Introduction to the mission and goals of the Non-Profit FOSS Institute, a non-profit dedicated to connecting universities, non-profits, and software developers.

1. Non-Profit FOSS Institute
Mission, Goals, and
Concept of Operations
October 2013

2. Bridging Digital Divides
• The Non-Profit FOSS Institute’s (NPFI) mission is to promote
the study, development, support, and distribution of open
source software that benefits non-profit organizations.
• The Institute provides a collaborative environment that
brings together participants from academia, the non-profit
sector, and the software development industry.
• Together, these participants develop software products that
support the work of non-profit organizations, while also
leading educational and outreach programs to promote open
source software development.

3. Serving Three Key Sectors
• Academia: Undergraduate instructors and student teams
interested in service-learning software development
projects.
• Non-Profit Sector: Humanitarian non-profits with specific
software needs that are willing to work directly with
instructor/ class teams to help develop the software and
support academic service learning goals.
• Software Development Sector: IT/software groups willing to
bring their technical expertise to support the deployment
and maintenance of open source software.

4. A Collaborative Triad:
Service Learning for the Greater Good
Non-Profit Clients
Undergraduate Classes
and Instructors
Through service-based
learning programs, design
and develop software
modules using open
source tools
Identify organizational
needs and collaborate
with classes to develop
prototype software
solutions
NPFI
Recruits and matches project
triads; Provides guidance for
instructors and non-profits;
Disseminates open source products
to support future projects
IT/Software Firms
Help deploy software
products, and provide
ongoing maintenance and
support under contract
with non-profit

5. Institute Goals
• Provide matching services to identify and connect non-profits
with computer science classes interested in service-learning
projects, and IT/software firms willing to provide support.
• Introduce interested college/university computer science
instructors to techniques for developing and introducing
service learning experiences into their courses.
• Provide participating non-profit organizations with useful
custom software that directly supports their mission.
• Disseminate open source products, distributing the benefits
of the software developed for one non-profit organization to
other non-profits with similar needs.

6. Concept of Operations: Life Cycle Activities
1. Identify Non-Profit
Project Need and Match
With Instructor/Class
4. Disseminate Open
Source Packages;
Educate/Recruit New
Participants
NPFI:
Recruits
Matches
Supports
Educates
3. Match Non-Profit with
Support IT Organization
2. Support
Development and
Deployment of Open
Source Software
Product

7. 1. Match Non-Profit with Instructor/Class
1. Identify Non-Profit
Project Need and Match
With Instructor/Class
• Institute or class instructor works with
interested non-profit to identify needs,
develop a project description, and
generate set of requirements.
• Instructor, with Institute support,
develops plan for semester-long project.
• This “semester-based labor system” is
central to the Institute concept; every
project must be scoped such that it can be
prototyped by an undergraduate student
team in one semester.
• Some instructors may come to the
Institute with pre-identified projects;
Institute will match where needed.

8. 2. Support Development and Deployment
2. Support Development
and Deployment of
Open Source Software
Product
• Instructor, with Institute support where
needed, guides student team to develop
a prototype that meets client needs.
• Core development principles:
– Prototypes developed under the Institute’s
purview must use open source tools and carry
a open source license.
– Class must interact regularly with the client
contact at the non-profit organization.
• Non-profit provides key contact for
development, deployment, and training.
• Once complete, instructor provides full
set of documentation and code to
Institute.

9. 3. Match Non-Profit with Support Organization
3. Match Non-Profit with
Support IT Organization
• Institute works closely with the nonprofit to negotiate a support contract
with a local, service-oriented IT/software
development firm to provide long-term
maintenance and support services for the
deployed product.
• Scope of support well defined, and
reasonably priced for non-profit; firm
may rebuild or enhance product to
support long-term needs.
• The Institute serves as a back-up broker
and supporter in case of conflict or if the
contract ever falls through.

10. 4. Institute Disseminates Tools; Recruits New Participants
4. Disseminate Open
Source Packages;
Educate/Recruit New
Participants
• Institute maintains repository of sample
products meeting common non-profit needs.
Artifacts (code, documentation) serve as a
baseline for development or customization by
a semester-class team.
• Institute maintains “Instructor Toolbox” to
attract college instructors interested in
pursuing service-based learning projects.
• Institute also supports a broader outreach
mission to educate people about open source
software and Institute goals.
• Existing college-non-profit partnerships may
continue, as both parties identify new
possible modules based on their experiences.

11. Case Study: “Homeplate Project” (Beaufort, SC)
• Project Need: Volunteers at Second Helpings in Beaufort County,
South Carolina pick up food donations from area grocery stores,
and then redistribute donations to food banks. Food pick-ups
and drop-offs were once logged using pen and paper, and then
hand-entered into spreadsheets at the office.
• Service Learning Projects: In 2012, two Bowdoin College
computer science classes changed this. One class built a
database to track food donations and deliveries. A second class
built a mobile app, used by volunteers on the trucks to record
pick-ups and drop-offs of food instantly.
• Outcome: This project has replaced the clipboards and pens
previously used by Second Helpings volunteers, and provides
more accurate and timely reports.

12. Case Study: “Homebase Project” (Portland, ME)
• Project Need: Volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House in
Portland, Maine staff the front desk, clean rooms, and help ease
the way for families while their children are treated in nearby
hospitals. Scheduling volunteers and rooms was once done by
hand, using paper calendars and lists of names and addresses.
The processes were error‐prone and cumbersome.
• Service Learning Projects: Bowdoin College teams have
developed a number of tools for the House, which support both
online volunteer and room scheduling.
• Outcome: By streamlining administrative activities, the
Homebase system allows volunteers to spend more time serving
and supporting families in need.

13. Next Steps: Work Plan Areas of Focus
• Develop General Outreach Materials: Establish a web-based
presence for the Institute to communicate general goals and
approach to interested people and organizations.
• Identify and Apply for Funding Opportunities: Complete IRS
tax exemption application process; obtain funding for start-up
activities and ongoing sustainability.
• Develop Triad Recruitment Approach: Establish systematic
approaches to identify and match candidate participants (triads
of classes, non-profits, and IT/software companies).
• Formalize Technical Environment: Establish "Instructor's
Toolbox" of demonstration products (sample outcomes),
processes, and list of available development tools.

14. Benefits for Participants
Classes and
Instructors
• Provides students with
unique learning
experience.
• Provides students with
communication and
teamwork skills critical
for professional
success.
• Feeds student and
instructor values
related to community
service.
• May provide visibility
and good will for
university/college and
instructor in local
community.
Non-Profit
• Receives a customized
software tool that
directly supports its
mission, and that it is
directly involved in
developing.
• Receives support in
setting up a reasonable
contract allowing for
long-term sustainability
of the software.
• May provide the
benefits of greater
connection with
university/college and a
great good news story
for donor base.
IT/Software
Organization
• Establishes a new client
for support services
that would not
otherwise be in the IT
services market.
• May benefit from the
recruiting potential
offered by close ties
with a university
computer science
program.
• Helps organization
meet community
service goals, and may
provide positive press
and visibility.

15. The Institute Vision
• Computer science students that are
fluent in user communication as well
as technical development.
• Non-profit organizations that are
empowered to use technology to more
effectively serve their end clients.
• IT/software companies that are
connected through service to nonprofits in their communities.
• A vibrant Institute that connects and
educates: serving those who serve
others.
The Bowdoin College class team that
developed a volunteer scheduling tool
for the Ronald McDonald House in
Portland, Maine.