Nonprofit Academy

Learn the Basics of Effective Nonprofit Management at Your Own Pace

“Does our mission articulate the core of our work, effectively?”
“Is it time to revisit and revise our strategic plan?”
“Are we actively assessing policies, plans and procedures to ensure that all are inclusive?”

If these are questions that you’re exploring, Nonprofit Academy Online is the ideal introduction to understand how to better govern and manage your organization’s work. Nonprofit Academy Online is based on the Standards for Excellence, a nationally accredited curriculum that teaches best practices for nonprofit management, governance, and legal compliance. The foundation of the program is the published Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. It identifies 6 major areas of nonprofit governance and management which contain 27 different topic areas. Each topic area includes specific benchmarks and measures that provide a structured approach to building capacity, accountability, and sustainability in your organization.

This is a learn-at-your-own-pace, 20-hour training.

Foundation rate: $250/learner

Nonprofit/individual rate: $100/learner

Course Outline

Participants are also provided with hundreds of resource packets, downloadable templates, and other resources that can be easily adapted for your organization.

Course Overview

Video: Welcome to Nonprofit Academy Online
Navigating the Course

Module 1: Mission, Strategy, and Evaluation

Guiding Principle
Mission and Impact
- The Power of Mission
- Key Terms
- Video: The Mission Statement
- Awesome Mission Statements
- Complying with the Legal Aspects of Your Mission
- Keeping Your Mission Front and Center
Planning Strategically
- Video: Overview of Planning Strategically
- How Far Out Should We Plan?
- Developing Your Plan
- The Pitfalls of Planning
Organizational Evaluation
- Using a SWOT Analysis
Program Evaluation
- Video: Overview of Program Evaluation
- Key Terms
- The Purpose of Program Evaluation
- Program Evaluation Matching Game
- Outcome Evaluation
- Methodologies: Quantitative vs. Qualitative
- Data Collection Techniques
Strategic Partnerships
- Identifying Potential Partnerships
- The Collaboration Spectrum
- Three Considerations for Strategic Partnerships
- Identifying and Vetting Potential Partners
- Memorandum of Understanding: A Recipe for Success
- Sample MOU Template
Supplemental Readings
- Standards for Excellence – Mission, Impact, and Planning Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Program Evaluation Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Strategic Partnerships Packet

Module 2: Board, Staff, and Volunteer Leadership

Guiding Principle
Leadership and Governance
- Video: Leading an Effective and Diverse Board
- Board Member Responsibilities
- The Board’s Governance and Fiduciary Responsibility
- Being a Great Board Member
- Best Practices for Leadership and Governance
- Video: Succession Planning
- Effective Board Meetings
Leadership and Operational Management
- Governance and Management
- Video: The Board Chair/CEO Relationship
- Operational Management Best Practices
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vocabulary
- Understanding the Difference Between Equity and Equality
- Organizational Assessment and Planning for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Helpful Links
Supplemental Readings
- Standards for Excellence – Personnel Policies, Employee Compensation, and Evaluation Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Board Member Responsibilities Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Organizational Sustainability and Planning Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Volunteer Policies Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Board and Executive Partnerships Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Succession Planning Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Board Member Composition and Independence Packet

Module 3: Legal Compliance and Ethics

Guiding Principle
Maintaining Legal Compliance
- Following Applicable Laws
- Key Terms
Required Public Disclosures
- Solicitation and Fundraising
Reporting Misconduct and Whistleblower Protection
- Whistleblower Policies
- Whistleblower Best Practices
- A Whistleblower Case Study
Conflicts of Interest
- Video: Conflicts of Interest Overview
- Types of Conflict of Interest
Ethics
- Why You Need a Code of Ethics
- Sample Code of Ethics
- Developing a Code of Ethics
- A Code of Ethics Case Study
Supplemental Readings
- Standards for Excellence – Legal Requirements Checklist
- Standards for Excellence – Public Disclosures Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Conflicts of Interest Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Reporting Misconduct and Whistleblower Protection Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Working with Stakeholders Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Model Employee Handbook
- Standards for Excellence – Succession Planning Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Code of Ethics Packet

Module 4: Finance and Operations

Guiding Principle
Financial Budgeting, Reporting, and Monitoring
- Video: Overview of Financial Reporting
- Three Essential Elements to Financial Reporting
- Key Terms
- Additional Best Practices
Internal Controls and Financial Policies
- Video: Overview of Internal Controls and Financial Policies
- Written Policies
- Investment Policies
- Unrestricted Current Net Assets
- Purchasing Policies
- Internal Control and Procedures
Personnel Policies
- Model Employee Handbook
Administrative Policies
- Crisis and Disaster Planning
- Information Technology
- Communications Planning Recipe
- Social Media
Risk Management and Insurance
- Video: Overview of Risk Management
- Managing Risk
- Risk Management Techniques
- Insurance for Nonprofits
- Directors and Officers Insurance
Supplemental Readings
- Standards for Excellence – Financial Planning and Monitoring Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Internal Controls and Financial Policies
- Standards for Excellence – Administrative Policies
- Standards for Excellence – Risk Management and Insurance

Module 5: Resource Development

Guiding Principle
Resource Planning
- Video: Overview of Resource Planning
- Understanding Sources of Revenue
- Elements of a Resource Development Plan
- Tools for Developing Your Resource Development Plan
Sources of Income
- Understanding Fundraising Costs
- Fundraising Costs Quiz
- Video: The Way We Think About Charities is Dead Wrong
- Reflection: TED Talk
Fundraising Activities
- Donor Bill of Rights
Acceptance of Gifts
- Accepting Gifts
Fundraising on Behalf of the Organization
- Avoiding Commission or Formula-Based Compensation for Fundraisers
- Keeping Tabs on Who is Fundraising for You
Supplemental Readings
- Standards for Excellence – Fundraising, Solicitation, Acceptance of Gifts and Working with Donors Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Resource Development Planning and Sources of Income Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Fundraising Costs Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Fundraising on Behalf of the Organization Packet

Module 6: Public Awareness, Engagement, and Advocacy

Guiding Principle
Educating and Engaging the Public
- Who is Your Community?
- How to Plan for Communications
- Educating the Public Communications Checklist
Advancing the Mission Through Public Policy and Advocacy
- Video: Developing an Advocacy Policy for Your Organization
- The Rules of Policy and Advocacy
Supplemental Readings
- Standards for Excellence – Educating and Engaging the Public Packet
- Standards for Excellence – Advancing the Mission Through Public Policy Packet

Get Started Today!

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