Create a charity

OVERVIEW & RESEARCH

Creating a functioning charity requires much more than simply saying, "We'll raise money for poor people." There are many things to consider:

Charities are typically nonprofit: you need to understand how nonprofit organizations work (this will be part of your research).

While most charities raise money, many do other things. Consider the following questions, which should help you plan the year-long development of your organization:

  • What does your charity provide?
  • How will you get it?
  • What support do you need and who will provide it?
  • How many people work in your organization, and who are they?
  • What are the logistical problems you'll need to overcome: collection of goods, collection of money, banking, accounting, advertising, transportation, government regulations, etc.
  • What other issues/questions can you come up with along the way?

PLANNING

Consider that you have roughly 24 weeks to complete your project. We will have three checkpoints (grading periods). You should work backwards from the end of the school year, when your organization is complete to the end of each quarter. What will be completed by the end of each 9-week grading period, heading into June?

Break down each quarter into smaller checkpoints.

  • For example, your research and written proposal should be finished by November 30.

  • If you need support from community or school members, plan on getting it and set a goal for when you'll have it in place.

  • When will your financial plan be complete?
  • When will advertising be ready and implemented?
  • Other checkpoints?

MATERIALS & PROCEDURES

To complete your project, you will need to use a variety of tools and skills. Please use as many of the following as possible to demonstrate mastery of the applications and expertise in these areas of language arts:

  • Numerous sources for research -- books, web sites, encyclopedias; Noodle Tools will be used to complete the research
  • Your Barnesclass.com web site, including the message board and a special web page that leads me to all parts of your project
  • A Diigo group, containing at least 10 web sites that demonstrate ongoing research and production
  • A variety of web tools that contribute in some way to your project and demonstrate expertise in the use of these applications -- see the web tools page for help
  • Writing throughout the project that supports it:
      • advertising
      • instructions
      • brochures
      • posters
      • proposals
      • e-mails
      • requests for assistance
      • speeches
  • What else? your own materials and procedures, which you clear with me