Making a real difference projects and problem solving

1. Making a real difference projects and problem solving Jean Murray BPW South Australia

2. Projects and problem-solving • Take a good idea • Research it thoroughly • Establish a project team • Work up a business case • Secure funding • Run your project responsibly • Deliver on outcomes • Make a real difference

3. Where do projects come from? • Ideas at BPW meetings • Challenging speakers • Individual passions • Local issues • Media reports • Resolutions from conferences • Collaborations with other organisations • ??????????????

4. First steps – the good idea • Is it relevant to BPW? • Is it BPW core business? • or should you be partnering with another women’s organisation for whom it is? • If it’s relevant: • Is this a new idea? • Has it all been done before? • Is there a gap here? • Is a new policy or program required? • Or more funding? Research the issue – be real, be right

5. Research Check if you’re right • Work out what might be known already • Libraries, internet, universities, government reports, ABS statistics • Check with members, local experts • Develop a report • Collate your research findings • Organise your arguments • Point out gaps in knowledge, in policy, in services, in funding

6. Reality check Test your ideas so far • Present your findings and proposal to a sceptical group of intelligent women • If you can convince them, maybe you have identified an issue that needs to be investigated properly • Pool the passion – get a group • Invite members and non-members • Co-opt local experts

7. Establish a team • Harness the passion • Seek diversity – in age, outlook, skills, knowledge, experience • Look outside BPW, engage new members • Collaborate – make it a 5-O project • Offer opportunities to contribute and support: students, researchers, family and friends BPW members and clubs achieving outcomes attracts attention – so make your project obvious

8. Write a business case • Start at the end – work backwards • Be outcomes focussed – what would success look like? • Agree the project aims • Determine what skills would be needed • Name the milestones • Plan a timeframe – be realistic about time commitments • Estimate the likely cost – including opportunity costs, donated time and resources Be flexible – nothing ever goes to plan

9. Recap • Idea • Identify the gap • Research • Reality check • Confirm the gap • Establish a team • Describe the project • Write a business case

10. Next step: $$$$$$$$$ You need funding • Check the sources • Approach federal, state and local governments • Not just women’s project funding, other departments • Investigate business, bank and community grants • Check university research collaborative grants • Collaborate with others, seek sponsorship • Apply to more than one source • Seek government funding but supplement with sponsorship

11. Funding proposal • Turn your business case into a proposal • Check your funder’s requirements • align your arguments with their criteria • quote key themes from their plans and platforms • identify outcomes that fit • Be realistic • about timelines and funding required • Seek referees and approach champions • Fill in their forms, submit and wait Keep pitching, don’t give up

12. Jackpot!! • Now you need resources and support • Engage with stakeholders • Find a champion – office space and phone support • Collaborate with other organisations • Mentor students – you learn, they learn • Meet regularly • Write project plans with clear deadlines • Keep proper meeting reports and action lists • Check actions off each meeting, but be flexible Don’t forget to be kind : this project fits with your life; it is not your life

13. Publicise your project • Don’t leave publicity to the end • celebrate at every stage • Use a range of opportunities • present progress reports at conferences • write newsletter articles for BPW and other organisations • talk about your project to everyone you meet • Keep the media informed • always acknowledge your funding sources

14. Responsibilities • Report on time to your funder • be clear about their needs and requirements • deliver the deliverables on time • warn them of problems and delays in advance • conduct an honest evaluation • Seek extensions when needed • negotiate when reality bites • but tell them what’s going well too • Keep track of the finances through BPWA • negotiate with your funder about needed changes • allocate funds to cover BPW costs, auditing Communicate and negotiate

15. What did you learn? Evaluate your project in stages • Don’t wait until the end • what did you find out along the way? • who benefited? what changed? • Write a project summary • put it with your final report to your funder • add recommendations for follow up • how should the project be sustained? • what funding or support would be required? • who would benefit? what would change?

16. As you go … • Analyse your findings against what is ‘known’ • Test the assumptions in the media and policy • Assess whether it is a women’s issue or a family issue – or a society issue • Provide your findings to policy developers and key decision-makers with recommendations backed by robust research • Send out media releases, offer to talk about it Tell the world what you did, what you found, and what you changed

17. Idea Find the gap Research Reality check Confirm the gap Establish a team Describe the project Write business case Seek funding Report regularly Manage the money Deliver on outcomes Evaluate learnings Celebrate Lobby Make a difference Recap

18. BPW’s role and influence Don’t stop there - follow through • Ignore barriers and take risks • Put a resolution to conference • Put an article in the BPWA newsletter • Encourage other clubs to take it up • Share what you’ve learnt with others • Keep the good outcomes rolling • Lobby for sustained and sustainable change

19. Go for it! Projects enable us to use our combined abilities and strengths • to realise and accept our responsibilities to the community, locally, nationally and internationally • to undertake philanthropic projects that help women to become economically independent • to use our occupational capacities and intelligence for the advantage of others • to work for equal opportunities for women in the economic, political and social life of Australia • to collect and present the views of business and professional women to the public and to Australian authorities Make a real difference – you’re BPW women