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Innovative Business Plan Competition

The Children's Board of Hillsborough County, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Tampa, announces the 3rd Annual Innovative Business Plan Competition. The competition is designed to encourage and support social entrepreneurial ventures by Hillsborough County non-profit organizations that result in service innovation, business practices and sustainability strategies.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Applicants must be Hillsborough County non-profit organizations serving children and families headquartered or doing substantial related business in Hillsborough County;
  • The venture may be for a non-profit subsidiary, a for-profit subsidiary or a program of your non-profit organization.
  • Your organization may submit only one business plan to the competition, even if your parent non-profit organization operates more than one business venture.
  • Individuals are not eligible to enter the competition.
  • The Business Plan must be for a new earned income venture or an earned income venture that has been in operation for less than
  • 24 months as of January 1, 2008.
  • Business plans must be for an earned income venture such as, but not limited to, the following:
    * Service-related (fee for service)
    * Product-related (manufacturing and/or sales)
    * Renting or leasing property
  • Previous Innovative Business Plan award winners may not enter the competition.

Awards:

$30,000 – First Place
$20,000 – Second Place

3rd Annual Innovative Business Plan Competition Training:

Calendar

Sessions

Date

Time

Location

Orientation and Informational  Briefing Session

Thursday,
May 8, 2008

9:00 AM -11:30 AM

CBHC Board Room

Deadline for Letters of Intent

Must be received by 4:00 PM on Friday May 30, 2008.

Business Plan Training

Session 1:

  • Description of Social Enterprise Venture
  • Industry & Market Analysis

Tuesday,
June 3, 2008

9:00 AM – Noon

CBHC Innovations Lab

Session 2:

  • Marketing Plan Summary
  • Management Plan Summary
  • Business Goals & Objectives

Tuesday,
June 24, 2008

9:00 AM - Noon

CBHC Innovations Lab

Session 3:

  • Return on Investment (ROI)
  • Financial Plan
  • Business Goals & Objectives

Tuesday,
July 8, 2008

9:00 AM – Noon

CBHC Innovations Lab

Session 4:

Packaging Your Plan
  • Feedback on Business Plan

Tuesday,
July 29, 2008

9:00 AM – Noon

CBHC Innovations Lab

Deadline for Business Plan Submission

Must be received by 4:00 PM on Monday August 4, 2008

Initial Review of Business Plans

Week of 8/8/08

Presentations by Finalists

Week of 8/18/08

Social Enterprise Conference & Award Ceremony

Friday,
Sept. 12, 2008

8:30 AM– Noon

CBHC Board Room

All interested parties are encouraged to participate in a briefing session that will provide an overview of this year’s competition, explain the entry process and provide an opportunity for general questions to be answered. This session will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2008 from 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM at the Children’s Board. The PowerPoint presentation and a list of the questions and answers generated by the attendees will be posted on our website. To register in advance for this session, please send an email to learn@childrensboard.org

A series of four training sessions will be held to provide participants with information about social enterprise and business plan development. These sessions are not mandatory but are being offered to assist participants who are new to social enterprise and/or want additional training in developing a business plan. Individuals that participate in these sessions will also be offered limited technical assistance through GW Group as they develop the business plan for their income earning venture. Copies of winning business plans and rating criteria are available on our website for your review.

Organizations planning to participate in this year’s competition must submit a Letter of Intent to the Children's Board of Hillsborough County by 4:00 PM (CBHC clock) on Friday, May 30, 2008. The Letter of Intent may be submitted by U.S. Mail or e-mailed to:

The Children's Board of Hillsborough County
c/o Irene D. Hill
1002 E. Palm Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33605
ihill@childrensboard.org

2008 Business Plan (PDF)

Outline
Rating Sheet

2007 Winning Business Plans (PDF)

First Place - Abe Brown Ministries
Second Place - Crisis Center of Tampa Bay

Questions can be directed to:

Irene Hill
ihill@childrensboard.org
Bobbi Davis
bobbid@childrensboard.org