Course Description

This course covers the activities associated with public communication in the nonprofit sector. You will gain an understanding of how to develop an effective communications plan. We will also explore best practices for crafting messages that reach diverse audiences, and look at the many different channels for public communication, like social media, press releases, websites, and print media. You will learn how marketing principles like branding, storytelling, and targeted messaging can be applied in the nonprofit context. This course also explains concepts related to advocacy and lobbying and explains how transparency is maintained through public communication.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the learner should be able to:

• Explain best practice for nonprofit public communications channels including websites, social media platforms, print media, and press releases
• Describe the role of a communications director in the nonprofit environment and explain how different-sized nonprofits delegate communications tasks
• Discuss the types of exclusionary messaging and best practices for adapting messaging to reach diverse audiences
• Explain how nonprofits use branding and storytelling for effective public communication
• Differentiate between lobbying and advocacy and explain the restrictions on lobbying for different types of nonprofits
• Describe the types of information nonprofits are required to disclose to the public and explain how nonprofits maintain transparency and uphold public trust
• Explain how board members make decisions regarding compensation
• Apply key financial indicators to assess a nonprofit's financial health
• Describe policies and procedures to maintain financial transparency and prevent fraud
• Outline key aspects of an effective public communication policy

Notes

Estimated time to complete: 3 hours

This course includes an “Ask the Expert” feature. You can use this feature to submit questions about course content. A subject matter expert will provide guidance or point you to additional resources for the topics you’re studying. Questions are answered as quickly as possible and usually within 24 hours. Learners must achieve an average test score of at least 70% to meet the minimum successful completion requirement and qualify to receive IACET CEUs.