Non-profits are faced with acute needs to maintain fiscal accountability, integrity and generosity. Not only are the current demands for assistance from non-profits in the United States of America at an all-time high, but they are under increased scrutiny from the media and the public. Students interning with non-profit organizations are learning the reality of these challenges as our country recovers from unprecedented natural disasters. The new non-profit is quickly developing into a new organization. It no longer resembles municipal government or the for-profit organization, although it is rooted in both. The legal environment is also evolving for non-profits. The Internal Revenue Service is taking a hard look at many organizations in response to scrutiny in the media. Many information technology majors have real-world work experience in manufacturing or for-profit services, but they've never faced the tough process of prioritizing projects for funding, choosing equipment or software on a minimal budget, or convincing donors to assist with ongoing organizational expenses. Five computer information systems interns at non-profits found that they were constrained by unexpected budget, staffing and accountability issues. This paper shares some of their experiences and findings as their active learning process constantly tested their beliefs. The concrete consequences of their projects were motivators to be quick studies and sources of frustration as they struggled within the boundaries of limited resources.
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