Introduction to Nonprofit Management - Pass Christian University

Introduction to Nonprofit Management Develop the skills and strategies you need to become an integral part of one of America’s fastest growing service sectors. In this course, a twelve-year veteran in the nonprofit management field will show you how to transform your good intentions into a professional plan of action. You'll understand the unique characteristics of nonprofit organizations while mastering the core knowledge necessary to become an effective leader in the nonprofit arena.

In this course, you will learn skills and develop strategies that will take your organization to new heights of prosperity and productivity. You'll gain a full understanding the role of the executive director and the board of directors, special event and meeting management, public relation strategies, and how to find a position in this fascinating and rewarding field of work.

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Syllabus:

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

Week One

Wednesday - Lesson 01

What is a Nonprofit? - In this lesson, you'll learn some basic nonprofit terminology and the purpose of the nonprofit in today's society. You'll understand what the product of a nonprofit is, how it differs from a for-profit business, and its economic impact on the community where it resides. You will learn why the bottom line of a nonprofit is judged differently from a for-profit business, and what this means to you as a nonprofit manager.

Friday - Lesson 02

Planning Documents - In today's lesson, you'll learn why it's just not enough to have an idea for change and a knack for gathering supporters. This lesson will show you how to ensure your organization's success through careful planning. You'll learn how your mission statement guides your nonprofit, what a strategic plan is, and why every nonprofit needs one.

Week Two

Wednesday - Lesson 03

Structure and Leadership - This lesson will give you a clear idea of what life is like inside a nonprofit. When you finish with today's lesson, you'll feel like you've been to an open house … and found out which room is yours! You'll also learn who governs and manages the nonprofit. I'll share with you my turf chart, which will help you understand the entire leadership issue in a clean, concise format.

Friday - Lesson 04

Staffing and the Role of the Executive Director - Today, I'll paint for you a grand picture of the nonprofit workforce. You'll learn what the executive director does and why this position is key to the overall wellbeing of a successful nonprofit. You'll learn why the executive director (ED) makes such high demands on the staff, and why the standards for quality performance are an integral part of the workplace.

Week Three

Wednesday - Lesson 05

The Board of Directors - This lesson is a fascinating study on group dynamics and the role that the board of directors plays in nonprofit governance. They are the few chosen from the many who take on the principal responsibility for fulfillment of the organization's mission and the legal accountability for its operations. Governing boards are receiving more attention than ever before, so this chapter is as timely as it is informative.

Friday - Lesson 06

Volunteers and Committees - Volunteers are often referred to as the heart of a nonprofit, with committees being the backbone—one supports the other. Whatever you want to call the relationship, the fact is that a nonprofit needs both groups working in harmony to be successful. Today you'll learn how to attract and retain volunteers. You'll understand the real purpose of committees and how to make each one worth its weight in gold.

Week Four

Wednesday - Lesson 07

Managing and Organizing Meetings - In today's lesson, you'll learn how to improve your meeting management skills. We'll talk about when a meeting is necessary, how to decide what type of meeting your organization needs, and how to figure out how much it actually costs to hold a meeting. This chapter is a real eye-opener that will help you put meeting planning into the right perspective.

Friday - Lesson 08

Membership, Benefits and Services - This lesson will help you understand why delivering relevant benefits and services can enhance your organization's reputation by meeting or exceeding members' expectations. A strong membership program results in delighted, satisfied members, and it boosts your image as a successful manager.

Week Five

Wednesday - Lesson 09

Financial Aspects - In today's lesson, you'll learn why financial management is one of the most important practices in nonprofit management. You'll understand how the budget empowers you to protect your membership, and how it actually serves as the ultimate referee in times of financial conflict.

Friday - Lesson 10

Special Event Management - In today's lesson, you'll explore the world of special event management. The escalation of appeals for money is leading to donor fatigue. Loyal donors are saying, Enough already! and prospects are examining more carefully than ever before to see which organizations are willing to earn their support. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to plan and execute a special event that will boost your agency's income and community awareness. You'll make your mark from the beginning and be an invaluable resource for any nonprofit you choose to work with.

Week Six

Wednesday - Lesson 11

Delivering Your Message - Every nonprofit needs to enhance its image, increase member participation, energize supporters and publicize its fundraisers through a carefully orchestrated public relations (PR) program. In today's lesson, we'll look at the public relations tools and techniques that nonprofit professionals use to successfully get the word out about their organization.

Friday - Lesson 12

Finding Your Place in the Nonprofit Sector - In this last lesson, we'll get into the nitty-gritty of searching for just the right nonprofit job for you. You'll learn some of the best ways to find a job in the nonprofit sector, including some tips on how to write an effective resume. I'll show you how to prepare a personal case statement, and why the 20-second rule can make the difference between landing an interview or having your resume land in the trash bin.

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Linda Kissam.

Linda Kissam is an eighteen-year veteran in the nonprofit management field. She has managed both 501 (c)(3) and 501 (c)(6) organizations and currently owns her own consulting company. She has taught both in the public and private sectors. A seasoned wine and hospitality industry veteran, Linda consults with local wineries on media attraction and food and wine events. She conducts both private and group strategic planning workshops for nonprofit and for-profit corporations. She currently serves as the executive director of a visitors bureau for an art town in California. She writes a weekly wine article and a bimonthly tourist destination column. She is a highly regarded facilitator for strategic planning workshops, marketing seminars, and event planning.

Requirements:

Internet access, e-mail, and and the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser.

Student Reviews:

"An extremely enjoyable and informative course. I learned much that will be of great help to me in my work. The supplementary material included with each lesson was particularly well chosen, and did much to reinforce the course material presented. I have only one suggestion for improvement: please consider adding a link within each lesson to the related assignment. This has been a standard practice in the other online courses I've taken, and without this reminder it was easy to overlook a useful component of this class."

"I am so excited. I met on Sunday with an executive director. It was fantastic. I am going to work with their current grantwriter and help do research, etc., and learn about grantwriting. I also am going to help with fundraising - they want me to be on the marketing team, too. The E.D. was very pleased when she saw my resume and emailed board members, their PR agency, the grantwriter, and others about me, and copied me. I am so thrilled to have this opportunity as my goal is to make a career shift into the nonprofit management field, so this will give me an opportunity to really become involved. Thank you, Linda, for your wonderful inspiration!!!!!"

"I believe that the course discussion areas were very important to my understanding and learning. I also believe that the instructor answered questions in a timely manner and with great enthusiasm and encouragement."

"I can't begin to tell you how timely and important your class information has been for me. Like some of my classmates, time constraints have prevented me from posting more, but that has had no bearing on how much your lessons have enriched my life. I've printed them all out in hard copy and made a notebook that is already getting dog-eared from use. Your method of teaching, your quick feedback, and your wealth of resources will make my getting the equine conservation organization off and running SO much smoother. It already made my discussions with the non-profit attorney more productive since I understood better the terminology and process. Thank you!!!"

"Instructor is well versed in subject matter and she makes it very easy for the student to follow her trend of thought. Great course - fantastic teacher!"

"I would like to thank you for the very informative class. It was a joy to learn so much in such a short time. Just a few months ago, I was asked to be VP of a ministry that partially oversees and supports three full time radio stations in the country of Estonia. My background was health care management. I carry over some skills from health care to my new position, but there is so much to learn! Your class gave me a bigger picture of what my responsibilities will be. Your course came just at the right time! Thanks again for preparing such excellent introductory class."

"Kim writes: I have enjoyed the class and appreciate your sharing of specific and very valuable information and insights. Thank you, Linda, for guiding us along the nonprofit pathway!"

"Served as the Director of Business and Finance for a private school that had just hired a new Head. He came in with new ideas that (surprise) cost money, which he proceeded to spend. Told me that Board had approved the expenditures, and restricted my access to the Board. You can guess what happened: The Board hauled us both in and showed us the door. Your class has helped me do a post-mortem on my/his/the Board's actions and responsibilities, and I have learned tons for future use. Thanks!"

"Thank you for the class and for sharing your expertise with us. The variety of topics was great, and you presented them in a lively way. I will feel better equipped to find a history job, knowing that nonprofit issues are such a vital component. I'll also be more motivated to get involved in volunteering, from looking at some of the wonderful supplemental resources you provided. Thank you again!"

"Thank you for this very valuable course. Though I have been working in the nonprofit world for quite some time, not only did I find it affirming, but also found wonderful ideas for consideration. I was especially impressed with the section on volunteers and the comparison between the old paradigm and new."

"Thank you so much for such a thorough representation of the material. This is my first online course and I really feel that I gained a great deal of information from this class and the additional resources you provide at the end of each lesson. I can go on learning from this class just using that material. Thanks so much again."

"The course was very thorough~ I learned more than I even imagined I would, and feel I am equipped with enough information to start the non profit organization I have had in mind."

"This class has been SO helpful and informative, I loved it! Thank you so much for your wisdom and insights, I feel like I have learned so many things in such a short period of time. This class gave me the opportunity and a reason to intiate contact with the non-profit that I focused on."

"This is one awesome teacher!!!! I learned so much from her. She encourages with heartfelt warmth! thanks Linda!!!"