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 our summer session ends soon!

Register by July 11 to save your seat for Hands-on Organizational Planning, Simplified. Planning isn't a solo act - learn how to engage your board or audiences in a simple hands-on planning process. In this virtual peer learning experience, you will learn how to use action and scenario planning tools to work with your board and others to set a direction for your organization.
Register for Summer 2022 - Hands-on Organizational Planning, Simplified

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:
  • Explore various planning tools to help set a direction for your organization. (Summer 2022)
  • Evaluate your organization’s fund-development/resource development plan. (Fall 2022)
  • Create or revise a communication plan. (Winter 2023)
  • Understand leadership style and the relationship between organizational culture and mission, vision, and values. (Spring 2023)
  • Explore pathways to build trust, communication, collaboration, and innovation in your organization. (Spring 2023)
  • 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. 
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.
Sign up for one offering 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
Amy Greil, Extension Kenosha/Racine Counties

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.

Hands-On Organizational Planning, Simplified

Address your real challenges or goals through learning & practicing simple tools with your peers.
Registration Fee: $75 (scholarships available)
Dates: 
Wednesdays at 11am, July 20 - Aug. 17
Fridays drop-in collaboration space at 11am
Register for Summer 2022 - Hands-on Organizational Planning, Simplified

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! 

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

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

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!

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.