PROJECT RUN-WITH IT (PRWI) 2009
PRWI is a real-life consulting competition that was first sponsored in 2008 by Moss Adams LLP. The competition involves three different Not for Profit Organizations (NFPO). For each NFPO, five four-person teams will 1) learn about problem(s)/issue(s) the NFPO face, after which 2) each team will research the specifics of the problem and then 3) provide its advice/recommendations in a ten-minute oral presentation to the NFPO. Presentations will be judged by a three-person panel including a representative of the NFPO itself.
Students, participating NFPO, faculty advisors, and observers at the 2008 competition considered PRWI to be intellectually challenging, personally fulfilling, worth the time investment, and resume enhancing. If these benefits sound interesting, Moss Adams LLP and Beta Alpha Psi invite your chapter to nominate up to two students to participate in the 2009 Beta Alpha Psi PRWI competition. Each chapter represented on the winning teams will receive $1,000.
Detailed nomination instructions will be announced approximately April 1, 2009 when the registration for the 2009 BAP Annual Conference (Brooklyn, New York) becomes available. Participants will be selected using the following criteria:
- Skill sets - We hope to have at least two skill sets per team. Chapters may nominate one accounting AND one information systems or finance major.
- Date of application - Earlier application will enhance the probability of selection.
- Diversity of representation - Regions and within regions, individual universities.
When your chapter submits its nomination(s), various questions will be asked, two of which are described in further details below. For those chapters interested in participating, now is definitely the time to start preparing. To that end, nominees should:
- Commit to attending the national conference and arriving no later than 6 PM, Wednesday, August 5, 2009. The PRWI orientation will begin at 7 PM. On Thursday, you will be expected to attend the community service day activities, after which you will continue your research. On Friday morning, each team will present its recommendations.
- Prepare themselves by doing some research, details of which are outlined in the attached.
If you have any questions relating to the project, please send them to BAP’s Executive Office. They will respond though a FAQ communication which will be posted to the BAP web site.
| Bill Wells |
Tina Caratan |
| Senior Lecturer |
Partner |
| University of Washington |
Moss Adams LLP – San Francisco |
PREPARATION FOR PRWI
Basic Research – We expect few college students will be familiar with NFPO, which is why nominees should first become familiar with NFPO by reviewing the material at these websites.
Advanced Research - Using the Internet, nominees should research the following topics:
Off-the-shelf software that measures service efforts and accomplishments - For each such product, 1) to what degree is it customizable, 2) with what other software is it compatible, and 3) what is the learning curve and ability to modifying both products.
Trade-offs between creating your own or using another’s website - Assume a national NFPO allows a local NFPO to use its national website. While most of the national website is customizable by the local NFPO, the top banner is not, causing problems for the local NFPO. Identify significant one-time/recurring costs and other issues that should be considered in determining which course to follow.
Streaming Video - What efforts, costs and copyright issues should a NFPO expect if it elects to add (and thereafter maintain) steaming video to its website?
Bonding and Partnership - Identify various strategies/techniques available to a local NFPO that would allow it to approach and market itself to regional/national NFPO. Assuming that effort succeeds, identify options the local NFPO might use to 1) market their product or services through, or 2) raise funds jointly with the larger NFPO.
Web based appeal for Membership/Support - What are the principals/criteria a local NFPO should emphasize when designing a web-based membership appeal? What graphic and verbal appeals are most effective in interesting persons to 1) participate, 2) become members, and 3) contribute monetarily to the organization.
Fund-Raising Sources – Fund raising is a critical element of NFPO operations because the former defines the latter. What criteria apply to designing an effective fund-raising appeal? Assuming small to large new sources are identified, how should dues/membership fees by structured so that they encourage sustained support?
Interview - After conducting the above research, enhance your knowledge/understanding by interviewing one (or more) senior NFPO representatives (e.g., Executive Director, CFO, Controller, Board Chair, Audit Committee Chair, etc.) or an experienced accounting professional (faculty and/or accounting practitioner(s)) who has/have knowledge about these issues.
Nomination – When registering for the PRWI competition, you will be asked to document the above efforts which is why starting now is encouraged. The nomination form link will be posted on or around April 1st.
Thanks and regards,
Tina Caratan and Bill Wells