NONPROFITS – TRAINING

Starting or Growing a Nonprofit? Here’s Some Free Training for You!

BY SARAH PRATT
POSTED MAR 8, 2023

Image credit: John Schnobrich

We earn commissions on some links. Read more >

Image credit: John Schnobrich

We earn commissions on some links. Read more >

For anyone looking to start or grow a nonprofit, there are a number of helpful resources out there to take advantage of. In this article we’ll be discussing one such resource – the website NonprofitReady.org.

Screenshot from NonprofitReady.org

This is a site that provides over 500 free resources to anyone who signs up with a free account. These resources include video courses and full lessons as well as shorter lessons, document downloads, and other great tools.

To get started, there are 12 categories of lessons and resources that are easily browsable. Here is a quick glimpse at what each one contains:

Grants – with lessons like corporate giving, public grants, proposal writing, and various types of grants.
Fundraising – which covers topics such as finding donors online, donor retention, pitching corporate sponsors, and creating a fundraising plan.
Project Management – which includes project planning, anticipating risks, project budgets, and various frameworks.
Accounting and Finance – which of course is crucial to nonprofit survival! This category includes topics like nonprofit business models, managing cash flow, annual budgets, and financial sustainability.
How Nonprofits Work – this one gives an overview on many aspects of nonprofits including knowing your sector, how we think about charity, nonprofit or for-profit, and measuring impact.
Diversity and Inclusion – which covers many topics including invisible disabilities, unconscious bias, generational differences, and diverse teams.
Marketing and Communications – with topics like email marketing, social media and influencer fundraising, designing for accessibility, and branding for nonprofits.
Human Resources – which includes topics like how to recruit talent, conducting performance reviews, virtual interviews, and training.
Leadership and Management – which includes planning meetings, handling conflict, managing risks, and leading, coaching, and mentoring.
Starting a Nonprofit – another category that gives a nice overview on several other topics and is a great place to start. Topics here include essentials, is starting a nonprofit right for you, overview of financials, and overview of management.
Board Development – which covers roles and responsibilities, impact on success, board strategy, and policy governance.
Volunteer Management – which discusses creating a volunteer program, onboarding volunteers, volunteer handbook, and evaluating your volunteer program.

If you’re looking for more structure than just individual lessons, Nonprofit Ready also has various programs that involve a curriculum of courses.

Screenshot of "Featured Certificates" section of Nonprofit Ready, listing the following certificate programs: Nonprofit Essentials, Fundraising Essentials, Grant Seeking Essentials, Financial Management Essentials, Marketing Essentials, and Board Member Essentials.

Screenshot from NonprofitReady.org

Their certificate program provides lessons arranged in a curriculum and grants you a badge upon completion. This badge is earned after not only going through all the lessons but also upon passing the final exam. Don’t worry, you can take the exam multiple times if necessary. The goal here is really to learn the material so that you can then apply it to your nonprofit.

There is a whole section of software courses which include Google Workspace lessons, Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Projects, 365), and virtual meeting software like Skype and Zoom.

The Emerging Leaders Learning Pathway is a four-part curriculum focused on leadership training for new or soon-to-be managers. It covers the main skills required to go from individual contributor to a managerial role.

Bottom Line

This is 100% free training designed specifically for nonprofit leadership, staff, and volunteers. If you fall into any of those categories, take advantage of this opportunity to grow your skills and potentially create a greater impact through your nonprofit efforts in the end.

Personally, I’m headed back there right now to continue my learning!

KEEP GROWING

STRATEGYShould You Start a Business or Nonprofit?
MANAGEMENTThese Blind Spots Are Holding You Back
EXPERTISEThe Spork Principle
VIDEOVision, Mission, and Purpose – Explained

EXPLORE RESOURCES

TECHNOLOGYWebinars & Events
LEGALNonprofit Resources
FINANCIALAccounting & Taxes

ADD YOUR THOUGHTS

Comment on

Share on

BACK TO

NONPROFITS
ALL ARTICLES

SUBSCRIBE TO EMAILS

Weekly emails with helpful tips, stories, resources, updates, and more!