As a nonprofit leader, you are passionate about delivering on your mission and making a

positive impact.

Our mission is to provide you with opportunities to advance your skills while connecting with & learning from your peers. Because we're all changemakers - and supporting, learning, and growing together is one way we can supercharge our ability to make the impact our hearts are set on making.

Registration for Fundraising and Donor Relations is open now!

Register by 8pm on October 3 to save your seat for Fundraising and Donor Relations. Brush up on your fundraising skills while learning what's working (and not working) for your peers.
This 5-week mini-course starts October 12 and occurs every Wednesday at 11:00am - 12:30pm through November 9. To maximize your learning, we also offer a drop-in collaboration space on Friday's from 11am-12pm where you can reserve some time to work together with your peers on the class assignment. The Friday sessions are recommended, but optional.
Up to TWO PEOPLE from your organization can register per $75 registration fee! 
Registration has closed for this session - sign up for our email list below to find out about our next offerings!

Programs Developed With You In Mind

Each offering in this series contains carefully crafted and curated content based on the most requested topics.

What will you gain?

As an active participant in this peer learning experience, you'll:
  • Evaluate your organization’s fund-development/resource development plan. (Fall 2022)
  • Create or revise a communication plan. (Winter 2023)
  • Understand leadership styles and pathways to build trust, communication, collaboration, and innovation in your organization. (Spring 2023)
  • Explore various planning tools to help set a direction for your organization. (Summer 2022)
  • Engage in ongoing learning through building a peer network. (Any/all offerings!)  
What's the commitment?
Because we understand your time is limited, we have specifically planned these offerings to fit into your schedule. Each offering is made up of five 90-minute sessions, all held near the lunch hour from 11am-12:30pm each Wednesday. 
To maximize your learning and networking, we also provide a weekly drop-in collaboration space for participants to have time reserved on your calendar to support course work, leave space for questions, or to network and learn from each other. These sessions are on Friday's from 11am-12pm.
Sign up for one mini-course or sign up for all of them - the choice is yours! 

Who is behind this?

This program was created by a collaboration of several UW-Madison Division of Extension colleagues from across the state. The current faciliators are:
Jessica Beckendorf, Extension Waupaca County
Michelle Grimm, Extension Taylor County
Sarah Schlosser, Organizational and Leadership Development Program Manager

Schedule and Topics

All sessions will be held virtually on Zoom, with some course work on Canvas (educational courseware). Orientation will be provided for each offering.

Fundraising & Donor Relations

Brush up on your fundraising skills while learning what's working (and not working) for your peers.
Registration Fee: $75 (scholarships available)
Dates: 
Wednesdays at 11am, Oct. 12 - Nov. 9 
Fridays drop-in collaboration space at 11am
Registration has closed - sign up below to find out about future offerings!

Leadership & Organizational Culture

Healthy, vibrant organizational culture takes time and leadership to cultivate and maintain. 
Registration Fee: $75 (scholarships available)
Dates: 
Wednesdays at 11am, starting April 19, 2023
Fridays drop-in collaboration space at 11am
Sign up below and we'll notify you when we begin accepting registrations!

Telling Your Story Effectively

Learn to craft and tell your organization's story and call to action for your most important audiences.
Registration Fee: $75 (scholarships available)
Dates: 
Wednesdays at 11am, starting February 1, 2023
Fridays drop-in collaboration space at 11am

Sign up below and we'll notify you when we begin accepting registrations! 

Hands-On Organizational Planning, Simplified

Address your real challenges or goals through learning & practicing simple tools with your peers.

*This session has already occurred - sign up for our email list below to find out when we offer it again!

Sign up for our email list!

Let us know which sessions you are interested in, and we'll send you an email when we begin accepting registrations for each session.

About Us

The Organizational and Leadership Development Program, located in the UW-Madison Division of Extension's Community Development Institute (links to an external site), strives to advance the skills of nonprofit leaders and expand the capacity of organizations to deliver on their mission through strategic initiatives and within the broader context of social, racial and economic equality. 
An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.