Learning how to change the world. University of Idaho CDA Nonprofit Leadership courses help staff and board members
Nonprofits have their hearts in the right place, but turning good intentions into great results takes more than heart.
It takes knowledge, a willingness to learn and hard work. To that end, the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene turns the feel good into know how with its nonprofit leadership program.
Greta Gissel, executive director of the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation, is new to the nonprofit world. She praised the leadership program and the course material.
“I wanted to become a better professional,” said Gissel, who is about halfway through the certificate program. “The knowledge I have gained in these classes is priceless.”
She’s not alone.
More than 500 individuals have participated in the nonprofit leadership program since it was launched over four years ago. The classes for this fall include marketing on a nonprofit budget, ethics and the law, and organizational effectiveness.
It takes 50 hours of classroom time to earn the certificate.
“Wisdom, knowledge and experience are essential elements to success,” said Bob Over, director of the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene’s Professional Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program. “The nonprofit community often lacks resources to be successful, which is why we’re bringing people together to share their knowledge and experiences with others in a meaningful way.”
Over said the program’s core classes involve board development, fundraising, grant writing and strategic planning.
“Nonprofits have a lot in common,” he said. “These classes allow them to share experiences and talk through solutions.”
The nonprofit leadership program has evolved. For example, two new human rights courses will be offered this fall starting in October, addressing ethnic and racial diversity and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender issues.
“I believe becoming a nonprofit leader means you need to be a community leader as well,” said Over. “We need to be aware of what’s going on in the community and be able to talk and act about these important issues.”
Professional nonprofit leadership classes and the Professional Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program are unduplicated, community-based and offered in the fall and spring semesters. Most instructors are available for free consultation year round.
The leadership program is tailored to meet the needs of the roughly 750 nonprofits in North Idaho. Staff members and boards can take these classes, which are fun and enlightening.
For the last three years, Cindy Wood, executive director of Family Promise of North Idaho, has taken courses in the program and said they’ve made a huge difference.
“I didn’t have a strong background in finance,” said Wood. “The courses on budgeting really were great. I know my organization is stronger as a result. I am using what I learned in the grant writing class right now. Funding is always going to be an issue for any nonprofit.”
Family Promise serves homeless families with children. Last year, it placed nearly 20 families into homes. The nonprofit’s outreach program helps more than 1,000 people annually.
“One of the most impactful ways of learning is through the role playing that occurs,” said Wood. “We go through scenarios, such as a rogue board member, and learn how to deal with that situation. If it were ever to occur at Family Promise, I’m better prepared to deal with it. Fortunately, that has never happened here.”
As an added benefit, the program provides a tremendous networking opportunity. Participants can attend retreats and other meetings. It allows the exchange of ideas and presents a collective platform to help each other.
“This is where the movers and shakers in the nonprofit world are,” said Wood. “We are all learning from each other and offering our best.”
Classes and dates
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2 - 4:30 p.m. | Brand Matters
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Marketing on a Nonprofit Budget
Tuesday, Sept. 27 & Oct. 4, 6 - 8:30 p.m. | How to Connect, Activate and Keep Volunteers
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Leadership Challenge: Accepting Those We Don't Know Through Inclusiveness
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Addressing Prejudice and Intolerance as a Community Leader
Tuesday, Nov. 1 & Nov. 8, 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Ethics and the Law
Friday, Nov. 11, 10am - Noon | Organizational Intelligence
Friday, Nov. 11, 1 - 3 p.m. | Organizational Effectiveness
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Social Media: Techniques Made Easy
For more information visit http://www.uidaho.edu/cda/outreach/nonprofit, or contact Bob Over (208) 292-4471; or bover@uidaho.edu
--Written by Marc Stewart, Director of Sponsored Content.