What does it take to run an innovative and successful organization? Whether you’re at the helm of an enterprise-level company, a nonprofit with only a handful of dedicated staff members, or something in between, a few things are generally true.
First, you need a compelling product, service, or mission with a singular, shared focus.
Next, you need the right people in the right roles, aligned with your objectives.
Finally, you need to create a dynamic, collaborative culture—one where everyone is engaged and empowered, working toward the same goals, and continuously learning and growing.
That might sound simple, but there are challenges involved. For example, sending people to a professional conference or similar event can yield results, but that’s not always the optimal approach (since learners can only retain so much information at once). The core principle behind continuous learning, by contrast, is that knowledge should be available and accessible at all times.
A better approach for continuing learning for nonprofits and associations involves the adoption of an eLearning platform, also known as a learning management system (LMS). These systems enable organizations to create engaging learning pathways tailored to their exact needs and priorities.
Keep reading for an overview of how these platforms work, as well as what to look for when evaluating your options.
What Is the Best eLearning Platform for Nonprofits & Assocations?
There are many high-quality eLearning platforms on the market, with some of the most popular including Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, and LinkedIn Learning. These products offer a wide range of features, including tools for creating and managing custom courses, assessing participants’ learning, and support for credentialing and accreditation—all packaged within a user-friendly and engaging interface.
An e-learning platform like this works best for larger companies with their own learning and development staff, however. Nonprofits and associations have unique needs such as managing complex learning requirements, low course completions, and ineffective learner engagement rates. By choosing a highly customizable learning management system (LMS), these associations can strengthen continuous education programs, boost member retention, and improve organizational reputation.
What Is the Best Website Platform for Nonprofits?
It typically depends on the specific needs of the organization, although there are a few key considerations that are virtually always applicable. For example, the website platform you choose should include a user-friendly interface, support integrations with other technologies, and be easy to customize, manage, and update over time.
While some nonprofits might be able to find enough value in a free LMS, Elevate provides a cost-effective, customizable website platform designed with the unique learning needs of nonprofits and associations in mind.
Is Google Forms Free for Nonprofits?
Yes, Google Forms is free for any individual or organization with a Google account (which can be created at no cost to the user). While it may not have the type of feature set a free LMS would provide, nonprofits can use Google Forms to recruit volunteers, track donations, manage events, and more.
What Is the Best LMS for Associations?
Like other organization types, associations benefit from a learning platform that is customizable, scalable, and easy to use. Finding the best LMS for associations though, is less about “personal development” and more about engaging the community, making knowledge and inspiration accessible for all, developing professional goals, and more.
If you’re looking to produce, manage, and monetize high-value educational content, an LMS like Elevate is an ideal choice for assocations. Whether you’re seeking to deliver live and on-demand events, social learning, or community building, Elevate is an LMS platform that empowers organizations to promote learner engagement and build a thriving community. To read more about "What Features Should an LMS Have" read our blog!
How Does the Right LMS Benefit Your Organization?
Cadmium’s Elevate platform is tailored to meet the needs of nonprofits and associations with a robust feature set that enables organizations to…
- Create and manage courses for a wide range of learners, outcomes, and themes.
- Design and configure learning experiences and make learning accessible to all learners.
- Gather valuable feedback to ensure that all learners can discover engaging opportunities.
- Expand their reach with options for in-person, hybrid, and virtual learning.
If you’re interested in creating impactful and unforgettable events, Eventscribe is a powerful event management platform you can use for planning, management, collaboration, and more. Through seamless integrations Elevate and Eventscribe make it possible for your organization to host dynamic events, deliver memorable learning experiences, gather valuable feedback, and more. To learn more about how these solutions can serve your needs, visit Cadmium’s website to schedule a demo today!
