Leadership Academy

We have combined our “Core Capacity College” for new EDs and our "Leadership Academy" for seasoned execs into a single track with core competencies and advanced issues classes, allowing you to design your own series and decide which courses meet your needs.  The objectives remain:

• to provide you with an approach to leadership that will empower and sustain you;
• to assist you in working from an asset-based approach to enhance effective and empowered leadership; and,
• to help you develop competence and confidence in the challenges of your position that you face in the current environment. 
• Click here to view individual session details.

*The Leadership Academy is exclusively for Executive Directors and will be limited to 18 participants. Emerging leaders in other positions and those looking to gain skills to become Executive Directors should refer to our Certificate in Nonprofit Management.

*Participants may enroll in any number of individual sessions. A certificate will be issued if four or more classes are taken. Sign up for four sessions and get one session free!

Individual Session Fees:  Sweet Deal Members – $50, Members - $75, Nonmembers - $100

All sessions held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
at Nonprofit Management Solutions unless otherwise noted.

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Individual Session Details

Core Competencies (recommended for new EDs):

Session 1: Hitting the Ground Running - Identifying Strengths & Weaknesses
Friday, January 26th, 2007

• Individual style – assessing your strengths
• Managing the multiple roles and stresses of the CEO
• Knowing when to lead, manage and support others
• Matching your skills to your organization’s stage and needs
  Instructor: Kerry Zurier

Session 2: Governance - The ED’s Place in the Boardroom
Friday, February 9th, 2007
PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL TIME: 10am - 2pm

• Staffing and steering the board for optimal results
• Helping your board to govern more and manage less
• Building and maintaining a strong relationship with your board chair
• Articulating and developing a shared organizational vision
  Instructor: Ron Stewart

Session 3: Sound Financial Management (for a Sound Night’s Sleep)
Friday, February 23rd, 2007

• Financial reporting - getting the information you and the board need
• Meeting new demands for accountability and transparency
• Using financial data to assess your organization’s health
• Balancing mission and margin
  Instructor: Carol Stachwick

Session 4: CEO Role in Fundraising - Planning the Work & Working the Plan
Friday, March 9th, 2007

• Understanding CEO, staff and board responsibilities on the fundraising team
• Leading the development function – with staff and without
• Driving creation and implementation of your fund development plan
• Involving board members on the fundraising team
  Instructor: Janie Anderson

Session 5: Staffing for Success - Developing High Staff Performance
Friday, March 16th, 2007

• Competency-based hiring
• Coaching and motivating staff for peak performance
• Recognizing the legal responsibilities of leading and managing
• Establishing a culture of respect and trust
  Instructor: Steve Murphy

Advanced Issues:

Session 6: Strategic Thinking to Build & Sustain Mission & Margin
Friday, March 30th, 2007

• The ED’s role in strategic planning: overview of processes and models
• Exploring alternate methodologies to help you maintain a competitive advantage
• Engaging your board and staff in a meaningful strategic planning process
• Linking your strategic plan to your long-term financial plan
  Instructor: Paul Van Dolah

Session 7: Developing & Leading High-Performance Teams
Friday, April 13th, 2007

• New methods of facilitation that will bring out the best in your team
• Involving your team in planning and problem solving
• Assuring that team goals are outcome focused and integrated into organizational goals
• Understanding and embracing team diversity, differing personality and communication styles
  Instructor: Jenni Prisk

Session 8: Marketing by Any Other Name - Selling Your Organization’s Mission and Image
Friday, April 27th, 2007

• Developing a mission-focused marketing plan
• “Branding” to define the focal point for marketing and public relations strategies
• Facilitating the board’s community relations efforts
• Working with the media
  Instructor: Viki Hurst

Session 9: Leading Your Organization through Change
Friday, May 11th, 2007

• Principles for managing change (whether planned or unplanned)
• Guidelines to organizational-wide change
• Essential ingredients for managing change
• Common pitfalls of implementing change
  Instructor: Steve Murphy

Session 10: The Challenge of Leadership - Thriving, not just Surviving
Friday, May 25th, 2007

• Identifying and responding to the biggest challenges facing nonprofit leaders today
• Harnessing your personal power
• Developing a personal leadership network for ongoing support
• Creating an individual action plan for leadership growth
  Instructor: Kerry Zurier

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