The ED Academy is a 12-month hybrid training, coaching, and mentorship program comprised of: 

  • An online classroom with on-demand videos and over 100 tools, templates, and resources to support executives
    These include examples from other organizations (i.e., policy manuals) and custom resources developed by SRL Solutions (i.e., budget template, audit checklist)

  • Monthly live coaching, training, and mentoring sessions

  • Weekly Virtual Office Hours with Sara Roach Lewis of SRL Solutions

  • Access to a community portal where participants can interact with each other in between sessions

  • Designed with the busy ED in mind, most training videos are less than 10 minutes long

  • The accompanying resources are designed so EDs can use them as organizational templates

Because the role of the ED is that of a generalist, the ED Academy is a mile wide and an inch deep. It is an introduction to all aspects of the role of an Executive Director in small organizations.

The ED Academy consists of three core 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. We discuss time management, setting boundaries, and how to make the most of this training.

It Starts With You topics are:

  • Leadership Development

  • Burnout Prevention

  • Skills Building

2.
The Big Picture

In this section, we focus on deepening your understanding of your organization. Here, we explore the ED role in translating the organization’s vision, mission, and mandate into practical reality. 

Participants learn about governance, roles and responsibilities, strategy, and planning.

The Big Picture topics are:

  • Organizational Vision & Governance

  • Strategy at All Levels

  • Planning

  • Financial Management

  • Revenue Generation

  • Project Management

  • Communications

3.
Operations

This section is designed to be deeply practical and full of tools, templates, and resources that EDs can use in their own organizations. Often, people worry about what they don’t know. The Operations Section gives context to the various aspects of running a small not-for-profit organization.

Operations topics include:

  • Human Resources

  • Organizational Administration Intro

  • Financial Management

  • Revenue Generation

  • Project Management

  • Communications

“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

“Having our Executive Director join the ED Academy is the best thing that has happened to our organization since we were formed."

Board Member

“I love having the opportunity to meet and learn with other Executive Directors."

ED Academy Participant