Nonprofit Evolution Lab

Starting a nonprofit organization is a celebratory occasion. As you start, grow, and evolve your organization, challenges are to be expected. Your inspiring mission is worth pursuing, even when the journey is complex and non-linear. IntegralOrg is here to help you develop a strategic path forward as you undertake the process of starting and sustaining a nonprofit.

What is the Nonprofit Evolution Lab?

Designed for Alberta nonprofits and delivered through an online learning portal at your own pace, the Nonprofit Evolution Lab offers a comprehensive range of resources for wherever you are on your nonprofit development journey.

The Lab consists of several modules, each about a foundational area of nonprofit management. Each module contains resources like toolkits, checklists, and videos – plus one-on-one coaching sessions with subject matter experts. The Lab identifies various organizational areas to develop, clarifies complex processes, bridges knowledge gaps, and allows you to make strategic progress. This intentional evolution promotes sustainability and avoids setbacks later in the nonprofit lifecycle where missing or incomplete steps can be time consuming and costly. Watch a quick preview of the Lab. (2:45)

Why Use the Nonprofit Evolution Lab?

Because your nonprofit’s mission is vital, you want your organization to be as healthy and sustainable as possible. However, starting and managing a nonprofit is hard work. The Lab offers you an opportunity to learn what you need to know and get help from experts. And because most new nonprofits do not have the financial resources for professional organizational development services, the Lab is an affordable option.

You can learn at your own pace, about areas that are priority for your organization. Developing a nonprofit initiative is a passion driven and service-oriented mission. We are here to walk with you as you strive to make a difference.

Join us in the Nonprofit Evolution Lab, where you can do it yourself, but not alone. Watch a video of an information session about the Lab (34:00).

Who It's for

The Lab is tailored to the Alberta nonprofit landscape. This offering is for those thinking of starting a nonprofit, an initial board of directors of a newly established nonprofit, or anyone interested in learning the foundational pieces of starting a nonprofit organization.

Join us if you are a:

New nonprofit idea (in the idea phase, not formally established)
New nonprofit (in the start-up phase or recently formed)
Early-stage nonprofit (legally established but not yet developed)
Small nonprofit (established but small, needing accessible/affordable support)

What You'll Learn

The Lab combines accessible resources like toolkits, checklists and videos with one-on-one expert coaching in foundational areas of nonprofit management including incorporating a nonprofit, establishing your first board of directors, funding and financing your work, managing volunteers, creating your first strategic plan, managing risk, and developing strong leadership. Each module will help you learn and answer your questions with the goal of building a development plan for your organization. Check below for module descriptions.

How It Works

By offering consolidated information and expert guidance, The Lab Nonprofit Evolution Lab meets you on your terms, to move through your areas of interest, and at your pace. You’ll begin with an initial consultation to help identify which modules are priority for your nonprofit. As you work through the learning materials in the module(s) that you have selected, you will have multiple opportunities for one-on-one coaching from a subject matter expert to ensure that you are making strategic progress. For each module you will create an organizational development plan with next steps to support your development well beyond the Lab - and you can get expert advice about this plan from your coach. We anticipate that this process will take from three to four months per module.

Modules

Choose to work through any or all of these foundational areas of a healthy and sustainable organization.

Initial Planning

In this module, you’ll better understand your organization’s current capacities, reflect on external trends that might impact your organization’s future, develop a coherent strategy and well-defined plan of activities, and learn how to adapt within a changing environment while keeping your strategy front and centre.

Incorporating a Nonprofit

These modules focus on the legal aspects of incorporation and charitable registration. Learn which legislative act aligns best with your initiative, better understand legal compliance and your responsibilities, and develop a plan to undertake this process with the guidance of an expert.

Governance

Understand the roles and responsibilities of individual board directors and the board as a whole. Reflect on what is required to establish your first board and how to overcome challenges of governance as a leadership team. Better understand the interconnected areas of responsibility for boards – fiduciary, strategic, and generative responsibility.

Initial Strategic Plan

This module will help you develop your initial strategic plan. You will learn what a strategic plan is, why it is important and how to develop and modify your plan as your organization grows.

Funding and Financing

This module looks at practical tools and strategies that you can utilize to build capacity and sustainability for your organization. You will also learn the basics of financial responsibilities, controls, and policies every nonprofit should have in place.

Investment

The Nonprofit Evolution Lab is an investment of $150 per module. This includes one year of access for up to three people from your group to the module learning materials and up to three one-on-one coaching sessions per module with subject-matter experts. If financial accessibility remains a barrier, please contact us to chat about options.

Intake Form

If you think this opportunity might be a good fit for you,

Please fill out our intake form.
After you fill out the intake form, we will be in touch to find out more about where you are in your nonprofit journey and whether the Lab is a good fit for you and your group/organization.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Nonprofit Evolution Lab, do not hesitate to reach out to our Education Manager, Sandeep at sandeep@integralorg.ca.

Want to volunteer for the Lab?

We're seeking skilled volunteers with expertise in funding and revenue development, board governance, financial management, strategic planning, and nonprofit law and regulatory compliance to coach new and emerging nonprofit organizations in Alberta. Learn more about volunteering for the Nonprofit Evolution Lab.