Nusea

Any American city is invited to join NUSEA by developing an urban squash and education program that meets NUSEA’s membership criteria. There are two types of membership: provisional and full. Provisional membership is granted to a program for its first full year of operation under NUSEA guidelines. Full membership is granted to a program for its second and subsequent years of operation under NUSEA guidelines. Programs granted provisional membership are given a one year grant of $10,000. After twelve months elapse from the time a program becomes a Provisional member, it may apply in writing to become a Full member of NUSEA. A site visit will be conducted and, if full membership is granted, the program will receive a one year, final grant of $5,000.

Programs must be either a provisional or full member to participate in the Urban Team and Urban Individual Squash Championships. All member programs will be visited at least twice per year by NUSEA and formally reviewed once each year.

Criteria to Join:

Staffing

Employ at least one full-time staff member as the Executive Director who has made a commitment to work for the organization for a minimum of two years

Non-Profit Status and Incorporation

Be incorporated and be recognized by the federal government as a 501(c)(3) organization

Enrollment

Work with at least ten children annually

Attendance

Attendance must be recorded daily

Utilization

Measure weekly utilization as percentage of capacity. If 100% defined capacity per day is fifteen kids and the week’s average daily attendance is ten kids, utilization is 67% for that week.

Student Length of Stay/Reason for Departure

Document the entry and exit date (month and year) for every student who enrolls in your program. Also document the reason for each student’s departure from program (ie moved, lost interest, expelled, private school).

Programming/Schedule

Provide participants with at least 100 hours of weekday program activities (squash, academic and other) annually per student; to ensure that the programming is spread out over a considerable period of time, as opposed to consolidated over a small number of days, no weekday session can account for more than three hours of program activities when you add up total hours of weekday program activities.

Academic Program

Provide participants with at least 50 hours of weekday academic activity time annually (as part of the minimum 100 hours of programming described in #7), including but not limited to homework help, literacy, math and standardized test prep (not arts and crafts, sports, drama, etc.)

Squash Program

Provide participants with at least 50 hours of weekday squash instruction and practice

Community Service Program

Require the average participant to complete at least ten hours of community service a year

Board of Directors and Officers

Have a board of directors with officers

Population

Involve children from schools that have a student body of which at least 70% is eligible for the federal government’s free lunch program (other data may be used to demonstrate economic need if required)

Insurance

Own directors and officers insurance, liability insurance and any other appropriate insurance policies

Partnerships

Demonstrate strong partnerships with the following groups: parents, school(s), volunteers, community groups, and the facilities that your organization utilizes for its practices and activities.

Budget

Possess projected budgets for the first two years of operation

Balance Sheet

Have at least 40% of current year’s operating budget in the bank. If a program with a $125,000 operating budget applies to become a NUSEA member, it must have at least $50,000 in the bank at the time of application.  Programs must present their previous 6 months of month-ending balance sheets to NUSEA twice each year.

Fundraising and Finances

Possess a sound fundraising plan with a specific strategy. Present annually to NUSEA a detailed written fundraising plan and an independent review/audit.

Transportation

Possess a sound transportation plan

Measurement

Regularly measure and report, by kid and cumulatively, school attendance, program attendance, middle school and high school graduation rates, number of community service hours, number of squash rankings, summer opportunities (camps/international community service/employment opportunities), and college attendance and graduation data.