See Change Offers Another Year of Nonprofit Support

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Members of the 2013 See Change class at their first meeting.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Classes have begun for the 2013 class of See Change: Pathways to Nonprofit Support. See Change is a six-month program that offers integrated training and certification for middle- and senior-level nonprofit managers and their boards.

“The University of Arkansas and the Walmart Foundation began partnering in 2011 to start this innovative curriculum,” said Margaret Reid, director of the See Change program and professor of political science and public policy in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “This is the first program of its kind in the state, and it has been interesting to watch the progress of the organizations that have been through the course.”

Instructional sessions are held on the first Friday and Saturday of each month from March until August. Participants work on assignments between these meetings to help them take the information learned in the sessions and apply it to their organizations.

Instructors include professionals from iBossWell Inc., Johanson Group, Mitchell Communications Group and the University of Arkansas. The customized instruction and evaluation provided by these trainers is rooted in four focal principles: change management and the learning organization, service leadership and social innovation, accountability and ethics, and diversity and inclusion. Through these areas, the managers tackle specific organizational challenges such as strategic management, board development, individual leadership development, communication with funders and stakeholders, social innovation and marketing, measuring impact, policy advocacy and financial and human resource management. 

After the completion of program participants are honored in a graduation ceremony and are encouraged to join the alumni group Change Makers for continued training opportunities and networking.

A plaque of appreciation given to Reid in 2011 incorporates sentiments from individuals who have gone through the program. Their observations include, “I will be forever changed having gone through the program,” “See Change was exactly what I needed in my career,” “It’s the best of the best for non-profit certificate programs” and “We will see the benefits from this program for years to come.”

Organizations participating in the 2013 See Change program include 7 Hills Center, the ALS Association, Arkansas Crisis Center, the Fayetteville Public Library, Feed Fayetteville, Junior League of Northwest Arkansas, Life Styles Inc., LifeSource International, Mount Sequoyah and Rebuilding Together of Northwest Arkansas. This year’s program will culminate with a graduation ceremony in late August.