Training
Philanthropy is a constantly evolving field. Let us help you navigate the sector with cutting-edge research, tools, and strategies you can use to develop or update your approach.
Our professional development offerings for nonprofits are designed to strengthen your teams, tools, and thinking for better impact. Courses are designed for practitioners at all stages in their careers — from students to seasoned executives — and organizations of all sizes and mission areas.
A Project to Build Inclusive Boardrooms
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Philanthropy is a constantly evolving field. Let us help you navigate the sector with cutting-edge research, tools, and strategies you can use to develop or update your approach.
Our competency-based courses focus on the skills needed to advance your career, strengthen your organization, and improve the impact of your giving.
We design each course in partnership with fieldwide experts to assist you in aligning your work with the mission, vision, and values of your foundation.
The Grantmaking School
Tools for the Field
The Program Officer Competency Model©
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Understanding, strengthening, and advancing philanthropy requires ongoing professional development. As practitioners in one dynamic ecosystem, we need spaces where people in a variety of roles and representing different systems can come together to learn, share perspectives, and dream up big ideas.
Throughout the year, the Johnson Center offers a mix of programs for nonprofits, funders, and local leaders to learn together and from one another.
Make learning together a part of your routine.
Free Lunch & Learn Programs
We started the Lunch & Learn series with the hope that participants could get a taste of a topic of interest, be able to use a part of what they learned, and have the desire to learn more. Over 90% of our participants say they have learned something new they can apply to their work. And now, thanks to technology, we’re able to reach practitioners everywhere.”
Salvatore Alaimo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Grand Valley State University
Salvatore Alaimo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Grand Valley State University
LearnPhilanthropy Academy
Grand Valley State University
Degree Programs in Philanthropy
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Let’s get creative to advance your mission and support strong, inclusive communities.
Whether you’re looking to support your staff, your board, or your community partners, with our expertise in adult learning, both in-person and virtual, we can meet you wherever you are.
Models include:
- Engage our instructors for private and/or custom courses
- Combine training opportunities with strategy evaluation and framework development to reset your spark
- Support grantees’ or volunteers’ capacity with a custom code covering the costs of participation in any of our trainings
Tools for the Field
Competency-Based Professional Development
We offer technical assistance and organizational support tailored to your needs and driven by the latest national trends and research. We focus on organizational culture as well as building new skills and practices, with an approach that engages teams and sparks future-forward thinking. Services include:
- Tailored versions of our core courses for nonprofits
- Governance and board support
- Strategy development
- Structural collaboration and mergers
Customized courses from The Grantmaking School give you the opportunity to engage with the Johnson Center team of experts to design a training plan that fits exactly what your organization needs to advance your work. Appropriate for veteran and novice practitioners alike, the shared learning makes for a great team-building activity.