
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
Ready to learn more? Let’s talk.

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.
I’ve taken two online courses from The Grantmaking School this year and have been very pleased with the quality. My schedule would make it very difficult to travel to the courses in person so this is an excellent option for me to continue strengthening my grantmaking skills.”
Jennifer Roller
President, The Raymond John Wean Foundation
Jennifer Roller
President, The Raymond John Wean Foundation
LearnPhilanthropy Academy
Ready to talk?
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.
Lunch with the Johnson Center
Brown Bag Lunch & Learns
We started the Brown Bag 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, SPNHA, GVSU
Salvatore Alaimo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, SPNHA, GVSU
LearnPhilanthropy Academy
Ready to learn more? Let’s talk.

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.