CASES "Collaborations Accelerating Sustainable Engagements & Solutions" is a Project by Project pro-bono consulting initiative aiming to help API community nonprofits build capacity and accelerate impact while simultaneously fostering the personal and professional growth of next generation leaders.
What is CASES?
CASES was conceived to expand Project by Project's scope of service learning to include skills-based opportunities in addition to hands-on volunteering. As a pro-bono consulting model of community engagement, CASES seeks to:
Bring together nimble groups of like-minded, socially conscious young professionals to work collaboratively in a project team setting;
Engage nonprofit partners in conducting research and evaluation of the business and organizational challenges they are facing;
Leverage the diverse and cross-functional skillsets of our volunteer consultants in developing innovative solutions that enhance the long-term sustainability of our partners.
How it Works
CASES clients are paired with a dedicated team volunteer consultants that were selected from the PbP Steering Committee for their specific professional skillsets. Over the span of 12 weeks, CASES volunteer consultants produce a written deliverable and presentation which provides recommendations for a specific capacity-building project.
Why it Works
The project team setting, collaborative partner engagement, and intentional learning environment are the elements of this model that are conducive to the production of tangible deliverables by our volunteer consultants.
What to Expect
Deliverable: Through client interviews and thorough research, CASES teams provide specific, actionable recommendations that allow clients to improve and grow their organizations. Types of projects will vary in order to target our client’s most pressing challenges, including recruitment strategies, market research, ROI evaluation, financial planning, and data analysis. The written deliverable will cover the following - project scope, research, analysis, and recommendations - and will be presented to the client at the end of the 3-month project term.
Collaborative Approach:To effectively identify and address the challenges that our clients face, we expect clients and their teams to engage actively with each other. Over the course of the 3-month project term, we expect our teams to meet with their clients at least three times in-person while maintaining regular email and phone communication. For our teams to be most effective, clients must be willing to share information that is relevant to their team's decision-making process; we process full confidentiality in return.
Commitment to Social Impact:We expect our team members to take a strategic rather than implementation approach to problem-solving. Similarly we are seeking clients who are committed to their organizations and able to implement solutions in the long-term. We expect clients to have a clear idea of their project and the impact they strive to achieve.
FOR NONPROFIT CLIENTS
Community nonprofits may apply to be CASES clients. Priority is given to PbP's past and present beneficiary partners (beneficiaries of our Plate by Plate annual tasting benefit).
PbP’s engagement with its current beneficiary partner is centered around a 3-pronged annual campaign raising volunteerism, awareness, and capital. In addition to engagement with the campaign, the current beneficiary partner will also be assigned a CASES team dedicated to a capacity-building project.
While CASES clients may include past partners and other community nonprofits, the current beneficiary partner is the only CASES client that will be the beneficiary of that year's Plate by Plate annual tasting benefit.
Benefits of Being a CASES Client
Capacity-building project over a three-month period, plus help with scoping that project;
Partnership with 4-5 volunteer consultants who are young professionals from across industries with multidisciplinary skillsets, eager to learn about and contribute to the social sector;
Publicity within PbP's network and events.
Client Expectations
Regular check-ins with project team to support project scoping, primary and secondary research, and analysis for recommendations;
In-person meetings held at a minimum once a month throughout engagement (at least 3 total) and email/phone communication maintained on a weekly basis;
Eager to create learning environment for project team members, establishing long-lasting partnerships that may evolve into future board membership (not simply gaining short-term volunteers).
FOR VOLUNTEER CONSULTANTS
CASES Team Structure
Project Managers and Team Members of CASES are PbP Steering Committee Members in good-standing, pre-selected via a special application and interview process. Priority for project manager selection is given to those who have volunteered with PbP for at least year.
Teams are formed based on cross-functional, multi-disciplinary skillsets, allocated to each project depending on the problem it seeks to address (task-force style). Where applicable, PbP may bring in external subject matter experts to contribute to the team.
Members can only be placed on one project per term to ensure dedication to the project’s success.
CASES team members must also be members on PbP Steering Committee functional teams, unless they are subject matter experts brought in specifically for project needs. To ensure commitment to functional team duties (e.g. marketing, fundraising, operations, events, operations, volunteer management), directors and managers of PbP functional teams may not simultaneously be project managers. However, managers on PbP functional teams may be team members on project teams.
Benefits of Being a CASES Team Member
Pro-bono consulting experience involving application of professional skillsets to address important business and organizational issues in the API and greater Los Angeles community;
Nonprofit workshops where you will learn from industry experts about topics including fundraising, digital marketing, and board service;
Network with like-mind, highly motivated volunteers across multiple industries and multidisciplinary skillsets.
CASES Team Member Expectations
Regular check-ins with nonprofit partner liaison to support project scoping, primary and secondary research, and analysis for recommendations;
In-person meetings held at a minimum once a month throughout engagement (at least 3 total) and email/phone communication maintained on a weekly basis;
Commitment of 3-5 hours per week on the project, with the intention of maximizing the learning experience provided by the nonprofit partners that you will bring back to the PbP Steering Committee and take with you to future board memberships.
If you would like to work with Project by Project on CASES, please fill out the form in the volunteer page. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact outreach.ny@projectbyproject.org for more information.
