CAP Brainstorms for Nonprofit Clients
Short, interactive discussions with experienced alumni volunteers
Why Engage with CAP Brainstorms?
- 2-3 hour sessions on single, well defined business topics
- Access 1,100+ local HBS/HKS alumni volunteers who bring an objective, external view to your organization’s challenges
- Engage experienced CAP Brainstorm facilitators who have hosted 75+ sessions over the past few years
Brainstorming Session Overview
- Brainstorms allows CAP to serve a wide variety of nonprofit clients, especially those who are small or whose issues don’t fit with CAP pro bono consulting engagements
- Examples of recent brainstorms session topics include: succession planning; board governance; impact measurement and reporting; ways to increase an organization’s visibility and reach; and staffing structures for continued growth
Brainstorm Process
- Client inquiries are accepted on a rolling basis
- A phone interview will be conducted if nonprofit applicant is selected to move to the next step in the process
- The client provides brief background materials in advance to prepare the participants to engage in a discussion focused on the brainstorm topic
Brainstorm Client Criteria
- Charitable nonprofit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status or other officially designated social enterprise
- Located in Eastern Massachusetts
- A mission which benefits the community
- An engaged board of directors
- Stable leadership in the organization
- Capacity/resources to act on ideas generated during Brainstorm session
Brainstorm Session Criteria
- Addresses a business or management issue, such as strategic planning, organizational development, finance, or marketing
- Does not focus on development / fundraising strategy or implementation
- Has goals which are well-defined and achievable by a volunteer team of consultants during a brainstorm session
- Has the support of the organization’s leadership