About the cohort
Generously funded by the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund.
Technology enables many aspects of successful fundraising yet is an area that is historically excluded from traditional training and on-the-job professional development opportunities for those people in fundraising and marketing positions.
NTEN's research over the last twenty years shows that nonprofit staff from across departments report having technology tools and software but not having the skills and knowledge about how to make decisions, budget, and otherwise put that technology to work for their needs. Better technology strategies can make all the difference in how effectively staff can help their organization fundraise and tell the story of their mission's impact on people’s lives.
Nonprofit Tech Readiness for Reaching and Retaining Donors cohorts are designed for nonprofit professionals who manage fundraising and marketing responsibilities inclusive of website content or appeals, data analysis and management, email communications and campaigns, and impact storytelling in support of the organization's donor cultivation, fund development goals, and impact reporting. These cohorts strengthen participants' knowledge of best practices for planning, decision-making, budgeting, and management of technology and data systems in support of your fundraising goals.
Community call
Watch the video for an overview of the NTR program, participant expectations and time commitment, and additional resources available to participants who complete the program. You can also download the slides.
Schedule
Plan for a six-month time commitment, with 8–10 hours per month for program work.
Orientation
October 2024
Ask questions and explore the online learning and community space.
Sessions
October 2024–March 2025
Take part in educational and mentorship activities.
Conference
April 16–18, 2025
Attend the 2025 Nonprofit Technology Conference virtually or in Baltimore, Maryland, for free.
Celebration
April 2025
Celebrate achievements and hear from inspiring guest speakers.
Sessions
You'll be supported as you move your customized technology project from the idea stage to a full-blown action plan and get the guidance you need to implement the project. You do not need to have a project decided or in mind when you start.
Technology projects
Advice and mentorship, including help with successful planning, culture change, and implementation.
Open office hours
Drop-in opportunities to get direct support.
Live educational series
Training sessions that cover the core competencies of technology planning, budgeting, implementation, and evaluation.
Self-paced educational series
Sessions that cover other competencies and best practices.
Leadership development
Facilitated process for discussing feedback and practicing and modeling experiences you can replicate at your organization.
Interactive workshops
Working sessions to build your project planning skills and develop connections with your peers.
Topics
The curriculum is tailored to the cohort's needs, and new courses are added as available. Topics include:
- Technology assessments and roadmaps
- Project management
- Constituent and community data privacy
- Improving outcomes with human-centered design thinking
- Racial equity and tech planning
- Developing robust and flexible campaign plans
- Change management
- Privacy-compliant digital fundraising
- The secret to loyal donors: Email welcome journeys
- The giving brain: The neuroscience of planned giving
- Advertising, acquisition, attribution, and diversifying audiences
- Intro to the AI Framework for an Equitable World
- AI Mis and Disinformation: Spotting fakes, understanding risks for organizations
Additional benefits
You'll get free enrollment in NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Professional Certificate. After the cohort ends, you'll also continue to have access to the materials and online community space.
Thanks to Fidelity Charitable, participants who complete their cohort program receive a cash award for use as a challenge grant to fuel their next donor cultivation event or fundraising appeal.
Apply for the cohort
Who should apply
Nonprofit staff in organizations in south, central, and mountain west states (including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming), with a preference given to applicants in organizations under a $2 million annual budget, are eligible to apply.
Applicants should be staff interested in practical, tangible technology training and in any role responsible for advancing and implementing a technology project at their organization. Board members and volunteers are not eligible. If you have any questions about your eligibility, email us.
Note: Program delivery and materials are in English and event scheduling is based on Pacific Time Zone (PST).
Application Timeline: August 10 – September 22, 2024
Application
The application for this cohort is now closed.
