Program Overview
The ED Academy is a 12-month training program that supports new Executive Directors (EDs) with the skills and confidence to lead their organizations and navigate the complexities of non-profit management. Many Executive Directors (EDs) step into their roles without formal training or limited onboarding and are worried about ‘what they don’t know.’
The ED Academy equips EDs with the knowledge, tools, and peer support needed to build confidence, set healthy boundaries, and focus on their highest priorities.
Because the role of the ED is that of a generalist, the ED Academy is “a mile wide and an inch deep”. It is both an introduction to all aspects of the ED’s role in small organizations as well as applied operational learning. Participants will leave the ED Academy with confidence and clarity, equipped with foundational plans that will provide stability, organization, and a clear direction for their organizations.
“I feel more confident in the work that I do, have more structure around what I should be doing, and have been getting inspired to execute the work with more confidence.”
- ED Academy Participant
Learning Environment:
The ED Academy is a facilitated 12-month training, coaching, and mentorship program. It is delivered in a hybrid learning environment and consists of:
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Monthly full-day gatherings (in-person, with some virtual sessions in winter months) where EDs learn, connect, and apply tools together in community.
The full-day sessions are often where the magic happens at the ED Academy. Here, participants build relationships, discuss their roles, receive training on important topics, and engage in small and large group activities, all within a community of non-profit leaders. Guest speakers also contribute insights as needed on subjects relevant to the cohort’s needs, covering areas like budgeting, accounting, communications, fund development, compliance, HR, and cybersecurity.
Each session runs from 10 am to 4 pm, a schedule designed to accommodate those travelling from farther distances or balancing family care responsibilities. Sessions include 15-minute breaks in the morning and afternoon, plus a lunch break. And because we want our EDs to learn on a full stomach, snacks, coffee, tea, and lunch are always provided.
“This [one] session alone is more professional development than we would get in six seminars. It gets us out of the day-to-day and gives me a boost when I’m losing steam.” - EDA Participant
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For flexible, self-paced learning with videos, assessments, and 100+ tools and templates tailored specifically for non-profit management.
The online training is hosted on a learning platform that allows participants to progress at their own pace. It includes short videos, assessments, and over 100 tools, templates, and resources tailored for not-for-profit organizations, such as policy manuals and budget templates.
The self-directed learning modules are accessible from program start, meaning that participants can access specific topics that are most pressing for them. For example, a participant can use an audit checklist to prepare for their first audit instead of following a set training pathway.
<quote> “I also have been LOVING the templates! As a first-time ED, it was such a relief to have a template offered, and often highlighting pieces I didn’t know I might need to consider!”
The online training is hosted on a learning platform that allows participants to progress at their own pace. It includes short videos, assessments, and over 100 tools, templates, and resources tailored for not-for-profit organizations, such as policy manuals and budget templates.
The self-directed learning modules are accessible from program start, meaning that participants can access specific topics that are most pressing for them. For example, a participant can use an audit checklist to prepare for their first audit instead of following a set training pathway.
“I also have been LOVING the templates! As a first-time ED, it was such a relief to have a template offered, and often highlighting pieces I didn’t know I might need to consider!” - EDA Participant
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Monthly opportunity for individualized support or small-group coaching sessions with facilitators.
During monthly Office Hours, participants can join a virtual meeting space to access their facilitator directly, ask questions, discuss challenges, and receive personalized coaching in a supportive, interactive setting.
“The connection within this time together has been transformative!!! How reassuring to know that other folks in varying fields experience some of the same challenges you do!” - ED Academy Participant
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Structured time set aside each month for EDs to work on learning materials or higher-level thinking and planning for their organizations.
These sessions provide a dedicated space for participants to work alongside peers, either collaboratively or independently, reinforcing the importance of prioritizing planning and professional development, which are often overlooked amid the competing demands of an ED role.
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A place for participants and facilitators to connect, ask questions, and share between live sessions.
The Community Hub is a private online platform customized for the ED Academy, offering:
A general peer discussion area to share resources, ask questions, and support one another
A participant directory allowing members to contact one another directly and grow their professional network
Individual cohort spaces for follow-up discussions between the facilitator and participants after live events
A forum for each of the three main sections of the program to discuss and ask questions about the learning content
“Sharing something good was a timely pick me up and a reminder to look at the bigger picture and not sweat the small stuff.” - EDA Participant
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Each participant is supported to create or refine four foundational blueprint documents that are often missing in small non-profits.
The documents we work on together are:
Annual Operating Plan
Annual Budget
Board Calendar
ED Manual
Leaders gain clarity and confidence, while organizations get the systems they need to grow and adapt, long after the current ED moves on.
“I feel like I’m honing in on what to start with in terms of stabilizing my organization.” - EDA Participant
“As a first-time ED, the world can feel pretty isolating… especially as an ED that serves my own community. This group has given me opportunities to connect and realize I wasn’t alone and that many of the processes and steps I was taking were the right (or at least good) ones!”
- ED Academy Participant
Learning Content:
The ED Academy is organized into three comprehensive learning sections.
1. It Starts with You
The first section is designed to help participants think about their leadership through a customized leadership assessment and determine their personal goals. This section teaches EDs how to protect themselves from some of the challenges of being a leader in the not-for-profit sector, including burnout.
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Leadership Development
Your Leadership
Change Management
Positive Intelligence
Burnout Prevention
Introduction to Burnout Prevention
Time Management
Boundaries
Managing the Load
Skills Building
Tips for Building Confidence
Imperfect Action
Do the Work
2. The Big Picture
In this section, we move from an inward focus to deepening participants’ understanding of their organization. Here, we explore the ED’s role in translating the organization’s vision, mission, and mandate into practical reality. Participants also learn about governance, roles and responsibilities, strategy, and planning.
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Organizational Vision & Governance
Intro to Organizational Vision & Governance
Deepening Organizational Understanding
Board/ED Roles & Responsibilities
Governance Models
Strategy at All Levels
Introduction
Not-for-Profit Organizational Life Cycle
Anatomy of a Strategic Plan (including Unlocking the Power of Strategic Planning, The Strategic Planning Process, and How to Implement Your Strategic Plan)
Other Strategies
Planning
Introduction & Planning Cycles
Annual Planning (annual operating plan, annual Board calendar)
Annual Budget
Operational Planning Calendar
Monthly Planning
Bi-weekly Planning
Daily Habits
3. Operations
The first section is designed to help participants think about their leadership through a customized leadership assessment and determine their personal goals. This section teaches EDs how to protect themselves from some of the challenges of being a leader in the not-for-profit sector, including burnout.
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Human Resources
Recruiting & Onboarding
Performance Management
Compensation & Benefits
Training and Development
Workplace Safety and Health Issues
Succession Planning
Organizational Administration
Filing Systems
Compliance & Records Management
Cyber Security
Calendar & Email Management
Financial Management
Financial Controls & Compliance
Expense Claims
Payroll Calculator
Understanding Financial Statements
Audit Checklist
Revenue Generation
Types of Revenue
Proposal Writing
Fundraising Strategies
Donations & Sponsorships
Social Enterprise
Program & Project Management
Project Management Tools
Understanding Contracts
Project and Event Planning
Terms of Reference
Communications
Communication Agreements
Strategy
ED Reporting
Brand Guidelines
Social Media
Our Approach
The ED Academy is guided by intersectional feminist practice and analysis, principles of collaboration, community building, and adult education.
Our approach is trauma-informed.
We believe that when we provide people with a safer and welcoming space, they bring the magic.
We operate on a Challenge by Choice basis.
Participation is always flexible. EDs are encouraged to share and engage in ways that feel comfortable, with multiple entry points for learning and contribution.
Our vision is threefold:
thriving leaders, thriving organizations, and a thriving sector.
By nurturing confident and capable leaders, we build resilient organizations that drive impactful missions, collectively strengthening the non-profit sector to address society's most pressing challenges.
“The ED Academy has been a great help to me as a new leader in the sector. I love the group conversations, the tools and resources, and the opportunity to meet with the facilitator on a regular basis.
I feel really supported."
ED Academy Participant
Who We Are
SRL Solutions is a consulting and training company that empowers non-profit leaders with practical skills, strategies, resources, and tailored support to thrive in a complex sector and create sustainable impact.
The ED Academy was created in response to a pressing need for dedicated leadership support within the not-for-profit sector. Its approach is trauma-informed and grounded in intersectional feminist principles, emphasizing collaboration, community building, and collective impact.
Founder and ED Academy creator Sara Roach Lewis brings over 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, having served on boards and in roles such as Project Coordinator, Project Manager, and Executive Director of small not-for-profit organizations. Since founding SRL Solutions in 2017, she has provided strategic planning, operational support, board and staff training, and executive coaching to more than 75 not-for-profit organizations.
With a strong understanding of the unique challenges and realities facing not-for-profit organizations, SRL Solutions is well-equipped to deliver this high-touch program, supporting thriving leaders, thriving organizations, and a thriving not-for-profit sector.
On Air: How ED Academy changed the leadership game for alumni
Listen below to their stories on CBC Radio.