Sisters of the Fin: A Nonprofit Start-Up Connecting Women Veterans Through Fishing in Alaska

Abstract

Sisters of the Fin (SOTF) is a prospective nonprofit organization (NPO) startup focusing on connecting women veterans by offering recreational fishing opportunities in Alaska. This SOTF project objective proposed development of a nonprofit organization business plan using research and application of project management principles and Project Management Institute (PMI) PMBOK® Guide Knowledge Areas. In combination with an NPO business plan, a project management plan (PMP), an integrated project schedule, relevant templates, and metrics for project monitoring and control were developed and utilized. The SOTF Project Manager employed selected project management tools and techniques to determine suitability for nonprofit application. Online research revealed a lack of female-focused fishing nonprofits nationwide specifically catering to women veterans. Further investigation of women veteran population demographics revealed a smaller population size could inversely impact nonprofit participation. A questionnaire distributed to women veterans, to gauge perspectives of a recreational fishing nonprofit tailored to them, resulted in positive feedback. Research assessed analogous Alaskan NPO startup feasibility among a large community of diverse nonprofits, especially in recreation services. NPO startup research aligned with defined project deliverables by developing a PMP, assessing risks, managing scope, adding project resources, and producing a narrative guideline which resulted in an informed an persuasive nonprofid business plan.