Talent Development in Michigan Nonprofit Organizations:

Cultivating Emerging Leaders

Dr. Heather Carpenter Alaina ClarkeRachel Gregg

Grand Valley State University

Who We Are

• Russell G. Mawby Fellowship• Dorothy A. Johnson Center of Philanthropy• School of Public, Nonprofit and Health

Administration

What is Talent Development and Why is it Important?

• Overview of the Field• Previous Needs Assessments– Marketing, Collaborative Partnerships, Resource

Development, Planning, and Information Systems• Missing Information– Accessible Professional Development Training

Formats

2013 Nonprofit Needs Assessment

• Online Survey through Johnson Center• 138 Respondents• In Existence for at least 10 years• 5-15 Board members• 0-5 FTE staff

Health/H

uman Se

rvice

Public/So

cietal

Benefit

Arts/C

ulture

Education

Environment/W

ildlife

Philanth

ropy

Recreati

on

Religious

Other

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Organizational Type

Num

ber o

f Org

aniz

ation

s

Findings

• Importance of Professional Development– 73% offer PD training to staff– 51% offer PD training to board– An average of 2% of annual budget is allocated for

PD

What sources do you use to seek out PD?

What nonprofit PD training topics interest you?E.g. Financial Management

Most Crucial Training Needs

• Board of Directors’ Training• Program Evaluation and Data-Based Decision

Making• Technology, Marketing, Communications and

Social Media

What is your preferred PD training format?

Accessible Professional Development Training Formats

• Workshops• One-half day or less• Thursday mornings• Located 50 miles or less from office

Recommendations

• PD should be offered in shorter segments• PD should be relevant to both the individual

and sector standards• PD should be thought of more

comprehensively

70 – 20 – 10

• Center for Creative Leadership– 70 % of learning from stretch assignments– 20% of learning from developing relationships – 10% of learning from workshops and trainings

Professional Development Assessment Tool (PDAT)

Nonprofit Management Competencies

• Advocacy, Public Policy and Social Change• Communications, Marketing and Public Relations• Financial Management and Social Entrepreneurship• Fundraising• Direct Service / Grantmaking• Human Resource Management and Volunteerism• Information Management• Legal and Regulatory Contexts• Leadership and Governance• Planning and Evaluation

For Continued Learning

What Does this Mean for You?

• Look for organizations who offer stretch assignments and opportunities to learn and grow

• Seek out external volunteer opportunities for PD

• Staff retention

What does this mean for your PD future?