Executive Summary

Camp Watcha Wanna Do (CWWD) is a small nonprofit organization based in northeast Indiana that provides adolescent cancer survivors with an opportunity to come together and celebrate life. The organization does this by offering a week-long camp filled with fun and excitement at a nearby campground. However, CWWD currently faces several internal challenges, including a lack of strategic direction, difficulty in maintaining consistent donor support, and a shortage of volunteers. These issues limit the organization’s capacity to grow and continue serving the community effectively.

 To address these challenges, our team has identified and developed two key strategies:

• Seek community funding opportunities from major corporations within the medical field such as the Lilly Foundation by Eli Lilly and IU Health. Both of these potential organizations could provide major financial assistance to nonprofit organizations with similar objectives and goals.  

• Implement incentive-based programs to attract and retain both fundraising and volunteers, making participation more rewarding and engaging.

In addition to our findings from secondary research, we conducted primary research through a survey distributed to the student population at Indiana University Indianapolis. The first part of the survey revealed that healthcare is the most popular volunteer activity among these students. In the second section, we inquired about the role of incentives in volunteer work. We found that 27.3% of respondents reported having received incentives for their volunteering efforts. However, over 70% indicated they would be more inclined to volunteer if incentives were offered. These findings present a significant opportunity for CWWD to enhance engagement through cost-effective strategies that show appreciation and foster loyalty. Implementing such strategies could generate excitement among volunteers and strengthen their sense of connection, purpose, and commitment to the organization.