REED: Developing an Entrepreneurial Solution for Adults with Autism

In early 2017, Jill Nadison, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the REED Foundation for Autism (REED Foundation) and executive director of REED Academy in New Jersey, was faced with the difficult decision of selecting among three alternatives to support the academy’s next venture, REED Next. REED Academy, a non-profit school for children with autism, provided innovative, highly individualized education based on principles of applied behaviour analysis and was supported by the REED Foundation.<br><br>REED Next was intended to support students who, at age 21, had aged out of REED Academy. The selected option would have to provide long-term, self-sustaining funding for students. Choices ranged from a less-risky option, expanding fundraising, to increasingly entrepreneurial ideas such as opening and operating either an event space or a vertical farm. The CEO was under pressure to make the decision in time for the initiative to begin operations before the 21st birthday of a REED Academy student who would need ongoing therapy to continue to enjoy a good quality of life.

This case is suitable for use in non-profit management or social entrepreneurship/enterprise courses at the upper-year undergraduate or introductory graduate levels. Working through the case, students have the opportunity to determine the best course of action for addressing challenges faced by an educational non-profit organization in meeting constituent needs. Once students analyze the situation, they are asked to recommend a strategy, based on risk assessment, to accomplish the organization’s goal. Upon successful completion of this case, students should be able to<ul><li>weigh the pros and cons of various funding alternatives to support the growth of a non-profit organization’s activities;</li><li>assess the risks associated with social entrepreneurial efforts outside the core competencies of a non-profit organization as it seeks to provide additional services;</li><li>propose change management strategies for an organization, based on selected growth options; and</li><li>gain an appreciation for autism spectrum disorder, its growing prevalence, and educational challenges for families with children diagnosed on the autism spectrum.</li></ul>

• social enterprise, change management