a strategic tool to promote their vision, advocate for their mission, build community, and inspire generosity, both within and outside their agencies? How do nonprofits raise funds through grants, fundraising, and responsible business practices?  How do nonprofit agencies promote personal, social, and economic sustainability on local and global scales?  What can go wrong, and how do nonprofit organizations measure their effectiveness? How are nonprofit agencies working to shape the future of entrepreneurship, social service, human potential, sustainability, and creativity? 

Participants will address the challenges faced by nonprofits, and work to identify and develop the skills and competencies they need to understand, develop, manage, or operate a sustainable and successful nonprofit businesses. Program topics will focus on developing leadership and public presentation skills, and on identifying how leaders effectively tell stories. We will look at nonprofits that work nationally and internationally, and we will study local nonprofit agencies that are successful in advocating for social, cultural, arts, educational, and environmental programs.  Students will have the opportunity to explore the issues, challenges, and opportunities that arise from working with various types of businesses across the boundaries of cultural difference. 

This program is for students with strong interests in business management, community development, organizational behavior, arts and cultural advocacy, writing and communications.  The program is designed to facilitate interactive learning through seminar discussions and workshop activities. Students will develop leadership, writing, storytelling, and communication skills. They will have the opportunity to integrate their learning experience by means of developing business venture proposals or by doing in-service community internship projects.