Project Management for Change
January 2019 Newsletter
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Do You Know Where You Are Going?
“If you don’t know where you are going, how can you expect to get there?”
—Basil S. Walsh
Moving into each new year calls to mind goal-setting and planning. As the yearly clock resets, many take part in the tradition of resetting personal and professional goals, hoping for a fresh start to clear the pathway to success. When organizing and outlining goals for the new year, you are applying the basics of project planning—a critical phase in any successful project.
Think about a goal your organization is determined to accomplish this year, such as a number of clients served or a fundraising target. To achieve these goals, you will need to answer some important questions:
- What materials and labor hours will be required to complete the mission?
- What are the most important larger tasks, or milestones, in this project, and when should they be done in order to make the project deadline?
- In what sequence should each task be carried out, and how long will each task take?
The answers to these questions make up the beginnings of a project plan. A helpful resource that explains the elements of developing a project plan is this article by Stephanie Ray. Also, there are a variety of free planning tools online that can help create budgets, schedules, and track project progress.
Of course, it’s important to remember that a project plan, even the most detailed one, is a set of guidelines that will likely need revision as the project comes to life and faces practical challenges. However, research has shown that by simply completing the planning phase of your project, you are increasing the chances that you’ll reach your targets, within your budget and on time.
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Project Management Day of Service: Finding Innovative Solutions to Nonprofit Challenges
"We rarely have the luxury of spending time on the business with a group of highly skilled professionals," says Mariana McNeill, executive director of CareerCatchers.
Read about CareerCatchers' experience with PMDoS, and how the events have supported their success.
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Project Planning - Top 10 Tips
Learn (or take a quick refresher!) on how to define scope, manage risk, organize your work breakdown structure, plan for change with buffers, and more, with Ray Sheen, certified project management professional. Free webinar here.
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Wanted: Business Development Lead
Do you have experience in sponsorship or fundraising? We're looking for you! We’re seeking a Business Development Lead to champion these efforts for our pro-bono events and services.
Wanted: Continuous Value Delivery Project Manager
Are you a project management professional looking to give back to the community on a longer-term basis rather than one day of service? Contact cvd@pm4change.org to learn more!
Please visit Idealist for list of other current volunteer positions and details. Do you have talents and skills which aren't listed? Reach out to hr@pm4change.org to receive more information.
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10 Questions A New Project Manager Must Ask Before Starting A Project
It's easy to say you're starting a project and kick-off project planning, but read about 10 questions you should ask before even starting!
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NEW: Classifieds
Looking to connect with other nonprofits or advertise something that other nonprofits may want? Here's the place! Please contact dcquestions@pm4change.org.
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AmazonSmile
Support PMDoS & PM4Change while shopping at no extra cost to you! When you shop at smile.amazon.com and select "Project Management for Change", a portion of all Amazon sales will be donated to PM4Change.
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Project Management For Change ®
A Not-for-Profit Organization
Tax ID: 47-4512704
The Project Management Day of Service (PMDoS)®, a Project Management for Change signature event, is a community outreach event of unprecedented scale enabling pro bono Project Management services for nonprofits and social change organizations. Project Management for Change is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to unleash the boundless potential of the Project Management Profession to empower and transform communities around the world. Join us in changing the world, one project at a time!
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