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The Nonprofit Technology Framework: Tools and Skills for Thriving in the “New Normal”

Do you need a clear plan for technology growth to meet the demands and opportunities in today’s “new normal”? Join us to learn the skills, processes (and a few great tools!) so that you can transform your organization through excellence in technology!

Kim Snyder and Joshua Peskay of RoundTable Technology have recently released the Nonprofit Technology Framework, a tool to help nonprofit professionals build the skills to leverage technology and thrive in today’s world. We’ve invited Kim and Joshua to take you on a learning journey through the Nonprofit Technology Framework, to explore excellence in each of the key areas of IT Leadership, Governance, Cybersecurity, Data, Project and Change Management. During this highly interactive workshop, you will have access to tools and resources that have been developed specifically for the nonprofit professional. This six-part program will help you to build a culture of strategic transformation, collaboration, and accountability and enable you to optimize on the opportunities that are so essential for thriving in today’s “new normal.”

Session Titles and Key Take-aways

I Can See Clearly Now (May 18, 1-2:30)

Assessing where you are and where you want to go

Why technology matters for mission
Technology capacity as a continuum
Understanding current state versus desired state
Building the 1-page Technology Plan
Technology and the New Normal
There’s been a huge shift in cybercrime AND data privacy

Excellent! (May 25,1-2:30)

What it means to have “excellence” in technology and why it matters

The different functions of technology governance, and how they make a difference
Understanding excellence as a continuum in IT leadership, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Data and Project/Change Management
Measuring technology excellence in your organization

The Magic of Data Culture (June 1, 1-2:30)

Becoming a data-informed organization that protects what it collects

Documenting workflow with an Information Workflow Inventory
Visualizing the process (and gaps and risks) with a Data Map
Pathways for gaining data insights in 2022
Data privacy and ethical data practices

Cybersecurity and the “Reasonable” Imperative (June 8,1-2:30)

What “reasonable” cybersecurity means and why you need to be “reasonable”

The three cybersecurity basics if you do nothing else
Organizational risk appetite (or aversion)
How the idea of “reasonable” cybersecurity applies to privacy laws

Herding Cats - Project and Change Management (June 15, 1-2:30)

How to keep your culture from eating your strategy

Why everything starts with the problem to be solved, who you’re solving it for and why solving it matters
The three faces of change management
Retrospectives and the importance of pivots

Changing the Wheels While Driving the Car (June 22, 1-2:30)

Agility and excellence in technology as a way of being

Building a culture of accountability while getting the work done
Getting buy-in for investments and effort
Right-sizing the overwhelm
Building continuous improvement into the process

Cost

Members: $175 for the series

Non-members: $225 for the series

If you register one participant at full price, you can register a second participant from your organization for 50% off!

Apply Now!

Previous Offerings

Fundraising

Need help designing a fundraising plan? Do you want to perfect your elevator pitch? | August 1, 2019 - September 5, 2019

We’ve heard there’s a money tree out there, growing somewhere, but until we find it, this Learning Lab is for you! Come to our Fundraising Learning Lab to learn how to get more money for your mission, and gain friends and supporters along the way. Draft a development plan that diversifies your revenue streams while you fine-tune how to make the case for your organization, get a refresh on how to get those grants, master how to maintain and cultivate your donors, and create a culture of philanthropy that goes beyond just giving

You will learn through an in-depth, six module cohort-based series, led by experts that will provide a deep dive into fundraising for nonprofits. You will develop tools and strategies that ensure that your organization’s fundraising and resource development are strategic, donor-centered, and effective. You will also join an online community of practice of peers to facilitate peer-to-peer learning, sharing, and networking.

This training is intended for individuals at your organization with basic to intermediate expertise in the area who manage fundraising and resource development, impact fundraising strategy, and/or carry out fundraising and resource development implementation. This includes various stakeholders involved with fundraising, including fundraising staff, monitor and evaluation staff, administrators, board members, executive directors, and program staff. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply.

Session 1 - Making the Case for Your Nonprofit
- Thursday, August 1, 2-5pm
Session 2 -Responsible Fundraising & Resource Development: Get that Grant and Keep It
- Thursday, August 8, 2-5pm
Session 3 - Inclusive and Holistic Fundraising: All Hands on Deck
- Thursday, August 15, 2-5pm
Session 4 - Intentional and Sustainable Fundraising: Craft and Awesome Development Plan
- Thursday, August 22, 2-5pm
Session 5 - Resource Development Communication: Show Your Donors Their Money at Work
- Thursday, August 29, 2-5pm
Session 6 - Culture of Philanthropy: Beyond Giving
- Thursday, September 5, 2-5pm

Registration has closed.

Questions about this Learning Lab? Contact Education & Training Manager Aaron Covarrubias at 646-893-2441 or [email protected].

Communications

Need help designing a communications strategy? Do you want to improve your branding? | June 13, 2019 - July 25, 2019

Register for our Communications Learning Lab! In nonprofit communications, we are challenged with limited resources, small staff, and the need to cultivate internal buy-in about the importance of communications. There’s no easy fix, but you can gain new strategies from this Learning Lab to help you navigate these challenges: from planning internal communication strategies, to understanding strong branding to communicate your organization’s identity, to tracking and measuring your communications efforts.

You will learn through an in-depth, six module cohort-based series, led by experts that will provide a deep dive into communications management for nonprofits. Participants will develop tools and strategies that ensure that your organization’s communications are strategic, effective, and build a strong brand. You will also join an online community of practice of peers to facilitate peer-to-peer learning, sharing, and networking.

This training is intended for individuals at your organization with basic to intermediate expertise in the area who manage communications and/or carry out communications strategies including staff, administrators, and executive directors. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply.

Session 1 - Intentional Communications Planning: Get your Comms Plan Started
- Thursday, June 13, 2-5pm
Session 2 - Branding: Communicating Your Organization’s Identity
- Thursday, June 20, 2-5pm
Session 3 - Storytelling and Story Gathering
- Thursday, June 27, 2-5pm
Session 4 - Tracking Effectiveness of Communications
- Thursday, July 11, 2-5pm
Session 5 - Building Compelling Campaigns
- Thursday, July 18, 2-5pm
Session 6 - Leadership and Communications
- Thursday, July 25, 2-5pm

Questions about this Learning Lab? Contact Education & Training Manager Aaron Covarrubias at 646-893-2441 or [email protected].

Information Technology

Do you want to make technology work FOR your nonprofit - and not the other way around? | April 10, 2019 - May 15, 2019

Calling out the IT crowd, the accidental techies, and folks dealing with technology at nonprofits out there that want to improve their strategic management of technology on their organizations. We invite you to come out from behind the screen and join the best IT crowd in town - our Technology Learning Lab is where professionals can come together and learn promising new practices, develop new tools and strategies that ensure that you and your organization have the technology practices it needs to thrive, and finally, an opportunity to engage with your peers and learn together.

Participants will learn through an in-depth, six module cohort-based series, led by experts that will provide a deep dive into technology management for nonprofits. Participants will develop tools and strategies that ensure that your organization’s technology hardware and software is suitable, that you are cyber secure, that your systems are capable of providing insightful and timely data to improve decision-making, and that you have the right practices and policies in place to drive a culture of efficiency that continues to advance your organization's mission. Participants will also join an online community of practice of peers to facilitate peer-to-peer learning, sharing, and networking.

This Learning Lab is intended for individuals in your organization with intermediate knowledge of technology management for nonprofits. This includes various stakeholders involved with tech management, including IT staff, operations staff, monitor and evaluation staff, administrators, executive directors, and program staff. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply

Session 1 - Equipment, Infrastructure, and Connectivity
- Wednesday, April 10, 2-5pm
Session 2 - Security and Stability
- Wednesday, April 17, 2-5pm
Session 3 - CRM & Databases
- Wednesday, April 24, 2-5pm
Session 4 - Data Analytics & Integrated Information
- Wednesday, May 1, 2-5pm
Session 5 -Technology Strategic Planning
- Wednesday, May 8, 2-5pm
Session 6 -Technology and Data-Driven Culture and Paradigm Shift
- Wednesday, May 15, 2-5pm

Registration has closed.

Questions about this Learning Lab? Contact Education & Training Manager Aaron Covarrubias at 646-893-2441 or [email protected].

Human Resources

How do you make sure that your human resources —your people—are valued and developed at your organization? | February 7, 2019 - March 14, 2019

Come to our Human Resources Learning Lab to learn and develop tools that ensure that your most valuable resource is being nurtured and developed to keep your mission moving forward.

Participants will develop a strong set of tools to implement human resources practices that enhance their team’s ability to deliver on their mission including identifying and developing leadership pipelines and succession plans, assessing staff needs, and crafting responses to those needs in a holistic manner including work/life balance practices.

Participants will learn through an in-depth, six module cohort-based series, led by experts, that will provide a deep dive into human resource management for nonprofits. Participants will also join an online community of practice of peers to facilitate peer-to-peer learning, sharing, and networking.

This Learning Lab is intended for individuals in your organization with basic to intermediate knowledge of human resources. This includes various stakeholders involved with human resources management, including human resources staff, executive directors, operations staff administrators, and program staff. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply

Session 1 - Employment Life Cycle (part 1)
- Thursday, February 7, 2-5pm
Session 2 - Employment Life Cycle (part 2)
- Wednesday, February 13, 2-5 pm
Session 3 - Creating a Healthy Work Environment
- Thursday, February 21, 2-5pm
Session 4 - Leadership Development and Succession Planning
- Thursday, February 28, 2-5pm
Session 5 - Integrating Talent Management with your Organizational Strategy
- Thursday, March 7, 2-5pm
Session 6 - Aligning your Values and Culture to your Mission
- Thursday, March 14, 2-5pm

Registration has closed.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Need help implementing diverse, equitable, & inclusive practices?

Many nonprofits exist to address the ongoing consequences of systematic oppression and inequitable social and institutional practices. A focus on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) fosters a management culture that embraces different perspectives, resulting in stronger programs, comprehensive strategies, and the ability to better mitigate risks. But, where do nonprofits begin?

Apply for our first-ever DEI Learning Lab this fall. We're offering this series in response to the critical need for nonprofit leaders to internalize DEI as an organizational priority. In order to help nonprofit leaders move beyond a surface-level understanding of DEI, this Learning Lab tackles the challenging conversations needed to guide DEI efforts, and hold individuals and organizations accountable.

This Learning Lab is intended for nonprofit staff with basic to intermediate expertise in DEI, including executives, board members, program staff, human resources, and operations staff. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply for the DEI Learning Lab.

Session 1 – An Overview of DEI: Making Sense of DEI as a Management Practice
- Thursday, November 1, 2 pm - 5 pm
Session 2 – Developing a Shared Language and Definitions
- Wednesday, November 7, 2 pm - 5 pm
Session 3 – DEI as an Ongoing Process: How to Say We're Not "There" Yet
- Thursday, November 15, 2 pm - 5 pm
Session 4 – A Deep Dive into Equity and Inclusion
- Thursday, November 29, 2pm - 5pm
Session 5 – Building Diverse Leadership Pipelines
- Monday, December 3, 2pm - 5pm
Session 6 – Becoming an Effective Change Maker Around DEI
- Thursday, December 13, 2pm - 5pm

The application window for the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Learning Lab has closed./p>

Financial Management

Do you want to improve your financial management practices? Is your organization budgeting as a team?

This training is intended for individuals in your organization with basic to intermediate expertise in budgeting. This includes different stakeholders involved with creating, tracking, and/or managing budgets (for instance, EDs, Program Managers, development staff, board members, and administrators).

This Learning Lab is sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Because of their generous support, we are able to offer a 25 percent discount for each Learning Lab attendee!

Session 1 Mapping out your budget process
- Thursday, September 20, 2-5pm
Session 2 Understanding indicators of financial health
- Thursday, September 27, 2-5pm
Session 3 Storytelling through financials
- Thursday, October 4, 2-5pm
Session 4 Tracking and monitoring financial results
- Thursday, October 11, 2-5pm
Session 5 Financial planning and risk management
- Thursday, October 18, 2-5pm
Session 6 Cultivating a culture of financial management
- Thursday, October 25, 2-5pm

The application window for the Financial Management Learning Lab has closed.

Governance

Need help designing board evaluation strategies? Do you want to perfect a succession plan?

Thursday, April 26, 2018 - Monday, June 18, 2018

This training is intended for individuals at your organization with basic to intermediate expertise in the area who manage governance structure, impact board strategy, and/or carry out governance implementation.

Session 1 - Structure and Oversight
Session 2 - Diversifying Board Cultivation and Recruitment
Session 3 - Board Retention and Value
Session 4 - Fundraising and Ambassadorship
Session 5 - Evaluating Performance
Session 6 - Planning for the Future

Click here to download the Session Schedule and Key Takeaways (.pdf).

~~Application opens Wednesday March 14, 2018. Application deadline is Monday, April 2, 2018 at 5:00 pm. Acceptance notifications will be sent out by April 9, 2018.~~

Results and Impact

Need help designing strategies to stir your organization to results and impact? Do you want to be able to tell a compelling story on how your organization is impactful?

This training is intended for individuals at your organization with basic to intermediate expertise in the area who manage data management and outcomes strategy, and/or carry out monitor and evaluation implementation.

Session 1 - Why Evaluate & How to Approach It
- July 10, 2018 from 2-5pm
Session 2 - Logic Models: What, Why, and How
- July 17, 2018 from 2-5pm
Session 3 - Data Collection and Compilation
- July 19, 2018 from 2-5pm
Session 4 - What do the Data Say? Turning Numbers into Action
- July 26, 2018 from 2-5pm
Session 5 - Reporting and Storytelling
- July 31, 2018 from 2-5pm
Session 6 – Cultivating a Culture of Managing for Results & Impact
- August 8, 2018, from 2pm-5pm (tentative)