This 10-week intensive online training cohort covers foundational topics in nonprofit technology that transcend department and job role. The Core fulfills one of the major requirements to complete the Nonprofit Technology Professional Certificate.
- Leadership: Culture and Change Management
- Technology Project Planning
- Digital Strategy
- Social Media
- IT Planning
- Data Management
- Metrics and Evaluation
- Campaigns
In addition to the 8 weekly topics, there is a final assignment which provides further opportunity to receive direct feedback from faculty on the topic most relevant to you.
The Certificate Core is offered twice each year, in fall and spring. It can be taken by itself for $750 for NTEN members (or $1500 for non-members), but most people complete the Core as part of the Nonprofit Technology Professional Certificate.
Certificate Core Topics
Week 1: Leadership: Culture and Change Management
“Change is a threat when done to me, but an opportunity when done by me.” Technology projects often involve change management as your organization adapts to a new CRM or way of working. Many projects fail due to lack of adoption from key influencers inside your organization. Increase the likelihood of success by analyzing your audiences, learn practical frameworks and best practices to help you manage when implementing change in an organization.
Week 2: Technology Project Planning
Your technology project’s success depends on other people and how the overall process gets managed. In this course, you will learn the four principles of project management and how to apply them to your nonprofit’s next technology adventure. Your technology project’s success also depends on strategic technology staffing. We’ll also cover how to identify your tech staffing needs (whether they be full-time staff or consultants) and hire a rock star who can take your organization to the next level of tech use.
Week 3: Digital Strategy
New digital platforms bring together people and information in real time, which poses significant challenges for today’s nonprofits. It means rapid shifts in opportunities and threats arising from being digitally connected, and perceptions about people, organizations, and issues. All these have the potential to derail your digital goals.
Nonprofits must understand and integrate this increasingly connected world into their campaigns in a strategy way. This module will help participants simplify complex technologies and prepare them to respond to new digital realities.
Week 4: Social Media
You may use social media but you’re not sure how to use it to meet your goals. This course looks at the critical steps and overall processes for building a nonprofit social media strategy. We’ll review relevant social media trends, social media strategy research (and why it’s so important), creating SMART social communication goals, uncovering your relevant “social media conversation,” and ultimately, a framework for building your strategy.
Participants will also build and get feedback on real-world social media tools like templates and an editorial calendar.
Week 5: IT Planning
Every organization should have a technology plan. How the plan is created, managed and implemented will be different for every organization. We will talk about different types of technology plans, what they focus on and how to get started with your plan. Technology plans without a budget are like a road trip without gas, so we will also cover budgeting for success.
After this session, you will understand the basics of technology planning and budgets, know where to start and have some tools to understand and improve your organization’s current technology maturity.
Week 6: Data Management
Data is powerful only so far as we can use it and trust it. Often times in nonprofit organizations data is thought of simply as an end product. Issues arise when there isn’t sufficient planning around methods of collection, standards for storing and management over time. How can we create structures and processes that support data use across our organizations as well as over time?
During this course, we’ll discuss key logistical considerations, structures and process to prevent issues down the line when everything feels like a moving target.
Week 7: Metrics and Evaluation
Collecting, housing and maintaining data is only the first part of creating an effective evaluation program. Whether you are focused on internal facing metrics or external based programs there are some foundational best practices that should be kept in mind to keep you on track.
During this course, we will cover a wide range of resources, frameworks, and process you can use to make sure you are gaining the insights needed to keep your organization on the path to greater impact.
Week 8: Campaigns
Campaigns area unique in that they often serve as an intersection across traditionally siloed teams and focus areas for an organization. During this course, we will work through strategies, frameworks, and best practices to help guide you through the overall lifecycle of a successful campaign, from planning to implementation, all with a focus on engaging and learning from your community throughout the process.
Be prepared for discussion that will get you thinking about a particular campaign your organization is currently developing or getting ready to begin. You will also have a chance to develop some core elements of a campaign and get feedback directly from faculty.
Presenters
Michael Reardon
Manager, Business Consulting Services
Blackbaud
Mike manages the Business Consulting Services team at Blackbaud, which is comprised of the organizational readiness/change management practice, strategy/data analytic consultants, and action planning interactions. The BCS team is charged with helping clients further their organizational capabilities and taking full advantage of their technology solutions. He brings over 15 years of experience in different areas of organizational communication and change management including corporate culture, new technologies, social media, interviewing, and public speaking. Before leading the BCS team Mike ran the change management practice for Enterprise clients. Prior to joining the Blackbaud team, Mike worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the College of Charleston where he was twice honored with Faculty of the Year awards. In addition to his teaching duties, he conducted and published research on how corporate blogs and other new technologies affect corporate culture, and how social media could be used to create a “personality” for an organization, virtual teamwork, and related topics. Mike lives in Charleston, SC with his wife and their four children.
Rose de Fremery
Writer
Rose de Fremery is a New York-based writer living at the intersection of digital culture and creativity. She explores topics such as technology innovation, automation and AI, technology management, entrepreneurship, and social changes in the digital age. Current clients include HP, IBM, Intel, Vonage, and Ziff-Davis. You can see her most recent writing at www.rosedefremery.com. Rose is currently sits on the faculty of NTEN's Nonprofit Technology Professional Certificate program, where she teaches a course on technology project management and staffing. Rose founded the NTEN IT Directors Community of Practice in 2008 and has co-presented several sessions on technology change management at the NTC. She also served on Idealware's board of directors from 2013-2016. She was Director of Information Technology at American Jewish World Service for ten years. Rose is an alumna of Oberlin College as well as the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.
Demetrio Maguigad
Strategic Design Director
LimeRed Studio
Demetrio P. Maguigad is a community educator, creative producer, and communications strategist working in the field of nonprofit communications for over 15 years. He is currently the Strategic Design Director at LimeRed Studio where he leads the strategic development, management and research of web projects for nonprofits, universities and social enterprise organizations. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago where he teaches the Social Media & PR Strategies courses and conducts curriculum research and design in the Marketing Communication Department He was formally the New Media Manager at Community Media Workshop where he led the organization's on-line strategy and provided strategic online communications training and consulting. He is a co-convenor of NetTuesday Chicago, a monthly meet-up group for nonprofit communicators, web advocates, technologists and developers bridging the gap between technology and grassroots community development. He has presented his work and consulted for a number of organizations including The National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, ART NY, Center for Book Arts NY, Mott Foundation, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Global Donors Network and many more. He is also the host and executive producer of the Chicago is the World radio program on the international format of Chicago’s WHPK 88.5 FM where he has featured both local and international musicians, artists, community activists and storytellers for the past five years.
Cathy Whitlock
Director of Online Communications
Parkinson's Foundation
Cathy Whitlock joined the Parkinson's Foundation in 2010. As Director of Online Communications, she slays the digital communications strategy to further the foundation’s mission and increase awareness of Parkinson’s disease. For fun, she hones website and social media analytics to meet the Parkinson's Foundation's fierce goals. Before ascending into the nonprofit world, she was Senior Editor for Latin American Markets at PR Newswire Association, LLC, focusing on financial, medical and nonprofit news. She also served as a design software teacher at the University of Miami Digital Media Lab. Cathy graduated from Purdue University with a Master of Science in Strategic Communication. She is married with two cats: Luther and Sabrina. Stalk or reach out to Cathy at catherinewhitlock.com.
Steve Heye
Solution Consultant
Netsuite
Steve Heye is a Principal Solutions Consultant at NetSuite (Oracle) where he acts as a technical expert on the Social Impact team which donates the NetSuite solution to nonprofits. He is the author of Chapter 1 on IT Alignment in the NTEN book, Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission. With over 20 years’ experience working with nonprofits and technology, Steve brings a real passion and unique set of experiences to the NPTech community. Previously Steve was the Manager of Technology at The Cara Program. He was responsible for driving the organization's strategic use of technology. He also has experience as the Digital Content Services Manager at the YMCA of Metro Chicago. He was responsible for managing all aspects of the YMCA's digital content creation including the web sites, intranet and social networking. A key role in Steve's past was with the Technology Resource Group at the YMCA of the USA for about ten years. He provided resources, conferences, and training that allows YMCAs nationwide to better leverage business systems and technology. Steve has a Bachelors degree in Finance from North Central College. You can keep up with Steve's thoughts and tips regarding nonprofit technology issues on his blog: steveheye.blogspot.com.
Janice Chan
Technical Training Specialist, Development and Alumni Relations
Johns Hopkins Institutions
Janice Chan is a Technical Training Specialist for the Johns Hopkins Institutions as well as a co-organizer for NTEN’s Nonprofits and Data online community group. Originally from New York, Janice arrived south of the Mason-Dixon Line via St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Post-graduation, Janice served as an AmeriCorps*VISTA before officially joining the nonprofit sector. After several years working in resource development and gaining experience in marketing, communications, proposal writing, project management, event planning, volunteer management, and data management, she switched gears and put these skills to use in program/curriculum development before mixing it up again. You can find her on Twitter @curiositybone.
Isaac Shalev
President
Sage70
Isaac combines technical, product and digital marketing knowledge with a keen sense of how people and organizations relate to technology and change. As president of Sage70, Isaac helps nonprofit organizations envision change, plan strategy, and put technology to work.
Heidi Massey
Chief Connector
Heidi Massey is a community builder and tech evangelist. As a freelancer and consultant, Heidi helps nonprofits and small businesses with Google AdWords, Facebook ads, and selecting new technology for their work. Heidi is also the founder of ChicagoCOUNTS, a technology conference for nonprofits and is one of the organizers of 501 Tech Club Chicago. And although she truly loves and adores her three kids, she is thrilled to be an empty nester.