Changemaker Cafe: Collaborative Learning & Practice Pods

For this first 4-week program, we’re going to focus on these key topics and outcomes:

First-Time Executive Directors: 

• Understanding and Navigating Board vs. Staff Roles: You’ll create a Board-Staff Operating Agreement you can use right away or
• Understanding the Best Funding Model for Your Unique Mission: Create a Funding Fit map and Funding Positioning Statement that helps you focus your fundraising efforts

(EDs, you’ll have a chance to vote which of these topics you’d prefer when you apply.) 

First-Time Board Members:

• Introduction to Board Governance: Learn board governance practices and create a personal Board Impact Profile helping you align your strengths to your board service

First-Time Fundraising Staff:

• Understanding the Best Funding Model for Your Unique Mission: Create a Funding Fit map and Funding Positioning Statement that helps you focus your fundraising efforts

Participant Expectations

• Come with an open mind and collaborative spirit, ready to connect to and support peers in similar roles
• Engage with each other and the content actively and thoughtfully
• Reciprocate by offering your insights as much as you’re asking for others
• Take a quick Survey at the end of the experience — let us know what worked, what didn’t, and what you’d like to see happen
• The cost for this 4-week program is $30. But we never want finances to be a barrier; there’s an opportunity to request a participation scholarship for this session in the application.

We know people learn differently. You can indicate which format you prefer in the application.

Option 1: Ongoing Collaborative Learning with Weekly Live Virtual Exchanges

Peer-To-Peer focused learning with one scheduled live 30 minute exchange per week + supplementary learning and discussion.

• On Demand access to digestible materials and brief helpful tutorials (a few minutes each)
• Ongoing online group discussions and simulation exercises: Give and receive feedback on peer ideas, projects, and progress and grow confidence by practicing how to navigate real-life scenarios you may encounter in your role
• Weekly Live Virtual Meetings: Discuss challenges and questions during live peer exchanges (Mondays between 3 and 4 PM ET / 12 and 1 PM PT)
• Leave with your completed item / project (different projects for each role)

Option 2: Ongoing Collaborative Learning with Asynchronous Online Discussion only (NO live meetings)

Self-Paced learning and reflection with supplementary practice and peer feedback exchanges throughout the week.

• On Demand access to digestible materials and brief helpful tutorials (a few minutes each)
• Ongoing online group discussions and simulation exercises: Give and receive feedback on peer ideas, projects, and progress and grow confidence by practicing how to navigate real-life scenarios you may encounter in your role
• Leave with your completed item / project (different projects for each role)

Week 1:

• Get started and meet your learning peers.

Weeks 2-4:

• Learn the foundations of your topic through on demand micro-tutorials — short, digestible content for busy changemakers.
• Practice navigating real-life scenarios through reflections with peers through the group discussion board.
• Share your ideas, projects, or progress and give and get meaningful feedback through the group discussion board.
• Hone a practical skill and create an item you can use right away in your work.

What We Believe

• The Nonprofit and Social Impact workforce deserves investments in their growth as changemakers and leaders.
• Learning is better together — and students are great teachers, too. Each person’s experiences and expertise bring unique value, helping their peers navigate social impact work.
• Training and professional development should give you practical skills you can apply right away.
• You’re busy doing good work. Learning and training should fit your learning style and your schedule.

Changemaker Cafe equips changemakers with educational tools and training to build skills that create positive social change.

We believe the social impact sector workforce deserves big investments and that giving our people the tools they need to succeed is the only way we’re going to solve persistent social and community problems together.

Why This Pilot? 

In an increasingly AI-dominated world, we know that current content and training formats aren’t quite cutting it. We’re curious about alternative learning and community-building models and testing to figure out what works best for busy changemakers — and what can scale to one day support thousands of people like you (while leaning into the most human parts of learning and connecting!).