If nonprofit organizations don’t provide employees, volunteers, and members with the training and development opportunities they need, their missions will struggle. Below, we explain how nonprofit organizations can utilize a learning platform to transcend geographic boundaries, increase alignment, and track compliance, all while lowering the bottom line.
Often, training and development opportunities are minimal at nonprofit organizations. In fact, only 0.03 percent of the sectors annual spending goes towards leadership development. Why are nonprofits putting such a small emphasis on training and development opportunities? First of all, the pursuit for low overhead costs limits the budget nonprofit organizations can spend on their employees, members, and volunteers. Secondly, nonprofits often seek leaders whom they believe already have the skills needed to succeed in the position. Although historically, training and development hasn’t been a focus for nonprofits, the right learning platform could bring the organization measurable results.
Transcending Geographic Boundaries with Technology
Due to the great influx of volunteers and high turnover rates at nonprofit organizations, nonprofits need a fast, efficient and widely accessible approach to training. Often, nonprofit volunteers, employees, and members are spread across a wide geographic region, making in-person training difficult. By implementing a mobile learning platform, nonprofits can eliminate geographic boundaries and associated hurdles. This increases participation, allowing your employees, volunteers, and members to train at any time, anywhere, and from the ease of their own device.
Consistency
Just because the board of directors is aligned on the organization’s mission, vision, and values, doesn’t always mean that staff and volunteers are. It is easy for there to be a disconnect of messaging between the board of directors and volunteers. Having one single learning platform would ensure consistency of training content presented, better aligning the workforce on the purpose and vision of the organization.
Trackability
Having a mobile learning platform enables nonprofits to track their member’s training progress. This keeps nonprofits from having volunteers slip by without having the proper training required for the job. Trackability functions can also inform the organization on where it could improve its training content. On a mobile platform, content updates can be rolled out for every user at the same time. Updates for traditional training programs on the other hand take months to implement across the entire organization. Lastly, organizations can leverage trackability functions by presenting compliance data collected to key stakeholders of the organization.
Lower the Bottom Line with a Learning Platform
Research shows that well-trained employees and volunteers generate more revenue. A focus on training and development in nonprofit organizations can accelerate involvement and growth. A mobile learning platform lowers costs associated with in-person training, paper waste, and shipping. Overall, it enables participants to make a bigger impact on the community!
Donor Engagement
Lastly, nonprofits could also greatly benefit by using the training platforms to educate potential donors. Courses could be customized to provide potential donors with an overview of the organization’s mission, and how contributions are being used. Potential donors are more likely to give when they have a confident understanding of the organization’s work. An online training program would increase the reach to potential donors, who otherwise might not have had the time or ability to meet face to face with fundraising staff. Potential donors could also be given the opportunity to connect and engage with staff and volunteers using the platform as well. This can build emotional engagement, reaffirming and potentially increasing support of donors.
An online training platform could greatly benefit nonprofit volunteers, staff, donors, as well as beneficiaries. Training technology can eliminate geographical boundaries, ensure consistent messaging, leverage data, and further engage donors. It is incredible how just a small investment in technology can go such a long way.
