Merit's Learning Paths

Nonprofit training for capacity building.

Merit presents 28 nonprofit professional development learning tracks (with a total of over 250 individual online courses). These courses are grouped into the six nonprofit capacity areas measured by the organizational assessment, the Impact Capacity Assessment Tool, or "iCAT."

These core capacities are:

  • Leading
  • Learning
  • Resource-Generating
  • Managing
  • Overseeing
  • Planning

Leading Capacity


"Leading" is an organization's capacity to articulate a clear vision for itself and incentivize everyone to achieve that vision. This group of courses builds on one of every effective nonprofit's core capacities: leadership to make change happen.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are three distinct concepts that nonprofit professionals can embrace to build belonging across stakeholder groups and ensure the highest standard of engagement with a variety of stakeholders.
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Mission Focused Leadership
Mission Leadership is an organization's ability to inspire people within the organization to work toward a common vision and mission.
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Community Leadership
Community leadership is an organization's ability to inspire external partners, collaborators, and stakeholders to work toward a common vision and mission.

Learning Capacity


"Learning" is a nonprofit's capacity to collect, process, and use information about its programs, operations, and external environment in order to deliver on its mission. These courses help nonprofits better understand their strengths and weaknesses in order to fulfill their vision.

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Organizational Capacity
Organizational Capacity is an organization’s ability to assess its operational capacity and infrastructure in relation to making progress on its mission.
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Environmental Context
Environmental Context is a nonprofit’s ability to assess its external environment.
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Program Success
Program Success is an organization’s ability to assess the impact of its programs and direct services.
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Performance Assessment
Staff Performance Assessment is an organization’s ability to assess the performance of its staff.
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Advocacy Success
The capacity for advocacy success is an organization’s ability to develop, assess, and improve its policy and advocacy efforts specifically related to moving its mission forward.
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Population Needs
Population Needs is an organization's ability to assess the needs of a target population in relation to its programs, services, or strategies.

Resource Generating Capacity


"Resource generating" is the capacity of an organization to raise the funds and other resources that it needs to operate, as well as its ability to incentivize others to support the organization in doing so. This collection of courses help nonprofits build their organizational strengths around fundraising as well as stakeholder engagement.

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Staff Fundraising
Staff Fundraising is a nonprofit staff's knowledge, motivation, and skills to effectively fundraise.
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Board Fundraising
Board Fundraising is a board's ability to raise the funds an organization needs by identifying and cultivating potential donors as well as contributing financially themselves.
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Partnership
Partnership is an organization's ability to establish effective partnerships and collaborations with others to maximize the use of resources.
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Donor Cultivation
Donor Cultivation is an organization's ability to identify, cultivate, and ask individuals for donations.
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Marketing
Marketing is an organization's ability to effectively market its mission and programs to the community, funders, and donors.
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Grantmaker Relationships
Grantmakers is an organization's ability to raise funds from corporate, foundation, and governmental sources.

Managing Capacity


"Managing" measures an organization’s ability to utilize its human and financial resources in an efficient and effective manner. These courses explore the strengths and challenges at play in nonprofit management and nonprofit leadership.

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Professional Development
Professional development is an organization's ability to effectively provide professional development and to support staff in the process of putting what they learn into practice.
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Staff Deployment
Staff Deployment is a nonprofit’s ability to effectively manage paid staff.
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Community Collaboration
Community Collaboration is an organization’s ability to identify and collaborate with partners in the community to further its mission.
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Staff Recruitment and Retention
Staff Recruitment and Retention is an organization's ability to effectively recruit and retain staff.
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Volunteer Engagement
Volunteer Engagement measures an organization's ability to effectively manage volunteers.
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Facilities
Facilities are an organization’s ability to manage its space and facilities effectively.
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Program Implementation
Program Implementation is an organization's ability to effectively manage the quality of program implementation (direct service and/or advocacy efforts).
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Technology
Technology measures an organization's ability to effectively use technology.

Overseeing Capacity


"Overseeing" measures an organization’s ability to hold itself accountable financially and for the achievement of its impact. These courses look at the role of key stakeholders and offer a capacity building approach to improving nonprofit oversight.

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Implementation Accountability
Implementation Accountability is a board's and staff leaders' ability to effectively implement a strategic plan.
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Impact Accountability
Impact Accountability measures a board's ability to hold an organization accountable for the achievement of outcomes.
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Financial Overseeing
Financial Overseeing measures a board's ability to oversee an organization's finances.

Planning Capacity


"Planning" measures an organization’s ability to effectively make decisions and plan for the future. These courses support the nonprofits ability in delivering results and planning for improvement.

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Decision Making
Decision-making is the ability of an organization's leaders to effectively make decisions.
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Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is the process we use to enable our nonprofits to achieve their missions. It’s also the overarching ability–or capacity–to plan strategically over time.