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2023 Capstone Project Proposals

The Boler College of Business at John Carroll University Nonprofit Administration Program is accepting proposals from area nonprofits for group projects for its capstone class.

Please see the Request for Proposals (RFP) information below. Interested nonprofit agencies should submit their proposals by email to nonprofit@jcu.edu by 5:00pm on November 7th.

Last year, we had a tremendous response from the community. If you submitted a proposal and were not selected, please consider applying again.

Questions? Please contact Dani Robbins at nonprofit@jcu.edu or at (216) 397-1568.

We look forward to receiving your proposals for the 2023 Capstone class!

 

The Boler College of Business at John Carroll University Nonprofit Administration Program is accepting proposals from area nonprofits for group projects for its capstone class. The capstone project is the culminating experience for Master of Nonprofit Administration students and the group projects are the centerpiece of the course. A group of three to four students works an average of five to ten hours per week for 15 weeks (approximately 400 hours of work for the agency) to complete a project proposed by a nonprofit organization. 

To be considered for this opportunity: Organizations must submit a brief proposal of the desired project (one project per organization). The proposal should be saved under Your Agency’s Name Capstone Project Proposal 2023 and include:

  • The organization's background, mission, vision, and values
  • An overview of the project 
  • Goals, timeline, and metrics for the project
  • Expected outcomes
  • The benefit to the students and the organization 
  • The organization representative’s name, title, phone number, and email

If selected to move forward, the organization will appoint a representative to:

  • Present the project to students during class at the beginning of the semester

  • Meet with the students at the organization's location or virtually 

  • Attend a meeting at JCU/Boler or virtually, to be scheduled by the capstone instructor

  • Review and agree to the memorandum of understanding from the student group

  • Provide any organization information necessary to complete the project

  • Be available by phone or email to answer questions

  • Attend the students’ presentation 

Students will work in groups of three to four to complete a deliverable of tangible value to the organization. All projects will be supported by the capstone course instructor, the students, and relevant experts at John Carroll University and the Boler College of Business.

Students will be expected to:

  • contact their organizations and set up a time to meet at the organization to discuss the project and complete a site visit
  • draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which the organization representative will review and approve
  • work on their projects for approximately five to ten hours per week for fifteen weeks (three to four students at eight hours per week for 15 weeks is approximately 400 hours of work provided to the organization)

Project selection occurs in two steps:

  1. The NPA Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC) reviews all proposals and selects those that best reflect the program’s learning goals.
  2. Students choose from this smaller selection based on their interests and the interests of their group.

November 7th, 5:00pm: Deadline for organizations to submit their proposals to the Nonprofit Administration Program at nonprofit@jcu.edu

December 1st: Projects will be selected by the Faculty Advisory Committee

December 15th: Organizations notified

First day of class in January: Organizations selected to move forward will be invited to present their project to Capstone students. 

Students will then choose projects. Organizations will be notified by the NPA department of their selection and team of students later that week. Soon thereafter, students will contact selected organizations.

By the end of January: Organization representatives will attend a meeting  with the capstone instructor

Early February: Students will have made a site visit to the organization to learn the organization's project goals, mission, values, and organizational culture

Mid-February: Organizations and students will have agreed to a memorandum of understanding for the project

Mid-May: In-class presentations to organization and university leadership

The capstone course will meet spring semester of 2023. 

Past Capstone Projects

Cleveland Family Center for Missing Children and Adults: Students developed a plan for volunteer recruitment. 

NOPEC: Students helped design an engagement strategy to help NOPEC target young adults. 

Christ Child Society Cleveland: Students developed a Case for Support and a plan to prepare for a feasibility study.

Art House Cleveland: Students supported the envisioning process of the organization's Community Cafe, and created guideposts for the campus renovation that aligned with the organization's mission. 

Arts Cleveland: Students developed a cost-benefit analysis of potential programs to help generate new earned revenue. 

Children's Hunger Alliance: Students helped develop a strategy for soliciting and utilizing volunteers and others' interested in the organization's mission. 

Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center: Students helped develop a marketing strategy and map out an approach for the organization to effectively reach youth and families. 

  • International Women’s Air and Space Museum: Students completed a marketing plan to coordinate current marketing activities and to provide new outlets for future marketing.
  • MedWish: Students conducted a feasibility study and create a business plan to expand the scope of programming.
  • One South Euclid: Students completed a strategic marketing plan.
  • Lake County YMCA Outdoor Family Center: Students constructed a survey and provided program recommendations to improve communication with clients.
  • Community Partnership on Aging: Students developed a marketing plan.
  • Progress with Chess: Students delivered research and recommendations to expand their marketing and funding.
  • Famicos Foundation: Students created a resource development plan and marketing plan to increase yearly funding and collaboration within the community.
  • YNPN Cleveland:Students researched and presented different types of entities and tax statuses options currently available.
  • Malachi House: Students helped increase name recognition among donors and referring agencies.
  • Ronald McDonald House: Students developed and conducted a survey on client satisfaction with family waiting rooms.
  • The Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center: Students assessed why some youths are sentenced to detention facilities and some are not, as well as surveyed current detainees to see if the services they’re receiving are helpful and if other services are required.