FALL 2024/Spring 2025: START Projects

Campus Partner: First Nations Educational and Cultural Center 

Event Planner: Annual Spring Powwow  (April 5th, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.) 

The Powwow will host about 1500 people throughout the day, with a desired volunteer headcount of 25-30 volunteers at any given point.

Create all organizational materials for all aspects of volunteer needs for the Powwow. Create logistical materials for day of framework. Needs to use creativity, organization, and big picture view to make all materials. Materials needed: 

• Recruitment Materials  

• Who and where to recruit 

• Creation of mass email 

• Sending of mass email 

• Consider connecting with First Thursdays  

• Volunteer Workflow 

• Assign volunteers to shifts and placements 

• Placements: 

• Set-up 

• Head-staff care (helping dancers and staff during the event) 

• Merch booth 

• General floaters (help/answer questions during the event from the public) 

• Trash/clean up during the event 

• Tear down 

• Day of options: 

• Option 1 

• Create materials so that another staff member or volunteer can run and manage all volunteers during the event 

• Option 2 

• Go to the Powwow and manage the volunteers during the event  

Community Partner: Bloomington Chamber of Commerce 

Development of Crisis Communication Plan 

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce needs a comprehensive crisis plan. Use creativity and problem solving to come up with a multitude of crisis scenarios that the Chamber could face as well as the possible responses to the crisis.  

Preliminary but not comprehensive list of scenarios will be provided by the Chamber. 

The plan needs a list of scenarios with: 

• An actionable plan 

• Responses to all possible audiences 

• Examples: Chamber members + businesses, the media, the Bloomington public 

• Performance grading standard post crisis 
• Best Practices generally for crisis 

Examples for Crisis: 

• Natural disasters 

• Snowstorm 

• Mass power outages 

• A member of the chamber has been found to be connected to a hate group 

Final Product: Slide deck presentation with a detailed report  

Community Partner: Bloomington Chamber of Commerce 

Strategic Comprehensive Marketing Plan 

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce needs a broad marketing plan for the entirety of their operations as a whole. Will need to meet with the partner periodically to gather information, learn the ins-and-outs of the business, receive feedback and edits, and communicate needs. This plan should help express the broad message of the organization and membership (what does “being a member” entail). 

The strategic plan should include: 

• A comprehensive plan for all areas of the Chamber 

• Updated market strategies and analysis 

• An analysis of the market 

• Competitive and SWOT analysis 
• Strategic implantation of plan with schedule 

Final product: Slide desk with detailed presentation, and a written strategic plan that goes into more detail than the presentation 

Marketing Campaign: Brand Awareness

Use new and creative marketing techniques to help build awareness and brand recognition for Light Keepers of Henry County. Get the word out about who Light Keepers is and what their mission is. Help highlight resources available and target key audiences. Help with social media management and content creation. 

 Social media currently: 

• TikTok 

• BlueSky 

• Facebook 

• Willing to get Instagram but doesn’t currently have one 

Resources: 

• Community Center 

• Educational classes 

• Juneteenth Celebration 

• Content to help with fundraising for building restoration funds for community center 

Audience: 

• Marginalized communities 

• People below the poverty line (very high in our community) 

• Low income 

• Those willing to donate to help the above populations 

Community Partner: Limestone Post

Marketing and Brand Awareness SWOT Analysis

Limestone Media is a small nonprofit that needs an analysis of the marketing work that they have done. As a student volunteer, you would compile a comprehensive list of actions and efforts taken in marketing and brand awareness, evaluate what has already been done (SWOT) and provide a suggestion list of what is missing. This includes providing recommendations of other actions/plans to take, a list of helpful resources, and/or what is out there that has not been done yet.  

Final Product: Slide deck presentation with a detailed SWOT analysis report

Community Partner: Middle Way House 

Develop Grant and Donor Portfolio 

 There are many federal and state grants out there, that is mainly where Middle Way’s focus has been. This project entails taking a look at the portfolio created by Kelley students and build off of it. Look at other federal and state grants that were not listed, find corporate and private grants and donors.  

Portfolio/list should include: 

• Sponsor (who is providing grant/donation) 

• Amount of funding 

• Mission of company 

• Due date for submission 

• Basics of requirements 

Could also create an outline/framework/template containing general grant information about Middle Way House 

Community Partner: Peopls and Animal Learning Services (PALS)

Event Planning for PAL’s 25th Charity Gala (May 2nd, 2025 at 5:30 pm) 

Help PALS organize donations and complete party preparations. Use creativity and organizational skills to help create an amazing gala. Work in tandem with Devin and take care of: 

• Social Media Graphics 

• Promotion  

• Marketing 

• Donation collection 

• Calling and emailing businesses for item and/or monetary donations 

• Creation of Signage and other event materials 

• Event Programing  

• Email advertising  

• Creation of the mass email 

• Sending mass emails 

• Picture Slideshow 

• Take pictures that PALS has accumulated throughout the year and make a slideshow that will be presented at the Gala 

Watch recorded Board meeting about Gala or attend the board meetings in person if you would like (not required to attend). 

Community Partner: Wildcare Inc.

Website Audit and Workflow Creation

Critically look at the WildCare website; what is user friendly, what works, what doesn’t, etc. Create a comprehensive deliverable with suggested alterations. Create a mockup of suggested changes.  

Create a workflow that directs people to answers to the question: “What do I do if I find an animal?” Add this workflow to WildCare’s existing website. All the answers and resources are available. 

Community Partner: Autism Rocks and Rolls, Inc.

Project Request: Website Enhancement

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan wtih partner and assist in execution of plan which would include but is not limited to: learn to navigate backend of partner's website, write, produce rough drafts, edit, and proofread text. 

Community Partner: Autism Rocks and Rolls, Inc.

Project Request: Web-based Learning Management Systems Research

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan with community partner and assist in execution of plan which would include but is not limited to: research and analyze relevant components of multiple web-based learning management systems and make a recomendation of a software recomendation that fits the partners' specific needs. 

Community Partner: Bloominglabs, Inc. 

Project Request: Grant Research

• Listen attentively to detail with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any controllables and uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Considering project details, create, present, and review an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Based on the partner's needs, research the space of applicable and available grants that fit the specific needs of the partner.
• Determine the application requirements for identified grants including but not limited to deadlines and required materials. 
• Compile research in a digestible format that makes sense for the partner. 
• Present draft research to partner for initial feedback. 
• Present final recomendations to partner.

Community Partner: City of Bloomington Parks & Recreation

Skill-based Project Request: Website Audit 

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan wtih partner and assist in execution of plan which would include but is not limited to: learn to navigate backend of partner's website, write, produce a rough drafts, edit, and proofread text. 

Campus Partner: First Nations Education and Cultural Center

Project Request: Graphic Design

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan wtih partner that includes ideas for marketing and design recommendations to promote the IU Traditional Powwow event that is scheduled for Spring 2025.
• Prepare graphics and designs based on partner needs using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or other design software.
• Present drafts to partner for feedback.
• Incorporate feedback and amend designs.
• Present final design options to partner.

Community Partner: New Castle Community School Corporation

Project Request: Event Planning (Vocal Jazz Festival)

Campus Partner: Jacobs School of Music

• Listen attentively to details to achieve a deeper knowledge of project request.
• Co-create a draft plan for day-of events alongside partner while considering details of project request and limitations or uncontrollables that exist. 
• After settling on day-of plan, create and present a list of plans for resource needs, pre-event communication and marketing, guest list, event invitations and on-site coordination needed for the event.
• Present detailed planning document to partner. 
• Discuss all details and plans for execution of a successful event with partner.
• Based on discussions with partner, assist in execution of plan. 

Community Partner: Owen County Local Coordinating Council

Project Request: Marketing Strategy 

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan wtih partner and assist in execution of plan which would include:

Community Partner: Owen County YMCA

Project Request: Softare Training 

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan wtih partner and assist in execution of plan which would include:

Community Partner: People and Animal Learning Services

Skill-based Project Request: Video Editor 

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan wtih partner and assist in execution of plan which would include but is not limited to: assemble raw video footage, inputting sound and graphics to enhance footage, digitally splicing film and video and synchronizing them into one rough cut file, improving lighting, coloring, and faulty footage.
• Work closely with community partner to present a final product that matches their vision, showing the impact of equine assisted services.

Community Partner: People's Cooperative Market

Skill-based Project Request: Storytelling 

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan wtih partner and assist in execution of plan which would include but is not limited to: conduct relevant interviews, write, produce a rough draft, edit, and proofread text. 

Community Partner: Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House, Inc. 

Project Request: HR Employee Handbook

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan with partner and assist in execution of plan which includes but is not limited to: reviewing partner values and mission, general employment information, standards of conduct, employee benefits, confidentiality agreement, review and follow all relevant follow federal, state, and local laws.
• Work closely with community partner to produce a final HR Handbook that matches their vision and covers all HR policies and topics that have been provided by the partner. 

Community Partner: The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

Project Request: Website Audit

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan wtih partner and assist in execution of plan which would include:

Campus Partner: Wylie House Museum

Skill-based Project Request: GIS Mapping

• Listen attentively to details with the goal of achieving a deeper knowledge of project request, project limitations, and any uncontrollables that exist. 
• Discuss all details and plans for moving forward, and their ideal of a successful plan with community partner. 
• Consider project details, create and present an action plan that includes resource needs, parameters of communication, and format requirements while discussing all details and plans for execution of a successful plan with community partner.
• Review action plan wtih partner and assist in execution of plan which would include rebuilding a map of heirloom seed providers and growers in Bloomington and the midwest region. The current storymap lives here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bad2ca2cf40f4ea1b405439d088f6c0b.