Training Program - Executive Managment Academy

TRAINING PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Executive Management Academy Program is comprised of several distinct training and technical assistance formats. All are focused on participant needs and interests and are designed to accommodate different learning styles.

All trainings share the following important design elements:

Training topics are selected based on periodic assessments of the grantees’ needs and interests.
Trainings are highly interactive, focusing on practical tools and encouraging a high level of participation and discussion.
Post-training written evaluations provide valuable feedback, used to help the EMA improve training format and content.
Grantee leaders are encouraged to bring a guest from their organization to each training, usually a board or staff member or volunteer with responsibilities related to the training topic. Including a second guest extends the training impact by encouraging post-training discussion, sharing and application of concepts and tools back in the organization.
To encourage grantee participation, candor, and growth, the Executive Management Academy programs are kept distinctly separate from the Whitecap Foundation grantmaking process.

Semi-Annual All-Grantee Trainings

In the spring and fall of every year, all Whitecap Foundation grantees are invited to participate in a half-day training session. One session presents practical management topics and tools; the other focuses leadership theory and development.

Annual EMA Class Series

In most years, the EMA convenes a class of leaders from 10-12 organizations and develops a series of five full-day trainings tailored to the group’s assessed needs and interests. Class members are encouraged to use the trainings as a lab to explore and address organizational challenges and issues, with the support and advice of experts and peers. In addition to the written quantitative evaluation, Class members have a post-training evaluation interview with the EMA Director, in which they provide more detailed comments and describe how they are applying the training back in their organization. Class training topics have included Strategic Planning, Financial Planning and Management, Fundraising and Development, Board Development, Program Management, Human Resources, and Marketing.

Executive Exchanges

For two years after training together, EMA Class members have the opportunity to meet for a series of facilitated discussions on topics of interest. The purpose of the Executive Exchange is to encourage Class members to continue and strengthen the peer learning and support relationships developed during their EMA Class experience.

Technical Assistance

The EMA provides and facilitates technical assistance to grantees in the form of ad hoc conversations and advice, a library of collected articles and reference materials, consultant references, and research assistance. The 2008 EMA program will focus on technical assistance.

213.624.5401 tel ema@Whitecapfdn.org