The principles underlying the PolicyOptions.org network partnerships are:

• comprehensive, objective research that shows all sides of an issue
• shared tools and information via PolicyOptions.org network
• leverage community-university partnerships
• community-driven philosophy

NATIONAL OFFICE

The national office staff will:

• update and maintain PolicyOptions.org web platform and content
• support local and state affiliates (college and universities, researchers)
• raise money for entire network (focus on local information sharing with national)

After the pilot phase and an initial round of fundraising are completed, our hope is to develop sufficient support to employ a national staff made up of the following positions:

• executive director (oversee everything; raise $; networking)
• senior research director
• research interns (assist in national data collection and analysis)
• training/outreach coordinator (support demonstration projects, affiliates)
• technical project director (oversee website development, maintenance)

The national staff will be supported by the following advisory groups:

• National Advisory Board that is broadly representative of our affiliate bureaus
• Advisory Board of Issue Experts

AFFILIATE BUREAUS

Local campus affiliates/partners will have the following staff:

• research director (initially faculty on part-time basis, perhaps later as full-time staff)
• research interns
• part-time student interns who will conduct community and policy news and information
• students in policy courses and graduate students assigned to or focused on specific types of research

Affiliates will have an established Advisory Board made up of both campus (faculty, student, and staff) and community leaders. Through these boards, all participants will be involved in program planning, training, supervising, developing, and recognizing others who are involved in their local activities. In addition, the principles of participatory research operate in each initiative involving our campus-community partnerships.

At the national level, we will seek financial support from the following sources:

• Foundation grants
• Government grants and/or contracts
• Research contracts (fee-for-service) for requests that cannot be matched with course-based students earning academic credit
• Affiliate dues (annual membership fee for training, support & technology)
• Classified ads for job announcements
• Corporate sponsorships