Want To Step Up Your Nonprofit Continuing Education? You Need To Read This...

Do you remember the books "Golf for Dummies" or "Knitting for Dummies?" I use to see these books about a million different subjects in Barnes and Noble. I never wanted to buy any of them, even if I thought they were interesting, because I was worried that someone would think that I was dummy for buying the book. The funny part of the story is that "Nonprofit Kit for Dummies" was exactly the book that I read for my startup nonprofit internship back in 2005. The founder and president was a licensed clinical psychologist that wanted to start a nonprofit but did not know the steps to go about beginning that journey. She bought me a copy of the "Nonprofit Kit for Dummies" book with CD-rom (🫢) and that's how we got the ball rolling on that nonprofit.

WELL, I'm here today to tell you that there's a much easier way to learn everything from A to Z about nonprofits: NonprofitReady.org. This organization "...support nonprofit professionals and organizations by providing access to free sector-specific learning so that they have the knowledge and resources to create transformative impact in their own communities". This website is a wealth of knowledge and offers FREE courses on the following topics:

1. Fundraising

2. Grant Writing

3. Leadership Training

4. Starting a Nonprofit

5. Nonprofit Marketing

6. Program Management

7. Nonprofit Board and Member Training

8. DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

9. Mental Health & Wellness

10. Accounting & Finance

11. Volunteer Engagement

12. Human Resources

13. New to the Sector

14. Job Seeking

15. Business Software

NOW, you may be asking why do I need to utilize this resource? Well, in the nonprofit world, many times volunteers or staff members wear many hats. In my previous nonprofit positions, my job and responsibilities morphed on a daily basis. This is great for volunteer to learn how they can best support your nonprofit and provide education to new nonprofit board members that still need to learn the ropes.

Another benefit of signing up for a FREE account with NonprofitReady.org is that they have the following free certificate programs as well:

1. Nonprofit Essentials Certificate

2. Fundraising Essentials Certificate

3. Grant Seeking Essentials Certificate

4. Financial Management Essentials Certificate

5. Marketing Essentials Certificate

6. Nonprofit Board Member Essential Certificate

I haven't taken any of their courses yet, but I definitely plan on taking them in the future. As a life-long learner, I believe it is important for nonprofits to allow their staff to take the time to continue their education in the nonprofit sector where they can learn best practices, new trends, and useful resources. Nonprofit staff members are almost always spread too thin with their responsibilities but in order for your nonprofit to the great work that your mission states, everyone should take an hour a week if that's all that can be spared and take a course. Your staff, volunteers, and board will thank you!

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References

NonprofitReady. (n.d.). NonprofitReady.org: Free Nonprofit Training. Retrieved February 4, 2023, from

https://www.nonprofitready.org/