Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.
Next Question

Answered Question

 
M$5 July 28, 2009 02:59 PM

What might be some business models for a Non-Profit Organization that could be developed and run successfully by High School students?

Who would I speak to or contact to begin this process in the state of New Hampshire?
Has this been done before in New Hampshire or other parts of the United States?
What were these business models?
Were these attempts successful?
Interesting Question?  Yes (1)   No (0)   

Interesting: bunnyphuphu

RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Decided by Votes

 
July 28, 2009 04:27 PM
I think you'll need to clarify your question before you get any helpful answers.

For me, I have at least the following questions...

1) Do you really mean "business model"?

Do you mean a type of business or a business model? It sounds like you maybe are looking for suggestions of actual businesses rather than business models.

2) Non-profit?

Do you have a particular issue that you want to make an impact on with your non-profit activities? Or do you want people to suggest issues that could be impacted by high school students?

When you say non-profit, what are you really asking about? Fund-raising? Other models of financing your activities?

3) New Hampshire?

Are you thinking about creating something to go statewide? Or do you just mention the location in case of legal issues?

Raising funds and building organisations (other than very small local ones) is hard! I know great people with amazing track records in business who've put lots of time and money into trying to build a non-profit, and struggled to even get off the ground.

My recommendation would be to plug into an organisation that is already up and running, and develop your own ideas within that.

If you're looking for inspiration and ideas, look at the Students Helping Students initiative from Room to Read.

-- Quote

Students Helping Students is a way for students, teachers and their communities to help Room to Read provide enhanced educational resources where it is needed most. By taking the initiative and starting fundraising projects at their school, church, or community group, students will cultivate valuable leadership skills as well as feel empowered that they can be agents of change in the world.

We encourage Students Helping Students participants to be as creative as they can when they are planning their fundraising projects. Over the years we have seen all different kinds of fundraisers: from Read-a-Thons that stretched across multiple schools to fairs, dances, book drives, even a Room to Read café!

-- /Quote

It's an excellent organisation with a great mission.

Read the book by founder John Wood - it's called "How I left Microsoft to Change the World". You'll get an idea of what I meant by how tough it is to launch a significant non-profit, even when you are a successful business exec with an impressive Rolodex.

I could tell you some similar stories - with not such happy endings! :) - from me and my friends.

Further Reading:

http://www.edutopia.org/global-education-room-to-read
http://www.roomtoread.org/media/news/2008_07_01_stanford.pdf
http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Microsoft-Change-World-Entrepreneurs/dp/006112107X
http://www.roomtoread.org/involvement/shs/fundraising.html


Helpful Answer?  (2)   (0)   

Helpful: bunnyphuphu, buddawiggi

Tip philipy for this answer
Permalink | Report
Voted as best: chriswingate, kareul
   Reply  
 
 
 
July 29, 2009 01:17 PM
Thanks for the great answer @phillipy.
Yes, I am looking for actual business suggestions, perhaps something that has already been sucessful elsewhere hence the "model", maybe that was not the best way to state it.
I am looking for any way to get more people active in participating in the betterment of the community that they live in and figured the best way to start was to begin at the student level.
I'm at my local library now and checking out the John Wood title today.
It will take me a bit to get through the information you gave me but thank you in advance for the head start.
The only failure will be in the not trying.
Off I go.

Report
 
 
 
July 29, 2009 04:21 PM
@buddawiggi.... Great attitude!

When it comes to being entrepreneurial, it pays to start learning young, and being prepared to fail a few times as you learn. :)

Look forward to hearing about your adventures with this. And if have more questions, of course I'd be glad to chip in what thoughts I can.

Report
 
 

Other Answers (3)

Sort By
 
July 28, 2009 04:27 PM
Well, I did a little digging and found this great article about some High School teens taking a great business model all the way to Brazil through a group called Sage Global.
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_12928379

Then I looked up Sage Global and found what their goal is.

"The SAGE mission is to help create the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders whose innovations and social enterprises address the major unmet needs of our global community."
http://www.sageglobal.org/

Here are some of the rules if you were to get involved with Sage Global directly.
http://www.sageglobal.org/Join_Our_Team.php

I'm sure that they can steer you in a good direction regarding a 'non-profit' model.


Tags: non-profit, model, business

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: buddawiggi

Tip bunnyphuphu for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
 
July 28, 2009 04:42 PM
Great find. Since I am interested in social enterprise, developing leaders and entrepreneurs, I'm wondering how I've managed to not hear of them before!

@buddawiggi... Make sure to check out this Powerpoint.

How your High School Can Start a Program.

Looks like a New Hampshire chapter is either up or coming soon.

Report
 
 
 
July 28, 2009 07:53 PM
Hey @philipy... sometimes I get a 'shot in the dark'...

Report
 
 
 
July 29, 2009 01:20 PM
Phu I can always count on you to get the "shot in the dark" as you say, as @phillpiy said, great find and thank you in advance. I'm exicted about the beginnings of my new project and will keep you updated.

Report
 
 
 
July 28, 2009 05:57 PM
You need to take advantage of anything the students have that normal people don't. In The Netherlands, students get free public transportation.
Some students used this to start up a courier-service, delivering packages via public transport.
Just let them be creative, and think of what their advantage is! (Time, youth, numbers, ... )

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: buddawiggi

Tip mithrandir for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
 
July 29, 2009 01:23 PM
Thank you for the great idea on where to begin. Although public tranportation in my city, Nashua NH, is available but limited the idea of improving it as a service or using public transportation for business use by students seems worth further investigation.

Report
 
 
 
July 30, 2009 11:51 PM
Food From the Hood, started as a Los Angeles, Crenshaw High School Project. Looks like at some point Merrill Lynch got involved.

The New Hampshire Center for Non-Profits should be able to help guide you through the legal process of creating a non-profit corporation. You have to consider things like liability insurance because you will have adults working with children. If they develop a product, there will be product liability issues to protect yourself against too.

You may need to have adult volunteers who are coaching and mentoring get a TB test and Live Scan fingerprinting.
http://www.nhnonprofits.org/

Here is the book on the project:
http://books.google.com/books?id=d0i-D2bolXQC&pg=PP1&dq=entrepreneurial+community+gardens&ei=QDJySuu_G5qIlQTCsvSDAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Source(s):
http://www.certnyc.org/ffth.html
http://www.grass-roots.org/usa/foodhood.shtml
http://volunteer.ml.com/?id=66319_67034_67417_69069_69070_68322
http://books.google.com/books?id=d0i-D2bolXQC&pg=PP1&dq=entrepreneu...


Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: buddawiggi

Tip socalsue for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 

Answer this Question

How tips and payments work

This question has already been resolved. You may add an answer to it but you will not be eligible to win best answer or any associated tips.

Ask a Question


140 characters left
Top of Page
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • buddawiggi
    buddawiggi
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    27933 Points
    M$806.66 Earned
  • opher
    opher
    Purple Belt
    4757 Points
    M$203.72 Earned
  • annelisle
    annelisle
    Purple Belt
    3308 Points
    M$99.72 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1639)
iphone(468)
music(465)
google(361)
food(327)
online(298)
beer(281)
money(267)
movies(265)
apple(253)
aotd(235)
health(221)
video(210)
free(207)
dog(205)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members


 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.