Conversation with the WNC Nonprofit Pathways

It was Manteo to Murphy (well Nags Head to Ashville really ) this morning whe I had a very informative phone conversation with Kim McGuire, Executive Director of the Western NC Partners for Nonprofit Success. This group sponsors Duke training in the western part of the state. They also offer scholarships for the classes, as I hope we will be able to do.
The program has evolved in the 6 semesters it has been operating. They have developed their own set of instructors and courses with an emphasis on practical information with clear direction on how to apply it. They offer 2 or 3 courses focused on nonprofit fundamentals and fill their remaing slots with topics requested directly or through the Duke class evaluation forms. Since they serve the entire western part of the state they offer courses in several locations. Ms. McGuire explained that there was a lot of interest initially but the enthusiasm has dropped off a little as the initial surge of needs were met. They budget for 100 scholarships per semester but they are not all used.
The biggest take away for me was the process they use to develop their courses. They identify individuals with specific expertise and ask them to create a course outline. Kim then reviews the outline with the instructor to ensure the information is relevant and presented in a style that allows the students to use the new skills quickly and easily. They try to spread the work load around and include many different instructors, but they ask the same instructor to deliver the course again when needed but not more frequently than every 2 to 3 years. Sounds like a great model and one we can strive to develop. Perhaps we can use some of their course outlines to help structure our courses. They certainly seem to have a great model.
Thanks Kim McGuire, for helping us grow here at the other end of the state.
Bob