"Project Run With It" is a case competition that will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2008 during the BAP Annual Meeting in Anaheim, CA. The competition will bring BAP students from 60 chapters together to develop solutions to financial and technological problems of actual not-for-profit (NFP) agencies. The NFP agency will provide background information and answer student questions. Students, working in teams of four, will have one day to develop possible solutions and present them to the agency.

The competition begins next spring, but now is a good time to start planning for the competition and choosing participants.

How to nominate a chapter member

Each BAP chapter may nominate one person to participate. Nominations are due May 1, 2008. The Board alumni representatives, along with a panel of young alumni, will select 60 participants. The nomination form will be available on the BAP website by February 1, 2008.

As part of the application process, the nominated student must meet with a director of a local not-for-profit agency to gain a better understanding of the financial/information systems issues faced by not-for-profit organizations. As part of the nomination, the student will submit a one-page summary (essay) of this meeting and identify how his/her BAP chapter could assist this organization.

The selection process is expected to be competitive, with final choices based on service to BAP, grade point average, the nominee's essay, and a statement of commitment to attend the annual meeting. Students will be notified by July 1 as to whether or not they were selected.

Competition Details

Three not-for-profit agencies will participate in the competition. Students will be assigned to four member teams and the team will be assigned to one of the not-for-profit agencies. The competition will kick-off on Thursday morning. Each of the three not-for-profit agencies will present their background information and describe their financial and technology problems to five student teams. After answering student questions, the teams will start brainstorming solutions to their agency's problems.

The teams will break in order to participate in Community Service Day. They will start work again after Community Service Day and be allowed to work until midnight. A representative for each agency will be available to answer questions during the evening. At midnight the teams will turn in their power point presentation. On Friday, each team will present their solutions to the not-for-profit agency and a panel of judges.

The Prizes

First place teams will be selected for each not-for-profit agency. Each individual on the first place team will receive a plaque and his/her chapter will receive a $1,000 cash award.

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