Effective Organizations
Overview
Extension assists organizations in increasing their capacity to be productive and effective contributors to the community. Extension works with organizational leaders to:
- assess opportunities and challenges,
- engage in planning,
- create healthy workplaces, and
- evaluate the impact of their work.
Some examples of our work:
- training leaders in their roles as volunteers, staff, board members, elected officials, and managers
- helping leaders identify strategies that will improve organizational effectiveness
- facilitating peer networks that invite leaders to learn from one another
- assisting with evaluating progress on organizational and program goals
- convening multi-stakeholder coalitions and inter-organizational collaborations
- facilitating planning processes for strategic decision-making
Contact your local educator or a state specialist to discuss how Extension might assist you with improving your organizational effectiveness.
Programs
Wisconsin Nonprofit Connect to Learn
Wisconsin Nonprofits Connect to Learn provides you with opportunities to advance your skills while connecting and learning from your peers. The program covers content that is important to nonprofit leaders while centering the formation of a peer network for ongoing support, mentorship, resource sharing, and collaboration.
Grant Writing Basics
Informative and hands-on virtual training where you will learn the outline of a common grant proposal, where to look for funding for your organization, and the most common grant writing mistakes.
Introduction to Plain Language
This virtual training introduces strategies for word choice, font selection, grammar use, user testing, and more that help us communicate quickly and effectively with both native and nonnative English speakers.
Real Colors® Workshops
Through fun, interactive workshops participants learn easy-to-apply skills for understanding human behavior. Real Colors® can help you improve and enhance relationships, build a stronger team, and increase organizational performance.
Resources
Organization Policy, Systems, & Structures
Whether and How to Form a Nonprofit – Recording of a live session hosted by the UW-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies, UW-Madison Law School, and Marquette Law School.
Needs Assessment, Asset Mapping & Issue Identification
– This video introduces tools for doing background research on your community before embarking on a community development initiative or program of a nonprofit organization. (June 2022)
Leadership
Nonprofit Board Development – This video provides information about the role of a nonprofit Board of Directors in governance, oversight, and strategic direction setting.
Other
Toward a Stronger Nonprofit Sector: Addressing Capacity Building Needs in Dane County – The study was conducted by Andy Davey, Madison Community Foundation, and Sharon Lezberg, UW-Madison Extension Dane County. (September 2021)
Articles
Transform your team by understanding your Real Colors®
Schedule a Real Colors workshop for your organization. Participants enjoy a safe and fun atmosphere with the opportunity to learn more about themselves and others.
Culturally Responsive Strategic Planning
Learn how Extension staff facilitated a planning process that respected and reflected the sacred nature of three historically significant and sacred sites located in Sauk County.
Goodbye icebreakers, hello improv!
Learn how improv games enhance learner engagement, communication and create deeper connections. Help your team create a culture of trust and innovation.
