The applied track is optional. Alongside the lessons, you build a full profile of one nonprofit or NGO, covering its history, impact, governance, funding, stakeholders, accountability and country context. It is the best way to see how the ideas in the course play out in a real organization. Expect to spend 10 to 20 hours on it, spread across the four units.
Pick an organization that has operated for at least three years and publishes some information, such as a website and an annual report.
Check early that you can find financial information. Organizations with no public accounts are hard to analyze in Part 4.
If the organization is large or international, decide whether you are studying the whole organization or one country office, and keep that scope throughout.
An interview with the organization's leader adds a great deal, so it helps to choose an organization you can contact. If an interview is not possible, you can complete the profile from public sources and note the gaps.
The template has eight parts. Each unit page suggests what to work on after that unit.
After Unit 1, complete Part 1 (organizational profile) and Part 2 (social impact).
After Unit 2, complete the staff and volunteer rows of Part 3 and Part 4 (funding structure).
After Unit 3, complete the governance part of Part 3 and Part 6 (accountability practices).
After Unit 4, complete Part 5 (major stakeholders) and Part 7 (environment).
Whenever you are ready, interview the organization's leader (Part 8), then write up your findings.
Start with primary sources, such as the organization's website, annual reports, audited financial statements and registration records. Then use news, databases and academic work.
Give a source for every fact and a year for every figure.
If you cannot find something, write "Not publicly available" and note where you looked. Gaps in disclosure are findings in their own right.
Quote mission statements and other key text exactly, in quotation marks.
Ask permission before naming or quoting anyone, and share only information that is public or that the organization agrees to share.
Two lessons support the project. Interviewing an NGO leader covers planning and conducting the interview. Writing up your profile covers structure, a checklist and a self-assessment rubric.