Chief Learning Officer - October 2008 - (Page 31)

mandate training, nonproﬁts can only encourage, not mandate, volunteers to participate in training. A key implication is that nonproﬁts have become very good at motivating people to learn by tying training to the interests, needs and passions of their volunteers. Funding In nonproﬁts, training often is seen as a critical means to serving the mission, whereas in for-proﬁts, training often is seen as a line item that is expendable in tough economic times. Because of their devotion to the training function, many nonproﬁts have to ﬁgure out how to train on a shoestring — a skill that can be very useful to for-proﬁts. Nonproﬁt Training Study While nonproﬁts and for-proﬁt organizations differ in many ways, they also have to deal with many similar challenges. For example, AIUSA, like many for-proﬁt organizations, has seven challenges to overcome in creating training that helps people effectively perform their jobs in support of the organization’s mission and goals. To address these training issues and plot a strategic course for training initiatives, Clark commissioned Cedar Inter- active to conduct a benchmarking study to learn how other top nonproﬁts address these challenges. We interviewed leaders of the training function at eight major nonproﬁt organizations. Among the eight were large international organizations that focus on human and civil rights, public health and safety, environmental issues and workers’ rights. Respondents were asked questions regarding the organization of the training function; how they develop, deliver and evaluate training; how they work with various audiences and encourage diversity; how training is funded; and how they budget their training resources. Challenge 1: Aligning Learning With Organizational Mission and Goals Many organizations — whether nonproﬁts or forproﬁts — ﬁnd that training has taken on a life of its own, and a disconnect has emerged between the training offered and the goals of the organization. This can cause leaders to question the value of training because it is not perceived to be moving the organization toward its mission-critical goals. All of the organizations in the nonproﬁt training study are working to align their training with their Chief Learning Ofﬁcer • October 2008 • www.clomedia.com 31 http://www.clomedia.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Chief Learning Officer - October 2008

Chief Learning Officer - October 2008 Editor’s Letter Connections Business Impact Best Practices Effectiveness Guest Editorial How Fast Is Your ‘B’ Team? Hampton Hotels CLO Profile Save the World, Make a Buck: Seven Ideas From the Nonprofit Sector Developing Leaders at Amnesty International Learning Measurements: It’s Time to Align Aligning Measurement to Business Success Training Employees With Special Needs How to Reach Disabled Learners Hands Off: Facilitating Informal Learning Who Owns Informal Learning? Case Study Business Intelligence Advertisers’ Index Editorial Resources In Conclusion

Chief Learning Officer - October 2008

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