Non profit education: Importance of continued learning

The value of any non profit is dependant on the value of its people. And if people are the greatest asset to an organization, investing in them is critical. Known as human capital, organizations compete for business through the people they employ, and continuing non profit education is one method of attracting and retaining qualified and effective employees.

Considerations for a non profit education program

To institute an effective non profit education program that allows you to optimize your “human capital” several variables must fall into place.

1. Management's stance on non profit continuing education for employees is the single most influential factor in the success of workplace learning programs. Get management support by focusing awareness on the development of people as a major source of obtaining and maintaining competitive advantage.


2. Develop methods for managing the success of a continuing education program and show how it is aligned with the goals and objectives of your organization.


3. Maximize technology to promote non profit continuing education for all employees (i.e. audiocasts, Webcasts, and computer-based learning software for distance learning opportunities).


4. Create or find continuing education and training programs with a focus on career planning and competency enhancement to support existing staff in their career path while their services benefit the organization. For example, American Humanics offers certification programs that teach the necessary skills to enter, thrive, and advance in the non profit industry.