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Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector, Nonprofit Organizations, Nonprofit Leadership and Governance

Approx. 11 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course provides an overview of the nonprofit sector, its role and importance in society, and the various types of organizations that operate within it. Students will learn about the unique challenges and opportunities that come with working in this field.

Key Learning Points

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the nonprofit sector and its role in society
Learn about the various types of nonprofit organizations and their unique characteristics
Explore the challenges and opportunities of working in the nonprofit sector

Learning Outcomes

Understand the unique characteristics and challenges of the nonprofit sector
Identify effective strategies for nonprofit management, fundraising, and volunteer management
Gain practical skills in grant writing and program evaluation

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

No prerequisites required
Basic understanding of the nonprofit sector and its role in society

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online
Self-paced
Video lectures
Quizzes and assignments

Similar Courses

Social Entrepreneurship
Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries
Introduction to Fundraising

Notable People in This Field

Dan Pallotta
Vu Le

Related Books

Description

This course introduces you to the nonprofit sector, nonprofit organizations, and the concepts of leadership and governance. While this course has been developed with North American culture in mind, we do appreciate that in other parts of the world the nature of the nonprofit sector, nonprofit organizations, nonprofit leadership and governance may not be the same. Nevertheless, it is our hope that much of the course content will still be of value to those in other parts of the world.

To learn more about this course, please watch the overview video by copying and pasting the following link into your web browser: https://goo.gl/YMg1Qd. Keywords: Nonprofit; Nonprofit Sector; Voluntary Sector; Nonprofit Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Volunteer Organizations, Leadership, Management, Governance, Board, Board of Directors, Performance, Effectiveness Course 1 Overview: Week 1: Some of the questions you will explore this week are: What is the nonprofit sector and why does it exist? What are the unique characteristics of nonprofit organizations? What are the trends and emerging issues facing organizations in the nonprofit sector? Week 2: Questions to be explored this week are: What is leadership at the governance level and how is it different from management? What is good governance and why does it matter? What is a board of directors? Week 3: This week's questions: What roles do board members play in nonprofit organizations? Broadly speaking, what are boards responsible for and how do they go about their work? What are some of the issues that challenge the board's ability to go its work? Week 4: At this stage, you are asked to review the course content, submit a written assignment (known lightheartedly as a BEAR (Board Effectiveness Readiness Assessment), and take two multiple choice Readiness Assurance Tests (known similarly as RATs). One RAT will assess knowledge and reading comprehension and the other will test application of knowledge within a practical case. Week 5: We will encourage you to discuss the RATs in the discussion forums and take them again should you wish to change any of your answers based on the information exchanged.

Outline

The Nonprofit Sector, Nonprofit Organizations, Leadership and Governance
The Leadership and Governance of Nonprofit Organizations Promotional Video
Welcome to the video introducing this series of courses
Course 1 Overview Video
Week 1 Overview
Interview with Ruth McCambridge
Interview with Dr. Laura Schweitzer: Leadership and Governance of Nonprofit Organizations from a Practitioner Perspective
Course 1 Teaching and Learning Overview
Required and Recommended Texts
Week 1 Key Questions and Competencies
Week 1 Readings and Resources
Discuss Case Study
Course Project Overview
Course Project Part II Guidance
Week 1

Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Organizational Governance and Boards of Directors
Week 2 Overview
Interview with Prof Chris Cornforth on "Innovative Approaches and Perspectives to Nonprofit Governance"
Week 2 Key Concepts and Competencies
Week 2 Readings and Resources:
Discuss Case Study
Course Project Overview
Course Project Part II Guidance
Week 2

The Board's Role and Responsibilities
Week 3 Overview
Interview with Putnam Barber on Charitable Solicitations in the United States
Conceptual Framework of the Elements of Board Effectiveness
Professor Vic Murray summarizes the design of the board assessment
Week 3 Key Questions and Competencies
Week 3 Readings and Resources
Discuss Case Study
Course Project Overview
Course Project Part II Guidance
Week 3

Concept Testing and Application
Readiness Assurance Test (RAT)
RAT Application Exercise

Assessment of Learning: BEAR Peer Review and RAT Discussion Forums
RAT Peer Discussions and Polling
RAT Application Exercise Peer Discussions and Polling
RAT and RAT Application Exercise Discussion and Polling Instructions
RAT Post Peer Learning Forum
RAT Application Exercise Post Peer Learning Forum

Summary of User Reviews

Read reviews on Coursera's Nonprofit Organizations course. Learn what others are saying about this course and find out if it's right for you. Discover the overall rating and key aspects users found helpful, as well as the most common pros and cons mentioned.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Many users found the course content to be practical and applicable to real-world scenarios.

Pros from User Reviews

Practical and applicable course content
Engaging and knowledgeable instructors
Flexible schedule and self-paced learning
Useful resources and assignments
Great networking opportunities with fellow nonprofit professionals

Cons from User Reviews

Some users felt that the course could have been more in-depth
Occasional technical issues with the platform
Limited interaction with instructors and peers
Not suitable for those looking for a theoretical or academic approach
Certificate of completion may not hold as much value as a degree or certification

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