If you manage a nonprofit organization, you know that training your staff and volunteers is essential to keeping your operation running smoothly, and you've probably wondered if an online nonprofit training platform might be the right solution for your organization. Nonprofit training is also critical to building the capacity you need to remain sustainable and meet today's--and tomorrow's--community needs. But with so many training avenues available, it can be hard to decide which one is right for your team. Online nonprofit training platforms can be a wonderful option to include in your professional development plan as they can offer flexibility, affordability, and a wide variety of learning opportunities.
But how can you find an online learning platform that will be easy to use and will actually get used?
In this blog post, we'll help you identify the key features to look for when choosing an online nonprofit training platform. So whether you're looking for a comprehensive solution or just something to get started with, read on!
Defining your nonprofit's training needs
Defining what training your nonprofit needs can help you better invest in professional development that will allow your organization to reach new heights. Finding the right balance between technical (or skill-based) and adaptive (or leadership-based) training can be difficult. Nonprofit leaders typically take one of two approaches. In the first approach, you might consider each of your nonprofit staff individually and evaluate their time in role, any career mapping you've done with them, and organizational succession planning that may affect that individual. This can be a thorough process, and can get each person the targeted professional development they'll benefit from.
An easier alternative is to consider your team as a whole (or in large groups, such as departments) in terms of generalized learning needs. A formal way to evaluate these needs on the whole is by completing a capacity assessment, such as the Impact Capacity Assessment Tool. Informally, you might brainstorm on the topics and skills that would help your team as a group in successfully pursuing your mission. Think also about your current strategic plan (or marketing plan, or development plan). What skills and talents are required to accomplish the goals laid out within these critical documents that you sense could use more focus and development in your team?
In each of these approaches, you'll likely find a wide range of needs that exist within your team. Look for commonalities and themes as you begin to consider the learning platforms you will be considering. Be sure to also consider your leadership needs: Do you wish to be involved on an ongoing basis in helping your team design their learning journeys? Do you want to design and present your own custom trainings? How much would you prefer a "set it and forget it" approach to the design of your employees' learning experience?
Assessing different online training platforms
As you’re researching different online training solutions available to nonprofit professionals, there are three key factors to consider: cost, structure, and support. While there are certainly many other factors, these three factors are significant points of distinction across the various platforms available today and provide a means of easily comparing your options.
Cost is often the first data point that nonprofits collect about an online learning platform, and with good reason: determining if an option is within your budget can make your decision easier. Some of the common cost structures include the following:
Pay per user vs. pay per team. The most common model for cost structure is to pay per "seat" or to pay for a group of seats, such as "5 to 10" users. An uncommon but far more advantageous option is to pay per team, a model that is used by the Merit Nonprofit Professional Development platform. Under this approach, which is sometimes called "flat rate" pricing, an unlimited number of users would have access to the learning platform as long as they are affiliated with your nonprofit.
Pay monthly vs. pay annually. Monthly payments offer the most flexibility and give you a sense of control over the expense of training, while annual payments can be easier to plan (even if they feel larger). Be sure to calculate the annual expense of monthly payment structures to accurately compare across these two models, and keep in mind that having the option of exiting the platform early can have both positive implications (flexibility, control over expense) and negative implications (less commitment, an incomplete learning experience, a drain on building a year-round culture of learning).
Pay per course vs. unlimited access. In some instances, you might find that courses are charged individually, on a track, in a bundle, or towards a certificate program. These types of costs can add up quickly, although do offer the benefit of allowing for targeted enrollment. Conversely, unlimited access can offer a varied experience that supports your team's exploration of topics they may not have otherwise pursued in their professional development efforts. Unlimited access is sometimes called a "membership" or "subscription" model.
The structure of the the learning platform can also help you determine which platform is right for your organization. In considering the structure, there are two main ways that online learning platforms present their learning experiences: as buffet-style, unrelated stand-alone courses or as learning paths, throughout which knowledge is built as the learner progresses. In the case of stand-alone courses, learners can access a wide variety of information that is often relevant to what is most pressing to them at the moment. On the other hand, in a learning path approach, there is often a higher degree of engagement because fewer decisions must be made about what to learn next. Each can be beneficial, depending on your situation.
In either type of structure, consider the additive learning experiences which speak to different types of learners. Learning platforms may be structured to simply present content, or the platform may engage the learner through interactive exercises, quizzes, personal reflections, goal-setting exercises, online communities, and much more.
You may find that your organization primarily needs a deep dive on specific topics, such as financial oversight or fundraising tactics. Online learning platforms that have a narrow focus can offer this type of structure, which is often supportive of the specific needs of unique departments within your nonprofit. Alternatively, a broader reach in subject matter, often presented by academy-style platforms, can offer more of your team members a greater opportunity to explore and find a foundation in many areas of the nonprofit's operation.
The level of support is also a distinguishing characteristic of various platforms, and can be a matter of personal preference. Some teams prefer to utilize a learning experience without much guidance or involvement from the instructor or creator, while others prefer to have involved engagement. You may find that your organization's leadership or board is interested in seeing metrics on which team members are working on what types of learning or topics. This type of support is available within particularly developed learning platforms, especially those that were developed with nonprofit leaders in mind. Understanding the type of support that you anticipate needing will be helpful in deciphering which online learning platform will be a good fit for your organization.
What to look for in an online nonprofit training platform.
To ensure your nonprofit professionals receive the quality training they need and deserve, it is essential to look for an online platform that provides a modern learning experience that's based on a respected educational model such as Bloom's Taxonomy. In this approach, learners build their knowledge over a step-by-step process that grows from defining basic concepts to applying knowledge creatively. The learning experience should have a high degree of accessibility, which includes features such as closed-captioning, large font, audio-only versions, downloadable transcripts, and multiple learning modalities encouraged.
When selecting a platform, investigate their subject matter experts who developed the material and their process for creating a useful and effective learning experience. The content should be based in both lived experience and contemporary research, and should encourage exploration and application.
Quality content should also include features that encourage learners to apply their new knowledge in their real-world roles and the career aspirations they may have. This can include suggestions for group work or stretch assignments, or the creation of goals and learning plans. Incentivization is also becoming standard to many online learning platforms, with the opportunity to earn digital badges and certificates that recognize learning progress.
Choosing an online learning platform for your nonprofit organization
When it comes to making a decision for your nonprofit organization about online training, there are several things to consider. The process of finding the best platform for you can be daunting, but involving those who will actually be using the platform down the line will ensure that you find something with their needs in mind. It’s not only helpful to have those who will use the platform involved from the start, it is also essential to pick team members from other departments that are able to assess various aspects of an online learning platform such as cost, functionality and flexibility. Having an interdisciplinary team when selecting a platform assures that you get the best solution for your specific needs.
One Metric: Assessing Cost Per Learner Hour
An additional means of assessing cost is to determine the cost per hour per person of learning experience.
Let's illustrate with an example. Imagine that your nonprofit has 20 employees, and you would like each of them to have the opportunity to pursue 12 hours of professional development this year at a pace of about 1 hour per month. You have a budget of $5000 to accomplish this, or $250 per person.
Platform A offers a library of 30 courses, each of which presents about 7 minutes of learning content, and they charge $50 per month for 10 people for unlimited access to these courses.
Platform B offers 50 courses, each of which presents about an hour of learning content, and they charge an average of $100 per course enrollment.
Platform C offers 100 courses, each of which presents about 15 minutes of learning content, and they charge a flat-rate of $3,600 for any number of team members for a full year.
How can you compare these three different models? Let's run through some math to evaluate the cost per person per hour of learning.
Platform A: 30 courses x 8 minutes each = 240 minutes (4 hours). At $100 per month (for 20 people) x 4 months (the time needed to exhaust the content), you'd pay $400 for 4 hours of learning for 20 people, or $5 per hour. The goal of 12 hours of professional development would not be met. Cost per learner per hour: $5.
Platform B: 50 courses x 1 hour each = 50 hours of learning content. At $100 per course, your budget would allow for 50 enrollments, and each employee could take at least two courses over the course of the year. The goal of 12 hours of professional development would not be met. Cost per learner per hour: $100.
Platform C: 100 courses x 15 minutes each = 1500 minutes (25 hours). At $3,600 for the year (for all 20 people), your team would have access to double the content of your goal of 1 hour per month (or 12 hours per year). The goal of 12 hours of professional development would be met. Cost per learner per hour: $7.20.
Each of these options could support your team's training needs, yet only one offers enough learning content to meet your overall goal in one system. While options A and B are assuredly more flexible, they would likely do little to sustain a culture of learning in the way that a year-long initiative would.
Closing Thoughts
Picking the right online training solution for your nonprofit can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. When you are assessing which platform best meets your organization's needs and budget, remember the key themes of this post: research and evaluate, don’t underestimate the importance of user experience, go with what works for training delivery and assessment, and consider cost per learner hour. Taking all these things into account is key when making a decision that will add value to your organization’s training program. Finally, don't be afraid to pick team members from other departments that are able to assess various aspects of an online learning platform and make sure you have an interdisciplinary team when selecting a platform. This will help ensure that the best solution is chosen for your specific needs.
Would you like to check out the leading comprehensive nonprofit online learning platform? Schedule a time to explore if the Merit Nonprofit Professional Development platform is right for your nonprofit!