Introduction to Project Management in Nonprofit Organizations
This engaging, interactive course equips nonprofit professionals with practical tools to plan and manage projects effectively. The course uses group discussions, hands-on exercises, and short lectures. Participants will work with a shared case study project across both sessions.
Learning Objectives
At the completion of the course, participants will be able to:
● Define a clear project scope
● Build and refine a project schedule
● Track project progress
● Manage project assumptions and issues
● Measure and report project status
● Close a project and capture lessons learned
Event Details:
Dates: June 3rd and June 17th, 2026, 9AM-4PM CT
Location: Streeterville, Exact location to be provided upon registration.
Requirements: Each participant should bring a laptop computer that can be connected to Wi-Fi. Participants will use project management software during the course. A free trial version will be available.
Notice: While this is a free event, by registering you are agreeing to commit to attending both workshop sessions. There are limited seats available.
Two-Day Course Agenda
Agenda: Day One
Course Introduction
Introductions and housekeeping
Team exercise: Typical project challenges
What quality project management can accomplish in nonprofit settings Overview of course content and learning approach
Project Management Overview
What is a project? What is not a project?
The three constraints on every project
The project life cycle
Team exercise: Typical project management activities The project manager’s role (and what the role should not include)
Initiate a Project
Overview: The project charter
Project goals
Team exercise: Critique and edit measurable project success criteria Project deliverables
Team exercise: Question and critique deliverable definitions Accountability and responsibility
Team exercise: Develop an ARCI chart
Plan a Project
Overview: The project schedule
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Team exercise: Create a WBS
Project estimation fundamentals
Team exercise: Assign resources and estimate duration and effort Network diagrams
Team exercise: Create a network diagram
Relationships between activities
Team exercise: Define activity relationships
Project management software fundamentals
Team exercise and homework: Build a first-cut project schedule
Agenda: Day Two
Refine a Plan
Review of the case study project schedule
Team discussion: Identify issues with the first-cut project schedule Critical path and slack
Team exercise: Refine the project schedule
Execute and Control a Project
Overview of daily and weekly project management tasks Collecting status information
Team exercise: Ask for status updates
Recording progress
Tracking issues
Team exercise: Record an issue
Preventing and managing scope creep
Team exercise: Respond to a project change request Status reporting fundamentals
Team exercise: Gauge and report project status
Close a Project
Overview: Purpose of the close phase
Obtaining project approval
Executing project transition
Knowledge management and documentation
Learning from experience
Team exercise: Construct a project review agenda
Course Conclusion
Review of project phases
What about Agile?
Options for further learning and support
Final questions and discussion