Money may keep a nonprofit operating, but people decide where that money comes from, which work it supports and what they expect in return. The same is true of time, expertise and relationships. In this unit, we follow those resources into an organization and ask how they shape its choices.
About two hours in total, in three lessons of 40 to 45 minutes each, plus a short quiz.
We begin with the act of giving, including the mixed motives and unequal power that can accompany it. We then turn to civic engagement and volunteering, where people contribute effort, knowledge and connections. The final lesson follows money through an organization and asks what its funding mix reveals about independence, stability and influence.
2.1 Giving and philanthropy. What makes a gift philanthropic, and who decides which public problems receive attention?
2.2 Civic engagement and volunteering. What counts as civic action, and how should organizations design different volunteer roles?
2.3 Financing nonprofits. What does a funding mix reveal about stability, independence and influence?
Taken together, the lessons show that resources are never only inputs. They also create relationships among donors, volunteers, communities, organizations and governments.
When you have finished the three lessons, take the Unit 2 quiz. It has ten multiple-choice questions, gives feedback on every answer, and you can take it as many times as you like. No sign-in or email address is needed.
This ten-question quiz gives your score and feedback immediately. No sign-in or email address is needed, and you may retake it as often as you like.
If you are following the applied track, complete the staff and volunteer rows of Part 3 and the funding tables in Part 4 of the project template. If you can, fill in the funding table for two or three years, so you can see how the mix changes.