Biscoe: Skills development key for nonprofit workforce


I have spent much of my life involved with nonprofits in one way or another, whether as a board member, co-founder, donor or organizational leader.
I first got my footing in the volunteer world of Oklahoma City decades ago, and I have served on boards for a myriad of organizations improving our community through social justice, mental health care and other areas. While nonprofit organizations are quite different from businesses, at the core, both have similar operational concerns: to stay in the black, keep the lights on, ensure staff are paid and fulfill the organizational mission.
With a new generation of leaders entering the workforce, I have found many young individuals are interested in a career with nonprofits and seeing change in their communities. Their passion for finding solutions to societal needs is the first step in the right direction. However, passion and drive are not enough to run a successful nonprofit, and many staff members may lack appropriate formal training and experience. The good news is that these are skills that can be learned and developed!
This is one reason that University Outreach recently launched seven custom-designed credentialing and certificate programs, coordinated with great success by Director of Continuing Education Dr. Nina Barbee. The course bundles are tailored to meet the demands of Oklahoma’s nonprofits and businesses in areas of nonprofit management, nonprofit communications, nonprofit board fundamentals, leadership, entrepreneurship, graphic design and management.
Accessible through MindEdge, an online learning platform, they are designed to help life-long learners expand their skills through higher education, continuing education, professional development and corporate solutions. The self-paced courses offer an assortment of interactive exercises, videos, selected readings, case studies, games and self-assessments that engage participants to develop skills to become workforce contributors and leaders.
The interface was created with accessibility in mind and uses badge and credit-awarding systems so learners can track progress. Courses in the bundles run the gamut, from an introduction to grant writing, to how to manage volunteers. We’ve been thoughtful to bundle courses together, and when all courses in a bundle are taken, learners can receive certificates and credentials for their coursework. Specialized courses and certificates like these can help individuals set goals that result in positive outcomes for themselves and their employers.
I would encourage leaders in both nonprofit and business roles to consider the kind of continuing education and training needed by your staff. Better-equipped team members will maximize their organizations’ impact, effectively serve their teams and contribute significantly more in the workplace. University Outreach’s MindEdge bundles may be just the thing to support your team.
Belinda P. Biscoe, PhD, is Senior Associate Vice President for Outreach/College of Continuing Education at The University of Oklahoma.
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