The class is the first step in a process to develop a nonprofit management certificate program, and ultimately a master's level degree program.
It is also an example of a community education institution responding to a community need.... in this case, the difficulty nonprofit employers are experiencing in hiring competent staff, paired with the realization that the sector employs 10% or more of the local workforce, and there is no relevant training available locally. Look around and add to that the average age of nonprofit leadership in our area, and it will become obvious that we'll need to prepare the next generation for the sector.
Fortunately, there are hundreds of nonprofit management degree programs all over the country, and we don't have to reinvent the wheel. As I am putting together the curriculum, however, I would like to hear from NM nonprofit workers, employers, volunteers, and board members which specific skills and knowledge areas they'd like to see covered. Please submit comments to this post. I will post more details on the curriculum shortly.
PS: The class will meet on Tuesdays from 5:30-8:15 p.m. , Silver City campus, starting January 12th, 2010.
4 comments:
Sounds fabulous and just what I am looking for. I would like to see covered in this class: successful grant language, non-profit sustainability, the nuts and bolts of a non-profit organization's infrastructure, successful staffing and daily function of the n-p, dos and don'ts, and basic accounting issues -- i.e. what to watch out for. I will sign up!
I think it would be good to cover board member liability / responsibility. Thanks to fraudsters like Bernie Madoff there is a great deal of pressure on boards to understand how the funds are being used, how they are invested, etc.
Some ideas:
1. training for board members on reading financial reports such as profit & loss, budget vs. actual and balance sheets, with an emphasis on how to spot problems.
2. how can non-profits best work with inconsistent cash flow.
3. training on budget development.
4. separation between board and staff - what constitutes "crossing the line" in board/staff relations.
5. developing up-to-date employee/office policies and procedures - what constitutes best practices.
6. how to act as a fiscal agent for a fledgling group.
7. how to terminate an employee
8. donor development
9. accounting practices/requirements
10 office/phone etiquette
I think the board memeber responsibilities and duties should be covered, like how to read and understand a fiancial report! Also budget development.Its a great idea for a class!!!
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