Managing for Success Pilot Program Wraps Up, Reinforces the Need for Nonprofit Management Support

 Managing for Success Pilot Program Wraps Up, Reinforces the Need for Nonprofit Management Support

Plans call for ongoing rollout

ProInspire recently completed its five-month inaugural Managing for Success program, designed to enhance effectiveness of new nonprofit managers with management tools and peer support. The program is a natural extension of ProInspire’s signature Fellowship program for young professionals and is intended to further the nonprofit’s mission to ensure individuals and organizations achieve their potential for social impact. At the pilot’s conclusion ProInspie reflected on program performance: did Managing for Success achieve its goals?  Is it worthy of ongoing rollout?  With a 94% overall satisfaction rate and overwhelmingly positive feedback, the answer is yes!

ProInspire initiated Managing for Success based on feedback from nonprofit partners about the lack of professional development opportunities for early- to mid-career professionals. In addition, a ProInspire survey of nonprofit managers revealed that 50% of nonprofit managers felt they did not have the knowledge, experience, and resources to be successful, while 94% of them indicated an interest in receiving leadership or managerial training.

Using this insight as a call to action, ProInspire launched the five-month pilot management program, funded in part by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.  Managing for Success took 18 managers from top national and international nonprofits, such as Communities In Schools and Share Our Strength, through three key areas of leadership and management: Managing Self, Managing Others, and Managing Organization.  Participants explored current management themes impacting the social sector including delegation, leadership style, and staff communication.  A mix of program elements –interactive workshops, leadership assessments, peer coaching, and webinars from thought leaders in the management space – brought these themes to life.

Participants found all program aspects useful, but rated in-person learning sessions, program readings, and individual assessments as most valuable for professional development.  While pleased with the overall feedback, ProInspire feels the strongest validation for Managing for Success comes from over 90% of participants who said they would definitely recommend the program to a peer.

Richard Baltimore, Partner Relations Manager at Year Up, said “The Managing for Success program was a fantastic opportunity to work hands-on with like-minded peers, and develop wider and deeper professional networks in the nonprofit sector.  Furthermore, it was a great learning opportunity on all facets of management.  I am thankful for the time spent in the program and am now a manager who is better trained and more motivated.  I have already used new techniques that I have learned in my training to exceed expectations on several projects.”

Embracing continuous improvement, ProInspire will examine participant feedback and changing dynamics in order to tailor future offerings to sector needs.  The organization plans to expand the program to other cities in 2014.  Interested in joining? Know someone who would benefit from professional development tailored to new nonprofit managers? Learn more about upcoming program and application dates here.