Project Outline for The Convergence Project
Project Purpose:
The Convergence Project is a Colorado-based 501 (c)(3) non-profit that operates globally. We are guided by the vision that, despite the obvious differences among people, we are more alike than different. Our mission is to help dissimilar groups and organizations find the common ground they share without compromising their beliefs or values. Then we help the groups identify a mutually beneficial project that they can do together in their community. We desire assistance with a comprehensive Business Plan that will help us more fully recognize our vision and goals.
History:
TCP’s President and Executive Director, Brock Oyler founded the Convergence Project in February 2008. His observation was that the world and its communities have become increasingly polarized and divided, with some groups spending more time working “against” another group than they do working “for” what they believe in. The result is often a failure to recognize the other’s common humanity when these groups ignore the common purpose that they share.
Our organization accomplishes its mission by administering our Path Guide Program. We use community-based volunteers that we call Path Guides to identify groups and organizations in their own community that could mutually benefit from finding common ground with one another based on their special understanding of their community’s unique needs. Thus, our approach is grassroots-based and constituent-led. We identify our Path Guide volunteers using local volunteer organizations like Metro Volunteers in Denver and online volunteer organizations like Volunteermatch.org. Path Guides are asked to give 2-3 hours per week for up to a year (or more if required) to help dissimilar groups find common ground through the use of our facilitated process called The Converged Path.
Currently, we are working to partner with credit-based leadership programs at colleges and universities (such as the President’s Leadership Program at CU) as a source of volunteers. We believe that this will increase our positive outcomes, specifically project completion.
A comprehensive business plan would help us with grant proposals submissions.
Project Objectives:
Creation of a comprehensive Business Plan including:
--A Financial plan that projects 5 years
--A detailed Marketing plan
--A Social Enterprise component
--A comprehensive Fundraising strategy
Each of the above components will include at least two graphic representations.
Project Scope:
--We assume that the bulk of the research relating to general non-profit management strategy will be done by The Convergence Project and will not fall to the Student Team.
--The Financial part of the plan will require more student assistance. The Convergence Project will supply existing financial statements from which to build the rest of the Financial plan.
The Marketing plan and the Social Enterprise plan will be a collaborative effort between the Student Team and Convergence Project management.
Deliverables:
Deliverables will be hard and soft versions of the above-described Business Plan.
Project Approach:
We request a collaborative approach with frequent contact between the student team and TCP management. We expect the student team to request ongoing information and pose questions that may require research by TCP management in order to execute the project.
Critical Milestones and Event Dates:
We would like the Student Team to have full understanding of the Organization and the nature of the project within the first two weeks of project commencement. At week 4, we would like to have received the bulk of feedback from the student team about what new information the Organization is to provide for successful project completion. Two weeks after that, the Organization will have provided all requested new information needed for successful project completion, with the understanding that there will invariably be additional questions that arise from the Student Team. First priority is to be given to the Financial plan, if possible. The entire Business Plan is to be completed one and one half weeks prior to the end of the semester to allow for feedback from the Organization and subsequent modification.
Roles & Responsibilities:
--Most of the communication with the Student Team will be with the Executive Director, Mr. Brock Oyler. The Convergence Project is physically based in Salida, Colorado, approximately 3 hours from CU Boulder. While physical meetings are possible, the Director would prefer that students communicate primarily via electronic means such as email, phone calls, including conference calling and/or Skype.
--On occasion, the Student Team may wish to interface with the Path Guide Coordinator, Mr. Kevin Allen in Lufton Texas.
--Members of The Convergence Project Board of Directors will also be available for communication should the Student Team wish.
--Finally, the Organization will connect students with some of our Path Guide volunteers around the country and/or globally should the Student Team desire.
As mentioned, it is assumed that the Student Team has the right to request information in any level of detail from the Organization that will help them fulfill their mission of project completion, and it is promised that the Organization will comply in a timely manner to provide the information requested.
Quality Considerations:
The requested Business Plan will be of a quality suitable to present to investors, funders, and private donors who desire detailed information about the Organization.
Assumptions:
Our assumptions include open and direct communication between the Student Team and the Organization. We also assume strict adherence to the timeline, quality, and scope of the project as outlined above.
University of Colorado – Leeds School of Business
Project Outline Document
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