The Rosetta Stone Foundation Executive Strategy April Banks, Kevin Burnett, Vic Coburn, Aaron Green EMU Stewardship and Leadership MBA Summer 2010

Creation of a strong organizational structure, funding sources, and management philosophy supports the mission and vision of the Rosetta Stone Foundation.

Vision We imagine a world where language learning strengthens cultural diversity and enables intercultural understanding

Mission To enable intercultural communication and understanding To restore language fluency in endangered language communities

Structure Director of Development – Responsible for field programs and strategic partnership management Grant Writer – Manages grant programs, development of proposals, and campaigns

Stewardship Design Principles Balance Interdependence Regeneration Diversity Succession Source: Anthony E. Smith 2010, Stewardship Design Principles

Balance Creating balance in communities by dismantling communication barriers and empowering people with a sharing of voices. Managing the balance between mission and financial sustainability.

Interdependence Those who act have a responsibility to others

Regeneration Cross-cultural communication Preservation of language and cultural heritage Peace building Economic stimulation

Diversity Adaptive Capacity Compete Collaborate Resilience

Succession One language lost about every two weeks. Challenge becomes stimulating cross-cultural communication while preserving community heritage.

Memorandum of Agreement Strategic driver Potential stake in heart

What will Rosetta Stone offer? Cash problematic In kind contributions

Other funding sources? “Newer plants” pollinated by multiple species (Meisel, 2010) Diversified funding adds stability and prevents mission from being changed by a leering sponsor

Handling unexpected success Overwhelming success means change. Change scares people. People discount unexpected success like they avoid discussing succession RSF should make a plan to capitalize on this source of innovation if given the opportunity

Surviving Growth Capital needs during periods of growth often greater than during startup period Need superb financial management MOA should clarify whether or not RS will provide assistance with financial planning

Earned Income RSF Business Plan – Licenses – Non-profit Intermediary Partner Groups and Financial Support Sliding Scale System

Sliding Scale

Sliding Scale, additional information Based off of Average Income for Native Tribal groups in North America Lower end of scale based off of United States Poverty Level as dictated by the U.S. Government Additional Scales would need to be created for other continents

Additional Income Collaborative Partnerships Sponsorship Opportunities

Innovation “Weak or missing link”* “Clear definition of objective”* Position Creation Forwarding mission to unmet needs » *Drucker 1985

Demographics of Giving Individual contributors responsible for 80-85% Individual bequests – 5.6% Corporations – 6.9% Foundations – 7.8% Source: Madson, 2007;

Eight Disciplines of Sustainable Value 2. Anticipate future expectations 7. Validate results and capture learning 3. Set sustainable value goals 8. Build sustainable value capacity 4. Design value creation initiatives 5. Develop the business case 6. Capture the value 1. Understand the current value position Create Value Source: Laszlo, 2004

Questions?

Sources Used Dallas, J. May Rosetta Stone Foundation [Discussion Board Memo]. Message posted to _id=_15454_1 Drucker, P Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Harper & Row: New York. Feldmann, D. and Sternberg, D. (January 29, 2009). Development Director or Not: When Should We Hire a DoD? Retrieved from Green, A. May Rosetta Stone Foundation [Discussion Board Memo]. Message posted to _id=_15454_1 Laszlo, C Sustainable Value. Stanford University Press: California. _id=_15454_1http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/tsn/tsn.jhtml?id= _id=_15454_1 Madson, David (2007) Tapping Individual Donors: A Strategy for Long-Term Financial Health May, T. May Rosetta Stone Foundation [Discussion Board Memo]. Message posted to _id=_15454_1 _id=_15454_1

Sources Used Meisel, M. Personal Communication, Shenandoah National Park Field Trip. May 22, Oster, S. (Ed.) Generating and Sustaining Nonprofit Earned Income. Jossey- Bass: California. Palmer, G. May RSF [Discussion Board Memo]. Message posted to course.pl?course_id=_15454_1 Reed, S. May Rosetta Stone Foundation [Discussion Board Memo]. Message posted to course.pl?course_id=_15454_1 Rosetta Stone Foundation Business Plan. Accessed May 2010 via course.pl?course_id=_15454_1 Smith, A Stewardship Design Principles. course.pl?course_id=_15454_1 course.pl?course_id=_15454_1 course.pl?course_id=_15454_1