Foundation Business Plan
SFPE EDUCATIONAL & RESEARCH FOUNDATION BUSINESS PLAN OUTLINE
March 2006
Business Plan Operating Policy
The Foundation will conduct business as follows:
Actively enhance Foundation visibility among members, chapters and professional constituents.
Actively conduct fundraising is support of Foundation activities.
Annually prepare a budget predicated on fundraising objectives, administrative expenses and specific project funding.
Identify, organize, and conduct specific high priority research projects. Acquire stakeholder participation and funding for projects that are not included in annual budget preparation.
Support targeted, high priority textbooks and engineering resource publications.
Seek synergy with allied professional organizations and foundations. Participate with other organizations on mutually beneficial projects.
BACKGROUND:
1. Describe:
1.1. Organization of Foundation
1.2. Non-Profit Status
(Information to be provided later)
2. Examples of Foundation Activities
2.1 Student Grant Program - The Foundation provides funding for Student Research Projects. Applications are reviewed and recommended by a panel of subject matter experts. Student grant requests that are recommended by the panel of subject matter experts are referred to the Board of Governors for approval.
2.2 Publications - The Foundation provides funding for technical publications that contribute to the body of knowledge, document the practice of fire protection engineering and \ or provide reference material for professional practice.
2.3 Research Initiatives - The Foundation identifies research initiatives that are of tangible near term importance to the professional practice. The Foundation identifies potential beneficiaries of this research and solicits funding to conduct the research and publish the results.
2.4 Fund, Organize Symposia and Meetings - The Foundation organizes and funds symposia and meeting to facilitate technical information exchange to advance the practice of fire protection engineering.
Additional information concerning each of these activities is available on the Foundation's page of the SFPE Website.
3. Expansion Plans
3.1. Define benefit to SFPE - The Foundation Is uniquely positioned to promote applied scientific research and data development to improve engineering tools (including analytical methods, engineering calculation tools, fire models and data associated with these tools. This expansion will enhance the value of the Foundation to SFPE members, their employers and customers.
3.2. Raise the image of the Foundation - Communicate the Foundation's mission, activities and resource needs to members, chapters and corporate supporters.
3.2.1. Within SFPE - Communicate with Society members to raise awareness of the Foundation's capability to contribute to the science and practice of fire protection engineering.
3.2.2. Beyond SFPE - Develop synergy with peer groups to leverage resources.
4. Define peer groups
4.1. Other foundations associated with engineering society
4.2. Possible collaborative organizations - NFPA FPRF, Chemical Process Safety Center, Electric Power Research Institute, IAFSS
4.2.1. Common interests
4.2.2. Building, structural and architectural contacts
4.2.3. Industry groups
4.2.4. Fire protection community
5. Types of Programs and Projects of Interest
5.1. Educational Programs
5.2. Student Grant Program
5.3. Paper presentation travel program
6. Engineering and Scientific Research Programs
6.1. Targeted high priority research projects
6.2. Text book development
6.3. White paper support
6.4. Industry programs
6.5. Fire Protection Foundation
OBJECTIVES:
General
1.1. Building The Foundation's Image:
1.1.1. Within SFPE
1.1.1.1. Develop Image Campaign Directed Toward SFPE Membership
1.1.1.1.1. Responsibility: Foundation BOG
1.1.1.1.2. When: June 2006
1.1.1.1.3. Funding: Nil
1.1.1.1.4. Presentations to individual chapters
1.1.2. Outside SFPE
1.1.3. Identify Key Organizations
1.1.3.1. Responsibility: BOG, SFPE Executive Director, Fitzgerald, Cote, Proulx, Beyris
1.1.3.2. When: March 2006
1.1.3.3. Funding: Nil
1.1.3.4. Measurement: List agreed to and contact assignments made
1.1.4. Report on Possible Opportunities for Collaborative Work
1.1.4.1. Responsibility: Individual governors;
1.1.4.2. When: June 2006
1.1.4.3. Funding: Nil
1.1.4.4. Measurements: Report of opportunities agreed to by BOG/SFPE Executive Director; and plan agreed to for future contacts
2. Educational Objectives
2.1. Identify Opportunities to Work Collaboratively with Universities in Support of Educational Programs in U.S. and Canada
Identify Educational Needs (Texts, Professional support, etc.) of universities having fire protection engineering programs and/or offering courses as part of other engineering curricula in fire protection, code applications, safety, etc This includes collaboration includes direct projects with professors ( this could include projects in which we contribute to (share) honoriums, equipment, travel or miscellaneous expenditures with the money going directly to the professor to be spent in accordance with an approved plan).
Contact Canadian Universities (Carleton and Waterloo to discuss potential collaboration
2.1.1.
2.1.1.1. Responsibility: U.S. - U.S. Board Members, Evans
2.1.1.2. Responsibility: Canada - Richardson, Proulx
2.1.1.3. When: 2006
2.1.1.4. Funding: Nil
2.1.1.5. Measurements: Needs identified, prioritized and reported to BOG for further action.
2.2. Increased Support for Student Grant Program
2.2.1. Continue program of contacting universities (using feedback from information gathered in Objective 2.1.1 above) of potential student grant funding from Foundation
2.2.1.1. Responsibility: BOG Chair; Executive Director
2.2.1.2. When: Ongoing though out 2006
2.2.1.3. Funding: Funds required for selected grants.
2.2.1.4. Measurements: Increased applications for grants.
3. Research Objectives
Identify and Prioritize Most Research Needs to Promote the Development, Practice and Acceptance of Performance-Based Engineering Tools
Develop, improve and validate algorithms that are the basis of engineering calculation methods.
3.1.1. Research Needs Identified and Prioritized According to Practicality, Chances of Success and Widespread Application.
3.1.1.1. Responsibility: Research Subcommittee \ All
3.1.1.2. When: 2006
3.1.1.3. Funding: Nil
3.1.1.4. Measurement: Research needs and priorities identified, prioritized, and agreed-to by SFPE (and other interested parties).
3.2. Select a Project and Develop Needs Statement for Project
3.2.1. Project Selected and Needs Statements Developed and Project Cost Estimated. The first project should be relatively simple and limited in scope. There should be significant diversity between these projects.
3.2.1.1. Responsibility: BOG
3.2.1.2. When: December 2006
3.2.1.3. Funding: Nil
3.2.1.4. Measurement: Contact made with appropriate institution, agency or business segment depending on area of interest and decision made whether or not to pursue research.
3.2.2 Based on 2006 Results, Develop a Formal Methodology for Identifying, selecting and developing proposals for future research.
3.3. Develop Formal Relationships with Other Organizations to Identify Research Needs and Project Statements
3.3.1. Identify Possible Partner Research Organizations
3.3.1.1. Responsibility: BOG
3.3.1.2. When: June 2006
3.3.1.3. Funding: Nil
3.3.1.4. Measurement: Organizations identified and initial contacts made.
3.3.2 Identify and prioritize potential University partners.
FINANCE:
1. Develop a Multi-year Financial Plan for 2007-2009 to Cover Existing Foundation Activities in Student Grants and annual overhead and administrative costs.
1.1. Plan Development
1.1.1. Existing and Potential Future 2007-2009 Commitments Identified and Agreed-to
1.1.1.1. Responsibility: Executive Director, Chair, Treasurer
1.1.1.2. When: March 2006
1.1.1.3. Funding: Nil
1.1.1.4. Current and Potential Future Obligations Identified and Approved by Foundation BOG
1.1.2. Plan for Raising Needed Funds Developed
1.1.2.1. Responsibility: Executive Director, Chair, Treasurer
1.1.2.2. When: June 2006
1.1.2.3. Funding: Nil
1.1.2.3.1. Measurement: Plan Developed and Potential Sponsors Contacted (Including SFPE Members, Chapters and Corporate 100 members)
1.1.3. 2007 Budget Contains Specific Targeted Fund Raising with Execution Plan Developed
1.1.3.1. Responsibility: Executive Director, Chair, Treasurer
1.1.3.2. When: October 2006
1.1.3.3. Funding: TBD
1.1.3.4. Measurement: 2007 Operating Plan Contains Fundraising Efforts
1.2. Grant collaborative Partnerships
1.2.1. Universities Having Interests in Fire Protection Engineering and Research Contacted As to Interest in Cooperative Research Applications to National Science Foundation
1.2.1.1. Responsibility: Individual BOG Members
1.2.1.2. When: 2006
1.2.1.3. Funding: (Travel May Be Necessary)
1.2.1.4. Measurement: Feasibility of Collaborative Efforts Determined
1.3. Industry Projects
1.3.1. Trade Associations and Industry Groups Having Specific Fire Protection Engineering Research Needs Identified and Prioritized According to Need, Chances of Success in Doing Research, Chances of Success in Research Being Successful in Resolving Issues and Building Fire Protection Tools for Performance-Based Engineering
1.3.1.1. Responsibility: Individual BOG Members
1.3.1.2. When: March 2006
1.3.1.3. Cost: Nil
1.3.1.4. Measurement: Potential Industry Groups Identified and Contact Plans (including 'Needs Statements') Prepared and Distributed
1.3.2. Responses to 1.3.1 Evaluated and Future Activities Defined
1.3.2.1. Responsibility: BOG
1.3.2.2. When: June 2006
1.3.2.3. Cost: Nil
1.3.2.4. Measurement: If Response is Positive from One or More Contacted Organizations, follow up needed including meetings; if not, discuss next step.
1.4. Sustained Funding - A plan for sustained funding is currently being developed.