10 Training Challenges For Non Profit Teams
Have you been keeping up with our Top 10 Most Innovative Things Happening With Courses for Nonprofits series? In case you missed them, below are the first five innovative things happening in the nonprofit sector that you need to know about!
1) Coursework as a part of your job.
The idea of an organization using coursework as a part of their employees’ job isn’t new. Organizations like Teach For America have been doing it for years, but nonprofits that use training courses are still pretty rare. If you’re looking to improve employee engagement and skill set while saving costs on onboarding and HR, starting a nonprofit online course might be your answer. Check out these 10 innovative ways nonprofits are using online courses to boost their organization’s mission.
2) Acknowledging talented employees who are good at what they do.
As you grow, chances are you’ll find yourself at some point with many talented employees who each have their own ideas about how to make things better. As much as we’d all like to believe that each one of your workers will be a dedicated, creative employee from now until forever, that’s not how life works. You may discover in time that employees can be assets or liabilities depending on their attitude and willingness to grow within your company culture.
If someone is not moving forward or advancing, it could be a warning sign; don’t ignore it! You’re responsible for encouraging growth and teaching new skills. If an employee isn’t happy or becoming more valuable to your organization, consider whether it’s worth investing any more time in them.
3) Courses as a way to collaborate with subject matter experts from other companies.
In some fields, like tech and IT, it’s fairly normal to have an internal education staff. But in other industries, such as law or accounting, education programs are rarer. That doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from them; after all, both legal and financial professionals need to keep their knowledge up-to-date just like anybody else.
If you want to take your company’s training program a step further than workshops and seminars, create some online courses that will connect your experts with subject matter experts from other companies through MOOCs or something similar. You might not be able to offer certifications (yet), but you can still share expertise on common topics of interest and help connect your employees with industry leaders outside of your firm!
4) Training vs. Development
While training and development are similar, they are by no means interchangeable. While training is usually part of an employee’s job description, development is generally not. Both types of learning can be valuable to your employees and organization; it just depends on what you want to accomplish and how much time you have to accomplish it.
5) Do courses make sense for any nonprofit?
There’s no doubt courses are becoming a popular way to communicate complex concepts. But do they make sense for every nonprofit? Absolutely not. Some topics are more self-contained than others, and often require deeper interaction with your organization, rather than passive learning. A good example is fundraising – if you don’t have a process in place and some experience with it, learning from a course on how to do it better isn’t likely to work.
6) Finding funding sources
Finding funding sources can be difficult, especially if you have a small budget or are starting out on your own. It’s hard to convince people that they should invest in your idea, especially before it is proven to work. Fortunately, there are many ways to secure funding without having to ask friends and family or give up a majority stake in your company.
Here are 10 creative funding methods you can use:
- Corporate Sponsorships – Many companies are willing to support nonprofits in exchange for positive brand association. Reach out to local or national businesses that align with your mission to form sponsorship deals, whether it’s monetary contributions or in-kind support.
- Fundraising Events – Organizing events such as charity dinners, auctions, or community runs can help you raise funds while engaging with your community. These events not only bring in donations but also raise awareness for your cause.
- Membership Programs – Offer exclusive benefits, resources, or content in exchange for a membership fee. This provides a steady stream of income while building a loyal base of supporters who are invested in your mission.
- Online Donations – Set up an easy-to-use online donation platform on your website. Encourage donors to make one-time or recurring donations, and use email marketing and social media to spread the word.
- Partnerships with Foundations – Many private foundations offer grants to nonprofits aligned with their areas of focus. Research foundations whose missions align with your nonprofit’s goals and apply for their grant programs.
- Social Media Campaigns – Leverage the power of social media to run fundraising campaigns. Hashtag campaigns, Facebook fundraisers, and Instagram stories can be used to spread your message and reach potential donors across the globe.
- In-Kind Donations – Sometimes what your nonprofit needs is not cash but goods or services. Ask for in-kind donations from individuals or companies, such as office supplies, professional services, or technology.
- Peer-to-Peer Fundraising – This method encourages your supporters to raise funds on your behalf by reaching out to their own networks. With tools like social media and email, peer-to-peer campaigns can help broaden your reach and grow your donor base.
- Grant writing – Many state governments offer grants through their economic development agencies in an effort to boost job growth within a region; these funds are often used for product testing and market research.
-  Crowdfunding platforms – There are several different crowdfunding sites that allow both business and nonprofit entrepreneurs to raise money from contributors; including Kickstarter, Indiegogo and GoFundMe.
7) Teaching others how to create their own coursework.
Digital technology, like online video and social media, has made it easier than ever to take others’ courses or create your own course. If you’ve never created your own coursework before, we’re going to show you how to get started. Online learners have a few simple things they need in order to get their coursework done and more time on their hands is a big part of that! So we’ll give you some tips on how to best utilize digital technology so that you can spend more time creating your non-profit’s next big thing!
8) Knowing your audience and tailoring your coursework accordingly
The great thing about an online course is that you can direct it to a very specific audience. If, for example, you’re creating a course on bird watching, then obviously your audience will be people who are interested in bird watching. Knowing your target market gives you a better understanding of what they’re looking for—so really think about that when developing your content. Have I mentioned how important it is to survey and survey often?
Feedback from participants should absolutely drive every decision you make throughout design and development. You want them to be excited about taking part in your course—and if something doesn’t excite them, then it isn’t going to work! So ask questions like: Why do they love birds? Why do they want to learn more about birds?
9) Learning can be a lot of fun!
Many people tend to view learning as a chore, especially when it comes to working in a classroom environment. Online learning environments such as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and others can teach you how to do something new or even refresh your skills, while giving you an opportunity to learn with other individuals from all over the world.
The biggest benefit of these courses is that you can learn at your own pace: no need to show up at 8 am on Monday with all of your assignments ready, just log in whenever you have time and start working through course material. You’ll find that these courses take some of stress out of going back to school! Plus, many colleges are now offering credit for MOOCs and if that happens, who knows?
10) What kinds of nonprofits have you seen offering courses?
Don’t just limit yourself to courses developed by nonprofits, though. Don’t miss out on valuable opportunities! Create a design course for nonprofits that can be used by schools to build their arts curriculum. Make an online educational series on coding that is taught by someone who has devoted their life to working with at-risk youth. Let your nonprofit heart drive you and use your expertise in areas where you’re already successful and share it with other organizations doing good work like yours!
Nonprofits are finding innovative ways to incorporate coursework into their operations, whether through employee development, collaboration with experts, or engaging specific audiences. By using online courses, nonprofits can boost employee skills, foster collaboration, and even enhance funding efforts. However, it’s important to tailor courses to the organization’s specific needs, ensuring relevance and engagement. Nonprofits that embrace these educational tools can create lasting impact, whether by empowering employees, engaging audiences, or connecting with new funding sources. As digital technology evolves, the potential for nonprofits to leverage online learning will only continue to grow.
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