HOPEWORKS: REACHING A TURNING POINT
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
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SYNOPSIS
Hopeworks Camden, a small non-profit organization based in Camden, New Jersey, United States, with a
$4.7 million annual budget in 2022, was looking ahead to 2024. It was mid-July 2023, and the board of
n
directors tasked Hopeworks’ chief executive officer, Don Rhoton, and Onome Pela-Emore, their chief
operating officer, to develop an expansion plan that is financially viable and increases their geographic
tio
reach, beginning as early as the second quarter 2024.
Rhoton and Pela-Emore believed in their mission and knew that to grow they would need to increase spatial
lu
geography, obtain new business opportunities, increase recruitment and training, and be competitive in the
marketplace. They also knew that to make this all happen they would have to question how they market,
So
determine who they would market to, and how the market will recognize them as a competitor.
OBJECTIVES
• Illustrate how marketing is as important for non-profits as it is to for-profit organizations.
• Determine key marketing issues that need to be addressed.
• Detail how marketing variables need to be integrated to produce a successful strategy.
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
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ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
1. What are Hopeworks’ core competencies? What are the sources of its unique selling proposition?
2. Conduct an analysis of Hopeworks using analytical business strategy frameworks (i.e., company,
collaborators, customers, competitors, and context (5 C’s) analysis; strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis). What do these analyses tell you about Hopeworks’
specific opportunities and challenges?
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
,3. What factors would be critical to Hopeworks’ continued success? Does Hopeworks exhibit these traits?
4. Evaluate the pros and cons of each strategy. If you were in Rhoton’s position, which strategy would
you support?
5. How might Hopeworks compete with for-profit companies?
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The Case Solution Starts From 6
,ANALYSIS
1. What are Hopeworks’ core competencies? What are the sources of its USP?
Hopeworks is based in Camden, NJ, and Kensington, PA. Hopeworks believes that addressing the root of the
youth’s lack of job prospects by providing access to education will teach the youth high demand skills and
shift negative behaviours. By providing these services, they can help provide a better future for at risk youth.
Hopeworks’ idea is backed with data. For instance, while reviewing the data provided in the case, it can
clearly be seen that Philadelphia and the counties over the bridge in New Jersey (Camden) have low average
household income, and those same areas have the lowest household income are the same areas that have
the highest percentage of people without a high school degree. A lower income can definitely be a factor in
a child’s ability to even dream about going to college. By not furthering their education, the youth are not
gaining the high demand skills that would increase their ability to get a better job and more income to lift
themselves out of poverty.
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Core competencies can also be further analyzed by the value Hopeworks brings to the market.
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Company value: Hopeworks provides value to both its community by helping young adults from challenged
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environments to learn in-demand technology skills, and to the youth who are getting paid to learn. In this
way, the youth can earn a living wage and overcome their current traumatic environments after completing
the program.
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Customer value: The company's customers are the young adults of Camden and the value they get is the
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The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, EXHIBIT -1: SWOT ANALYSIS OF HOPEWORKS
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
• Impactful training programs • Lack of funding
• Meaningful partnerships (e.g., Subaru, Capital One, • Limited geographic reach (only covers Philadelphia
New Jersey American Water) and Camden)
• •
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
• More locations • Funding volatility, inconsistent
• •
• •
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• •
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•
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The Case Solution Starts From page 6
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
e
pl
m
Sa
SYNOPSIS
Hopeworks Camden, a small non-profit organization based in Camden, New Jersey, United States, with a
$4.7 million annual budget in 2022, was looking ahead to 2024. It was mid-July 2023, and the board of
n
directors tasked Hopeworks’ chief executive officer, Don Rhoton, and Onome Pela-Emore, their chief
operating officer, to develop an expansion plan that is financially viable and increases their geographic
tio
reach, beginning as early as the second quarter 2024.
Rhoton and Pela-Emore believed in their mission and knew that to grow they would need to increase spatial
lu
geography, obtain new business opportunities, increase recruitment and training, and be competitive in the
marketplace. They also knew that to make this all happen they would have to question how they market,
So
determine who they would market to, and how the market will recognize them as a competitor.
OBJECTIVES
• Illustrate how marketing is as important for non-profits as it is to for-profit organizations.
• Determine key marketing issues that need to be addressed.
• Detail how marketing variables need to be integrated to produce a successful strategy.
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
Starts
From
page
, e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
1. What are Hopeworks’ core competencies? What are the sources of its unique selling proposition?
2. Conduct an analysis of Hopeworks using analytical business strategy frameworks (i.e., company,
collaborators, customers, competitors, and context (5 C’s) analysis; strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis). What do these analyses tell you about Hopeworks’
specific opportunities and challenges?
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
,3. What factors would be critical to Hopeworks’ continued success? Does Hopeworks exhibit these traits?
4. Evaluate the pros and cons of each strategy. If you were in Rhoton’s position, which strategy would
you support?
5. How might Hopeworks compete with for-profit companies?
e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From 6
,ANALYSIS
1. What are Hopeworks’ core competencies? What are the sources of its USP?
Hopeworks is based in Camden, NJ, and Kensington, PA. Hopeworks believes that addressing the root of the
youth’s lack of job prospects by providing access to education will teach the youth high demand skills and
shift negative behaviours. By providing these services, they can help provide a better future for at risk youth.
Hopeworks’ idea is backed with data. For instance, while reviewing the data provided in the case, it can
clearly be seen that Philadelphia and the counties over the bridge in New Jersey (Camden) have low average
household income, and those same areas have the lowest household income are the same areas that have
the highest percentage of people without a high school degree. A lower income can definitely be a factor in
a child’s ability to even dream about going to college. By not furthering their education, the youth are not
gaining the high demand skills that would increase their ability to get a better job and more income to lift
themselves out of poverty.
e
Core competencies can also be further analyzed by the value Hopeworks brings to the market.
pl
Company value: Hopeworks provides value to both its community by helping young adults from challenged
m
environments to learn in-demand technology skills, and to the youth who are getting paid to learn. In this
way, the youth can earn a living wage and overcome their current traumatic environments after completing
the program.
Sa
Customer value: The company's customers are the young adults of Camden and the value they get is the
n
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
, EXHIBIT -1: SWOT ANALYSIS OF HOPEWORKS
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
• Impactful training programs • Lack of funding
• Meaningful partnerships (e.g., Subaru, Capital One, • Limited geographic reach (only covers Philadelphia
New Jersey American Water) and Camden)
• •
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
• More locations • Funding volatility, inconsistent
• •
• •
e
•
• •
pl
•
•
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 6
