"Having been President of two nonprofit radio stations and also holding leadership roles in the corporate sector, I found this course an invaluable bridge between the two environments. What stands out is how the course doesn't just assume you’re starting from scratch—it helps you take what you already know and adapt it to the specific demands of nonprofit leadership."
Ian McOwan
Community Radio President (ret.)
It’s Time to Make Corporate Leadership Appointments Work.
Can transitioning corporate leaders into nonprofit roles be easier, more effective, and less stressful? Now it is! My course doesn’t just teach the basics—it offers a research-backed, expertly-developed roadmap that adapts the skills your new leader already has in the for-profit sector to the specific needs of the nonprofit world, ensuring they succeed from day one.
In just 16 self-paced hours of intensive, interactive learning, your new leader will master:
- Foundations of Nonprofits: Understanding nonprofit structures, identifying regulatory requirements and governance practices.
- Operational Considerations: Navigating compliance, finances, human capital, and stakeholder engagement with ease.
- Knowledge Management for Success: Managing and leveraging knowledge to drive growth and impact.
- Building Reputation and Legitimacy: Developing the skills to build trust within the organization and the broader community.
This course isn’t just about learning—it’s about applying knowledge to real-world scenarios. Through videos, quizzes, case studies, and personalized planning sessions, new leaders will develop the ability to make strategic decisions with confidence, avoiding the costly mistakes that trip up the unprepared and derail nonprofits.
And the support doesn’t stop when the course ends. Your team will leave with a set of tools, templates, and strategies that will continue to guide them as they grow in their nonprofit roles—and they’ll have lifetime access to the course materials.
With Decoding Nonprofits, your organization will successfully bridge the gap between corporate and nonprofit leadership. You can be confident that your new leaders will be equipped to handle strategic and operational decision-making with practical, real-world knowledge they can apply immediately. Turn their corporate experience into a powerful asset for your nonprofit, ensuring they stand out and lead with impact.
About Me.
With over 30 years of experience across both corporate and nonprofit sectors, I’ve spent my career helping leaders successfully navigate complex governance, operational, and strategic challenges. My passion for professional development has led me to design Decoding Nonprofits: A Blueprint for Corporate Leaders, a course that equips corporate professionals with the skills to thrive in nonprofit leadership.
In addition to my work in nonprofit governance, I’ve been heavily involved in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and research, where I’ve led the development of several executive-level national professional development events. These events have helped shape the careers of senior leaders across industries. I’ve also written multiple thought leadership documents that have influenced both corporate and government policy.
After graduating with my MBA from Griffith University, I spent 18 months developing this course, drawing on my real-world experience backed up by over 230 research references to create a comprehensive, evidence-backed learning experience.
Seeing the acute need firsthand, I designed this course to help leaders bridge the gap between the private and purpose sectors, so people stepping up will finally have the tools and confidence to lead effectively in mission-driven organizations. Whether you’re transitioning into nonprofit leadership or looking to enhance your impact, it's my honor and pleasure to guide you with personalized support and practical insights.
"Based on the preview materials, this is a fantastic initiative and a well-structured, engaging course. You’ve done a great job distilling the needs of the nonprofit sector and aligning them with the 'coalface' skills leaders need. The work and passion you’ve put into this are clear."
Steve Mudge MBA
Executive Coach and Mentor
Unlock Your Leadership Potential
in the Nonprofit Sector.
Decoding Nonprofits: A Blueprint for Corporate Leaders is designed to help corporate leaders seamlessly adapt their skills to nonprofit leadership, avoiding the common pitfalls that derail many during this transition. The course emphasizes real-world application and flexibility, catering to diverse learning styles through interactive content such as videos, quizzes, case studies, and personalized planning sessions. Whether you prefer an intensive approach or more gradual learning, you'll find the structure that suits your needs. Consider:
What if your new CEO fails to manage stakeholder relationships, leading to donor disengagement and loss of crucial funding?
What if your board overlooks key compliance issues, exposing the organization to legal risks?
What if your new nonprofit leader doesn’t know how to align their corporate strategies with a mission-driven focus, leading to organizational drift?
Here’s what your new leaders will gain from the course:
- Master Nonprofit Governance: Learn to navigate complex nonprofit governance structures, including the systems, processes, and legal responsibilities that ensure nonprofit organizations operate ethically and in line with their mission. Gain confidence in compliance and effective decision-making from day one.
- Develop Mission-Driven Strategies: Adapt strategic planning skills to align with nonprofit goals, ensuring every decision and action supports the organization's mission.
- Build Stakeholder Trust: Develop expertise in managing key stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, board members, and regulators, fostering long-term relationships that strengthen the organization.
- Ensure Financial Sustainability: Understand nonprofit financial structures, and learn to effectively manage limited resources while driving meaningful impact.
- Lead with Confidence: Step into your nonprofit leadership role equipped with the tools and insights needed to make immediate, confident decisions that benefit the organization.
This course offers 16 hours of intensive, interactive learning. Your leaders will not only gain insights into nonprofit leadership but also apply them directly through case studies, quizzes, and personalized planning sessions, ensuring real-world application of their knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions.
What is the time commitment?
The course is designed to be completed in 16 hours of interactive learning, but you can go at your own pace, completing it intensively in two days or more leisurely over time.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes! You’ll receive a certificate of completion after finishing the course, which can be added to your professional portfolio.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for corporate leaders transitioning into nonprofit roles, as well as board members or consultants working with nonprofit organizations.
How does the course work?
The course offers highly flexible learning options, consisting of video lessons, quizzes, case studies, and a personalized planning session to help you apply your learning to real-world scenarios. Individual lessons are as short as 10 minutes so learn when and were you can.
What kind of support will I receive?
You’ll have access to lifetime course materials, and I’ll be available for direct support during your learning journey through a one-on-one planning session.
What if I don’t like the course?
There’s a 14-day money-back guarantee. If you’re unsatisfied with the course within the first two weeks, you can request a full refund—no questions asked.
For more detailed information, including technical requirements, group enrollment options, and course completion details:
Visit the full FAQ page
"From reviewing the preview materials, I found the course structure comprehensive and easy to follow. It's clear that the course offers practical tools and templates that leaders can use beyond the course—exactly what corporate leaders need to succeed in the nonprofit world."
Tricia Hughes
Fmr. CEO Massage & Myotherapy Australia
An interactive experience.
This course is designed to cater to different learning styles, giving you the flexibility to engage in ways that work best for you. Whether you prefer interactive video presentations, case studies, hands-on exercises, or personalized planning sessions, you’ll find options to help you learn in a way that suits your needs. Choose the methods that resonate with you to get the most out of each module.
Video Presentations
Engage with over four hours of dynamic video content, including module overviews and in-depth presentations powered by Prezi, ensuring you stay engaged while learning key concepts.
Annotated Readings
Access 50+ curated readings with expert annotations, providing deeper insights from trade articles and academic posts, helping you apply nonprofit leadership strategies to real-world situations.
Infographics
Explore 14 interactive infographics—from maps to charts and case studies—that make complex topics accessible and help deepen your understanding of nonprofit governance and leadership.
Executive Toolkit
Build personalized resources such as strategic models and elevator pitches that you can implement immediately in your nonprofit leadership role. Your customized toolkit will support you throughout your transition.
Alex's Diary
Follow the journey of Alex, a new nonprofit leader, as you guide them through real-world scenarios with interactive infographics and audio clips. This hands-on case study helps you practice decision-making in a safe, simulated environment.
Mastery Moments
Test your understanding with quizzes after each module, ensuring you're ready to advance with confidence. Start with the Fact vs. Fiction introductory quiz and continue mastering content through each module.
Personal Planning Session
Benefit from a one-hour live, personalized session designed to address your unique leadership challenges. We’ll work together to ensure you’re fully engaged with the course material and ready to apply what you’ve learned.
Lifetime Access
Enjoy unlimited, lifetime access to all course materials, ensuring you can revisit content anytime you need, long after you’ve completed the course.
Certificate of Completion
Upon finishing the course, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion recognizing your new nonprofit leadership skills, ready to be shared with your network or added to your professional portfolio.
"I reviewed the course materials and was impressed by the careful attention to structure, especially the welcome and orientation stage of the learning journey. It’s clear this course has been thoughtfully designed to guide leaders in their transition into nonprofit roles."
Andrew C. Wood
Workforce Governance Advocate at WorkAccord
Want More? The Technical Details.
The learning goals for this course are designed to ensure that you not only understand the essentials of nonprofit leadership but can confidently apply your knowledge in real-world situations. By the end of this course, you will:
- Understand and explain the various types of nonprofits, their purpose, and how to counter common myths surrounding the sector.
- Build a solid foundation in nonprofit compliance, including navigating local laws, regulations, and internal governance documents.
- Identify and manage the key resources available to nonprofits, ensuring efficient use and sustainability.
- Understand complex stakeholder relationships, the unique power structures of nonprofits, and how to effectively manage these relationships.
- Master nonprofit funding models, understand key differences from for-profit models, and learn to identify new funding opportunities.
- Lead diverse nonprofit workforces, including boards, executives, and volunteers, and understand their differences from for-profit teams.
- Implement effective knowledge management strategies, developing internal and external knowledge to strengthen your organization.
- Safeguard nonprofit legitimacy, understanding the factors that contribute to or damage a nonprofit’s reputation and standing.
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Create your own personal resource bank, giving you the tools to succeed as you embark on your nonprofit leadership journey.
Want to Try Before You Decide?
Click on the previews below to experience real course content and see how this course will guide you through the transition from corporate to nonprofit leadership:
- Explore the Study Library to see the kind of support and curated resources you’ll receive throughout the course, built on over 230 references.
- Delve into Annotated Readings 1.1 to experience the depth and academic rigor of the course content.
- Test your knowledge with the Fact vs. Fiction Quiz, designed to debunk common misconceptions about nonprofit leadership.
- Watch Video 2.1 to get a glimpse of how the course demystifies nonprofit operations and provides practical insights.
-
Explore the Infographic on Nonprofit Value Added to understand the unique contributions that nonprofits bring to their communities.
- Briefing
- Video 2.1: Introducing The Basics (3:14)
- Infographic: Nonprofit Value Added
- Annotated Readings 2.1
- Video 2.2: Defining "Nonprofit" (9:04)
- Annotated Readings 2.2
- Organizational Structures Chart
- Video 2.3: Types of Nonprofits (10:17)
- Infographic: Nonprofit History
- Video 2.4: Economic Sectors (9:12)
- Annotated Readings 2.3
- Insight Exchange
- Alex's Diary: First Team Meeting
- Executive Toolkit
- Mastery Moment: Self-Assessment Quiz
- Section summary
- Briefing
- Video 3.1: Introducing Nonprofit Rules (3:06)
- Video 3.2: Exploring Your Nonprofit's Legal Obligations (9:24)
- Infographic: Nonprofit Scandals
- Annotated Readings 3.1
- Video 3.3: Nonprofit Constitutions and Stewardship (13:48)
- Infographic: Nonprofit Governance
- Annotated Readings 3.2
- Video 3.4: Nonprofit Compliance and Risk Management (6:31)
- Annotated Readings 3.3
- Insight Exchange
- Alex's Diary: Compliance Audit
- Executive Toolkit
- Mastery Moment: Self-Assessment Quiz
- Section summary
- Briefing
- Video 4.1: Introducing Harnessing Resources (4:05)
- Video 4.2: Understanding Indirect Resource Flows (7:06)
- Infographic: Nonprofit Resources
- Annotated Readings 4.1
- Video 4.3: Balancing Need, Sustainability, and Resources (5:40)
- Annotated Readings 4.2
- Video 4.4: Leveraging Resources for Maximum Value (6:36)
- Infographic: The Role of Nonprofits in Global Health Strategy
- Annotated Readings 4.3
- Insight Exchange
- Alex's Diary: Services Planning Session
- Executive Toolkit
- Mastery Moment: Self-Assessment Quiz
- Section Summary
- Briefing
- Video 5.1: Supply and Demand (7:38)
- Video 5.2: Identifying and Categorizing Stakeholders (4:17)
- Infographic: Stakeholders
- Annotated Readings 5.1
- Video 5.3: Managing Stakeholder Relationships (6:22)
- Annotated Readings 5.2
- Video 5.4: Balancing Stakeholder Needs (8:18)
- Infographic: Stakeholder Management Processes
- Annotated Readings 5.3
- Insight Exchange
- Alex's Diary: The Member's Luncheon
- Executive Toolkit
- Mastery Moment: Self-Assessment Quiz
- Section Summary
- Briefing
- Video 6.1: Nonprofit Accounting and its Standards (4:36)
- Video 6.2: Parallels Between Stakeholder and Financial Indirect Flow (9:52)
- Infographic: Nonprofit Financial Flows
- Annotated Readings 6.1
- Video 6.3: Risks, Transparency, and Legitimacy (5:14)
- Annotated Readings 6.2
- Video 6.4: Hypothetical, "A Case of Two Charities" (8:59)
- Infographic: Models of Nonprofit Operation
- Annotated Readings 6.3
- Insight Exchange
- Alex's Diary: Financial Review
- Executive Toolkit
- Mastery Moment: Self-Assessment Quiz
- Section Summary
- Briefing
- Video 7.1: Nonprofits, Talent, and Democracy (4:25)
- Video 7.2: Democratic Principles, Strategy, and Operations (9:57)
- Infographic: Talent Lifecycles
- Annotated Readings 7.1
- Video 7.3: Inter-relationships Between Staff, Volunteers, and Volunteer Leaders (9:27)
- Annotated Readings 7.2
- Video 7.4: Managing Complex Inter-Organizational Work Teams (4:23)
- Infographic: Strategic Alliance Case Study
- Annotated Readings 7.3
- Insight Exchange
- Alex's Diary: Team Assessment
- Executive Toolkit
- Mastery Moment: Self-Assessment Quiz
- Section Summary
- Briefing
- Video 8.1: Knowledge Management, the Ignored Imperative (5:48)
- Video 8.2: Knowledge Management, Institutional Knowledge, and Bodies of Knowledge (9:13)
- Infographic: Project Management Institute, a Case Study of KM Excellence
- Annotated Readings 8.1
- Video 8.3: Knowledge Management as Strategic Tool and Competitive Advantage (7:36)
- Annotated Readings 8.2
- Video 8.4: Knowledge Management as Defensive Shield and Legitimacy Marker (8:31)
- Annotated Readings 8.3
- Insight Exchange
- Alex's Diary: Information Audit
- Executive Toolkit
- Mastery Moment: Self-Assessment Quiz
- Section Summary
- Briefing
- Video 9.1: The Engine of Organizational Legitimacy (4:54)
- Video 9.2: The Tragedy of the Commons, Social Enterprises, and Nonprofits (7:28)
- Annotated Reading 9.1
- Video 9.3: Practical Legitimacy Assessments (8:17)
- Annotated Readings 9.2
- Video 9.4: Legitimacy as Intention Action, and the Long-Term View (7:34)
- Infographic: Impact Reports
- Annotated Readings 9.3
- Insight Exchange
- Alex's Diary: Public Relations Plan
- Executive Toolkit
- Mastery Moment: Self-Assessment Quiz
- Section Summary
Bridging the Leadership Gap.
Explore how Decoding Nonprofits compares to other leadership programs and why it's the best choice for transitioning corporate leaders into successful nonprofit roles.
Stay Connected.
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