WVU: Nonprofit Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurs in Small Towns and Rural Communities

Karen Harper-Dorton, PhD, MSW, Professor, WVU School of Social Work

CEUs: 3 Social Work hours; 3 CECNPM hours (Core Area: Resource Development – Financial Resource Development)

Registration Fee: $35 (Early bird rate of $31.50 by September 12, 2014)

Target Audience: All levels of practitioners 

1.6 million nonprofit agencies in the US had huge financial challenges during the economic downturn beginning in 2007 and lasting into 2010. Employing social workers throughout the world, the nonprofit sector has long been the arena for serving public good through donations, volunteers, and whatever social services bring revenue such as child care centers and contracts with departments of social services. This workshop will clarify changing social enterprise efforts, provide examples of social entrepreneurship, and raise action opportunities for macro social work practice. Threats and opportunities become identified as nonprofits act to manage financial risks and may open avenues such as fundraising, retaining donors, utilizing Internet tools, and integrating campaigns and special events in efforts to sustain operations. Participants will have the opportunity to review new and innovative efforts implemented by some agencies and will consider ways that their nonprofit organizations can maintain operations in uncertain economic times. Case examples of innovative nonprofit efforts will be utilized to facilitate discussion.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will increase understanding of the scope and functions of the nonprofit or third sector; consider new hybrid models of social enterprise entities with both mission and profit potentials in the spirit of self-sustainability and evaluate case examples of unique and successful efforts of innovative nonprofits serving rural and small town populations.