Technology Leadership Academy

NTEN believes that technology is less like science fiction and more like the oversight of accounting: you don't need to be a CPA to manage your organization's finances, but you do need to understand key concepts to make the right decisions for your organization. To that end, for us, the Academy's mission it to build technology leadership so that you and your organization can effectively manage your mission. 

What is the Technology Leadership Academy 

The TLA is an eight week training that focuses on building technology leadership in your organization. Guided by a workbook, facilitators, and thought leaders from the nonprofit technology sector, the TLA is delivered through on-demand and weekly collaborative web conferences, participants will work through core competencies with other members of their cohort. The core competencies we'll focus on are:

  1. Understanding the Role of Technology in Nonprofits
  2. IT Planning and Implementation
  3. The Human Side of Technology: Staffing, Operations, and Change Management
  4. Introduction to Technology Systems, Tools, and Trends
  5. Information Management Systems: What is Data and How Do We Use It
  6. Effective Internet Presence
  7. Social Media Strategy
  8. The ROI of Technology: Evaluation and Assessment 

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Who Should Participate?

Nonprofit staff who want high-quality training content, work well in an e-learning environment, and have a commitment to collaboration and inquiry.  The content is prepared and best for those at the novice-intermediate level of understanding how and why technology should and can play a role in nonprofits.

Participants should plan to spend at least 3 hours a week on the TLA.

If you are planning to apply for the TLA and financial assistance, please note that we require at least two people, an executive level staffer and a technology responsible staffer.

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Why Should My Organization Participate in the TLA?

Besides the learning benefits and increased technology capacity at your organization, your full participation makes you eilgible for some enticing extra benefits if you complete and meet the course requirements and expectations. 

  • Discounted registration for the 2014 Nonprofit Technology Conference, held in Washington DC
  • Discounts towards future NTEN online trainings
  • Increased Organizational Technology Capacity: Priceless!
  • Increased Collaborative Peer Network: Priceless!

Contextually, without the TLA, this type of intensive training plus the cost of attending the NTC without a discount is ballparked below: 

  • 17.5 hours of training @ $75/hour: $1,312
  • 14NTC Registration for 2 people: $1,050

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How much does it cost to participate?

Thanks to the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, NTEN is able to offer the Technology Leadership Academy at no charge to qualifying organizations who are eligible to receive financial assistance. Elgibility requirements are that your organization:

  • Must be a non-profit organization
  • Must verify that both an executive level staffer as well as a technology responsible staffer will participate
  • Has an operating budget of less than $2 million dollars per year

For organizations who do not meet the financial assistance requirements, the TLA features a tiered pricing structure based on the size of your organization:

  • Operating budget $2 million-$5 million: $275
  • Operating budget of more than $5 million : $375

This fee will pay for two members of your staff to take part in the eight week training and allow access to on-demand archives of the sessions. If you would like a larger team or wish to participate in the TLA as a single participant, please contact Lindsay, our program director, to discuss rates. 

Do I have to apply? Are there guidelines?

You must apply for acceptance to the Academy. NTEN has an application process because we want to ensure that participants are committed to the TLA and will participate fully. Additionally, the application helps NTEN do a pre-assessment of your organization's technology needs to help us best place you in a cohort and provide you with a strong peer network. NTEN will carefully evaluate all applicants for appropriate placement at the Academy. To this end, applicants should consider:

  1. The application is to be completed by the Executive Director or someone at the Executive Level of the applying organization. 
  2. Our strong preference is that the organization must be willing and able to have both the Executive Level staffer and the tech-responsible individual attend the weekly webinars. 
  3. Acceptance to the Academy is also contingent upon:
    • Organizational capacity: Desire to turn Academy training into substantive organizational change
    • Organization's clarity of focus: On its specific technology needs and challenges

  4. Application deadline for the upcoming three cohorts:

    • June-July cohort: Must apply by May 24. TLA will run June 3-July 26
    • July-August cohort:  Must apply by June 24. TLA will run July 8-August 30
    • August-September cohort: Must apply by July 24. TLA will run August 5-September 27 
  5. Systems Requirements: A reliable phone & internet connection will be required to participate.

If you have questions, please contact Lindsay at lindsay@nten.org