FSW 253 - Non-profit Leadership Development Program

Course Description

The Non-Profit Leadership Development Program is for leaders of grassroots community-based non-profit organizations. It is designed to equip non-profit professionals with essential knowledge and skills to effectively lead their grassroots non-profit organizations to fulfill their mission and vision. This program is funded by the City of Calgary’s Family and Community Support Services. 
The program offers a wide-ranging curriculum on various essential learning topics such as governance and sustainability, collaboration, financial sustainability, and Individual leadership philosophy. By building individual leadership competencies, participants will be able to lead a strong team internally as well as successfully collaborate with the relevant external community partners and citizens. 

• Through a combination of learning from experienced non-profit leaders, participants will develop key competencies necessary to drive organizational success and foster sustainable growth and impact in the non-profit sector.
• While most of the focused sessions (1.5 hours) are offered live online, the program also offers an in-person networking event to launch the program, a community of practice, and a concluding graduation ceremony. Upon completion, participants will share their learning through a brief Capstone Project.
• Eight foundational workshops are required, along with one of two (1 of 2) offered electives for a total of nine sessions. Mentoring with an experienced leader will be provided via 3 small group meetings.  Scheduling will be worked out within each group with their mentor and a meeting space can be booked for these meetings once scheduled.

Course Details

FOUNDATIONAL WORKSHOPS (8 sessions)

1. Governance and Sustainability Best Practices (in-person)
2. Strategy for Your Organization (virtual)
3. Effective Delegation (virtual)
4. Creating Authentically Diverse and Inclusive Cultures in Your Not-for-Profit  (virtual)
5. Collaborating with Stakeholders (virtual)
6. Conflict Resolution for non-profit Leaders  (virtual)
7. Fund Development  (virtual)
8. Program Integration and Graduation, Capstone project (in-person)

ELECTIVE WORKSHOPS (choose one of the following two options)

1. Elective 1: Leading Change in Your Not-for-Profit (virtual)
2. Elective 2: Coaching Skills for Not-for-Profit Leaders: Clarifying and Affirming Your Leadership Philosophy (virtual)

MENTOR GROUP SESSIONS

• Participants will be assigned in small groups to experienced mentors for discussion and application of concepts to their own environments.
• The three meetings will be scheduled in collaboration with the mentor and the group members to best accommodate the groups’ schedules.
• The learning design of this program emphasizes impactful and relevant learning over required hours and assignments.  A Capstone Project completed by each participant will summarize their learning and/or application of program concepts to their organization.  The project will require a small amount of reflection after each session and a final summary of this learning to meet the requirements of the Capstone Project.
• Each participant will be assigned to a Mentor group with an experienced mentor to help apply learning from the program in the participants’ contexts and help provide some structure for the Capstone Project. Three meetings will be required to be scheduled as work best for the mentor and the group.

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

• Two community-of-practice sessions will be held for each cohort to come together, share learnings, and remain connected after the program. 
• The sessions will be facilitated by an experienced facilitator
• Community of Practice will focus on topics identified as critical by a majority of participants. 

ANTICIPATED PROGRAM OUTCOMES  
At the end of the program, participants will  

• Acquire technical skills and confidence among participants
• Have increased confidence to make critical decisions to run an effective grassroots non-profit organization and lead change.   
• Build a network with various leaders committed to driving positive change in the non-profit sector.