Fundamentals

Nonprofit Fundamentals Workshops

The Eight Core Competencies Every Nonprofit Leader Needs to Know

The most successful nonprofit organizations are those that have a solid knowledge of core areas such as managing their finances, developing their staff and board leadership, attracting needed resources, and continually planning for change.

To help groups be successful, we offer eight day-long courses annually that cover the essentials every nonprofit leader needs to be successful including new, timely information on each topic.

Fundamentals courses offered each Fall:

• Organizational Planning
• Board Basics
• Financial Management
• Public Policy/Advocacy - course information to come in early 2011

(click on a topic above for course description)

Fundamentals courses offered each Spring:

• Communications
• Fund Development
• Evaluation
• Human Resources

(click on a topic above for course description)

Learning Objectives

In each Fundamentals course, you will:

• Learn best practices using case studies and interactive, participatory learning techniques;
• Get an overview of the Nonprofit Lifecycle, Four Core Capacities, and Organization Culture - a proven model for effectiveness based on the success of hundreds of other nonprofits;
• Conclude with the development of an initial "action plan" in which you identify issues and next steps for your organization on the topic being taught.

Follow-up Support

Once the class has ended, participants may access to up to three hours of no-cost one-on-one assistance from the instructor, who will help answer questions, address issues and help implement steps within your organization.  (Note: You must be affiliated with a WNC nonprofit in order to qualify for this support.)

Who should take Fundamentals courses?

• These courses are appropriate for newcomers to the field or long-timers who need a refresher.
• They are excellent for Board members who want to increase their knowledge.
• Nonprofit representatives are encouraged to attend Fundamentals courses in teams - bring another staff member or come as a staff/board duo - so that you have the best opportunity to put your learning into action when you return to your organization.