Course curriculum

Organizational Assessment and Strategy This module focuses on the basic theories and functions of strategic planning and management, and introduces students to the planning/ monitoring/ evaluation cycle. Financial aspects of strategic planning and management are addressed.

Financial Management & Oversight This module emphasizes the communication and interpretation of financial information for decision-making by managers, governing boards, granting agencies and donors. Techniques and principles of cash flow prediction, resource allocation, financial statement analysis, and budgeting and control are presented.

Strategic Technology Planning This module focuses on strategically planning for and managing technology, to help nonprofit managers make informed and intelligent technology investments, and use technology to accomplish the organization's mission.

Leadership and Innovation in Nonprofit Organizations This module focuses on three aspects of leadership: developing and working within a multi-cultural management team, understanding management styles, and conflict resolution. Attention and focus will also be paid to working on innovative tools and strategies to manage problems and issues more creatively.

Board Governance This module will address key elements to developing and maintaining an active and engaged board for your nonprofit.

Human Resources Management This module trains managers in selected aspects of personnel management, including interviewing and selection, employment law, classification and compensation, career development, and performance management.

Volunteer Management This module covers the design and management of successful volunteer programs.

Advocacy This module enhances nonprofit managers' understanding of the importance of advocacy and government relations in serving their mission, and equips them with the skills and knowledge to be effective in influencing public policy. It also addresses the use of technology as a tool for increased advocacy.

Fundraising Approaches to developing systematic fundraising strategies are presented. Sources of nonprofit revenue, historical philanthropic patterns, and strategies to achieve a stable and diversified funding base are reviewed.

Grantwriting  This module will cover the basics of grantseeking and grantwriting. 

Marketing This module emphasizes effective strategies in marketing, public relations and branding.

Succession Planning This module focuses on planning for leadership succession within nonprofit organizations.

Program Evaluation This module presents basic concepts and models for determining how efficiently and effectively the organization is performing. Strategies for incorporating the results of evaluation into program planning, program implementation, and justifying resource requirements are covered.

Course Project Participants are required to complete course assignments on each of the modules. This very valuable component of the NLCP will assist managers and directors with implementing the knowledge and skills they have acquired as a result of the curriculum. Nonprofit professionals will work to identify key issue areas of their organization and/or program and develop, goals and an implementation plan for these key areas. Participants are required to present their plan as part of their final project on the final day of the course.