How much do you invest in your nonprofit organization?

Strange question? Obvious answer? Most nonprofit leaders put their lives into their work; investing whole heartedly into their organization. They work long hours, chew on problems in the shower or during family vacations, and sacrifice monetarily in the hope of making our communities better and to assist those they serve. They are constantly “on” – seeking out opportunities, networking, and building support for their mission. Yet, in one vital area, nonprofit leaders struggle with investment. They struggle in investing in themselves: their own personal growth and professional development. Many feel they can’t afford the time away from the office and justifiably, many feel tight budgets can’t accommodate the conference fees and travel expenses. Yet, “people power” is the engine that drives our nonprofit organizations. For innovation, best practice and responsive programming to thrive, we must seek out information and learn from others.

Our nonprofit organizations need us to become lifelong learners. The environment is changing too much and too quickly for us to be complacent about education and learning. While we can’t always afford to attend national conferences, we need to be savvy about attending local and regional training programs. We need to see the time away from the office spent on learning, professional networking and development, as a critical investment in the sustainability of our nonprofit. It is not only time well spent, it is an essential ingredient for success.

This winter NorthSky is offering a full schedule of professional development workshops on a wide range of topics. We’ve worked hard to keep fees low and quality high. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn a few new tricks and invest in yourself and in your board and staff.

Best regards,

Pam Evans
NorthSky Program Manager

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