Overview

The seven-session series will offer monthly 60-minute webinars and an in-person networking event and finale from October 2011 to April 2012. Each monthly webinar will cover a topic specifically chosen to provide you with the knowledge required to excel as a nonprofit manager.

Up to three people from the same organization may participate in either the full series or any individual program. Each participant will receive their own login information. All participants who fully complete at least five of the six sessions will receive the Axelson Center Aspiring CEO Certificate. [Attendance and participation will be verified through webinar software.]

Wednesday, October 12, 2011                                                                      

Corinne Pierog                      Creating a Culture of Success

What role does an organization’s culture play in the service delivery and a nonprofit’s overall success? How can nonprofit organizations create an environment to engage their most critical asset, their employees? How can nonprofits fulfill their missions in recruiting and retaining the best staff? Despite scarce resources, there are many ways that nonprofits can create a vibrant culture of leadership that supports the staff and affirms the individuals who are being served. During this session, we will address key success factors that contribute to an organization’s ability to engage staff in fulfilling its mission and achieve its goals. Attendees will; understand the organizational and societal factors which influence employee career development, examine prevailing mental models and learn to transform those models into effective tools for creating an organizational vision and focus on the challenges of developing and engaging personnel not only technically but in leadership competency.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011                                                                    

Amy Wishnick                       Who’s Steering This Ship Anyway?

So you’re in charge and everyone’s looking to you for guidance to key issues such as financial stability, organizational growth and strategic direction. Participants will understand the importance of a strategic plan for guiding the organization and process for thinking and executing strategies as well as tools for communicating your strategies to others.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011                                                                  |
David Renz                My Boss Is the Board!

Boards are sometimes collectively less rational and intelligent than each of the members individually. Why? Learn effective strategies for building strong and appropriate relationships with your board. Gain insight into the thoughts of boards, why and how they make decisions, how to manage the board and what they’ll expect from you. Learn how to develop champions on your board who understand the internal workings of the organization.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012                                                                    
Catherine Brown      Program Evaluation

Why evaluate your organization's programs and how important is the evaluation process, anyway? Program evaluation is an essential tool for improving your organization's overall effectiveness and impact. Program evaluation should be one of the essential pillars of your organization's strategies for development and growth. This webinar is intended for Executive Directors, Program Managers, and others with responsibility for program design and implementation. Participants will leave the session with various program evaluation frameworks and a step-by-step guide to launching their own work.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012                                                                     

Kathryn Vanden Berk          Living in a Glass House

Enjoying the benefits of being a tax-exempt entity does not come without costs. The IRS, media, staff, public and those benefiting from your programs have certain expectations.  Ensuring that you meet those expectations of financial and legal diligence and disclosure could help you in leading one of the most trusted and respected organizations around. This session will present the “need-to-knows” when it comes to legal responsibility, employee law, and organizational transparency.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012                                                                        

Mary F. Morton                    Fundraising from the Top

According to a survey conducted by the NonProfit Research Collaborative (NRC), only 52 percent of charitable organizations met their budgeted fundraising goals in 2010. Larger nonprofits with more resources to raise money did better than small organizations. Learn how to leverage opportunities and your position as the CEO by creating a diversity of funding sources for your organization. Check out some new fundraising vehicles and hone your cultivation skills in this hour-long webinar session.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012                                                                         
Aspiring CEO Networking Social (free for those completing 6 webinar training sessions)

So, you have finally decided to put some action to your aspirations of being CEO.  Join the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management along with North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management and a host of leading nonprofit organizations and networking partners for an evening of information, resources to fast-track your career goals.  Participants will hear from a panel of graduates from the Axelson Center’s BootCamp for Nonprofit CEO’s who will discuss how they moved up the ranks to CEO/ Executive Director, their successes, challenges and inspirations. Following the panel, participants will hear from a seasoned executive on the critical career choices that all Aspiring CEO’s should make to promote their own success. The evening will conclude with a time of networking, vendor resources and refreshments.