Project management can be the key to nonprofit success

Do any of these statements sound familiar?

• “We had to abandon that project … it was costing much more than expected.”
• “We did not meet the financial goal of our fundraising project.”
• “Due to unforeseen circumstances, the new program could not be implemented.”
• “That sounds like a great idea for our organization, but I don’t know where to  start.”

If they do, this class may be for you. Attendees will learn to develop an effective Project Plan that includes: Project Charter, Scope Statement, Work Breakdown Structure, Schedule, Cost Estimate and Budget, Resource Plan, and Risk Management Plan. They will get hands-on experience developing a simple Project Plan for a typical nonprofit project, a fundraiser. In addition, they will evaluate several real-life scenarios using the Project Plan.

This is a one-day, six-hour class with lunch included. It will be offered four times this year from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Aloha Council, Boy Scouts of America,  42 Puiwa Rd., Honolulu, on these dates:

• Thursday, Aug. 2
• Wednesday, Sept. 5
• Thursday, Nov. 8
• Wednesday, Dec. 5

Nonprofits on neighbor islands are welcome to register for any Honolulu class or  the sponsors will bring the class to any island, or Oahu location, if there are 12 or more prospective attendees. Contact Gailene Wong at (808) 734-5424 to  arrange for such a class.

Employees and volunteers of 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible. Cost is $30, which  includes reference materials, a sample Project Plan for a fundraising dinner event developed by experienced Project Managers and lunch. For more information and to register click here.

Sponsors are the PMI Honolulu Chapter and the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, who have offered this training since 2001 as a public service. Past attendees report they were able to immediately apply the techniques to their day-to-day project activities.