Editor’s note: This content was contributed by Student Veterans of America to supplement Military Times’ coverage of the group’s National Conference. See all our coverage of NatCon2018 here, and learn more through SVA.
Having a plan is critical to a student veteran group’s success. Codifying that plan via a chapter business plan is a battle-tested method to ensure that you’re setting priorities, making progress toward your goals, and keeping the good idea fairy at bay. A strong business plan will enhance chapter sustainability, set clear goals, establish smart objectives and lay out strategies for success.
A select group of chapter leaders has been invited to pitch their plans during the 5th annual National Business Plan Competition at Student Veterans of America’s National Convention. Chapters were selected based on the strength of the business plan they submitted as part of the Chapter Grant Program. For those in the audience, this is an opportunity for chapters to learn about the innovative strategies and high-impact models being implemented by their peers.
Six chapters have been invited to compete in this year’s National Chapter Business Plan Competition:
- Utah Valley University
- University of Southern Maine
- University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
- D’Youville College
- University of Southern Indiana
- George Mason University
These six chapters will present on Saturday, during an early-morning, closed-door competition in front of a panel of judges from the corporate and nonprofit sectors. From those original six, two chapters will make it to the big stage to pitch their strategies to the entire conference. During the public competition, you’ll have the opportunity not only to listen to their pitch, but to vote on who you think deserves to win. While all chapters have already received a $2,000 SVA Chapter Grant, the top three chapters will each receive an additional cash prize as part of the competition. This is a face-off you don’t want to miss!
