How a Non-Profit Can Benefit From LMS
Many people assume that an LMS platform is for a bigger organization with hundreds of employees. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
When it comes to organizations that can benefit from using an LMS, there’s one industry that you may not expect to hear on the list. Non-profit organizations can benefit heavily from the use of the right LMS platform.
However, before we dive into exactly how these organizations stand to benefit from e-learning, there are a few things you should understand. Let’s examine some important facts surrounding non-profit organizations.
How Do Non-Profits Impact Our Workforce?
Nonprofit companies make up a total of 10% of all individuals hired in the United States. This may seem like a small percentage, but the truth is, nonprofits rank third behind retail manufacturing when it comes to providing employment.
Additionally, these organizations contribute to a whopping 10% of the total economy of our country. If this doesn’t shock you, we’re not sure what will.
One of the largest myths surrounding nonprofit organizations is that these companies operate on a zero-profit basis. However, this line of thinking is pretty absurd when you think about it. How does an organization exist for decades without profit? How are full-time employees surviving? Surely, they’re not all working on a volunteer basis.
The way a nonprofit operates is preferring to maintain a cash-positive status to remain in business for the long run. Emergency funds are set aside in the event of a dip in fundraising or revenue for the organization. These funds also create a source of income for expansion into new states or regions in the future.
Truthfully, nonprofits have a corporate structure similar to any other organization in business in the United States. There is a preset hierarchy with a clear chain of command, and they face the same issues that a medium or large corporation would face.
The potential to face these challenges is where having an efficient LMS comes into play. When an organization faces revenue challenges and is affected by the peaks and valleys of our economy, there must be a reasonable solution to keep pressing forward.
An LMS platform can help a nonprofit in terms of communication, training, onboarding, engagement, opening new stores, and sustaining income. The right program will also keep costs down and help an organization to efficiently operate under nonprofit status.
The following points are ways that an LMS can help a nonprofit operate in a more stable manner.
Administrative Controls
Nonprofits operate coast to coast in nearly every locale, city, and state. There are no bounds to the places a nonprofit can do business. Regardless of these far-branching locations, just like any other corporation or franchise, there is a central control unit for the entire organization.
Making administrative controls available for the entire organization on an LMS platform, individuals can make changes to policies, procedures, and other parts of the company. These changes can be communicated, implemented, and taught throughout the whole organization on a national scale.
This also keeps everything regarding the organization and its changes very uniform. Having this type of control is extremely important for a larger corporation or nonprofit.
Separate communication lines can be available across different levels of power, making the chain of command very strong. This also keeps a flexible communication system that allows management and other higher levels of employees to engage their peers and receive advice.
Onboarding and Training
It may come as a surprise to you that a nonprofit has a CEO and a board just like any other corporation. There are also committee members, staff, and volunteers.
The volunteers have the highest turnover rate, with large groups leaving and newcomers joining the ranks of the nonprofit. While the higher levels of the corporate structure remain for some time, volunteers and lower levels of staff are in constant rotation.
Large groups of hires and volunteers often meet at different locations to engage in mass training and onboarding. Certifications are important, as well as efficient levels of communication.
Having an LMS can improve communication among newcomers and management. This is also a great way to ensure that training is completed in the fastest time possible. Compliance and policy can be met while keeping costs of learning low.
The skills of existing staff can also be improved in regard to handling new hires. They can be taught to help newcomers learn and master their objectives and become more compassionate in their mentoring.
Revenue
There is a continuing myth that nonprofits continue to operate largely from donations. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, donations are only around 15% of a nonprofit’s revenue.
Most of the income rolls in from fees, programs, materials, goods, and other services offered by the organization. An LMS can be helpful in monetizing the programs of a nonprofit. Much of this content can be sold through eCommerce platforms in order to obtain maximum profit.
Nonprofits can also use online platforms to distribute certain courses and material for free in an effort to further engage potential consumers. Utilizing these methods can also help to recruit new employees and volunteers.
Branding
Nonprofits can also utilize an LMS platform to brand their training material and other courses or content. Having everything uniform as far as branding goes makes an organization more recognizable.
Organizations can maintain their identities while reaching out to new volunteers or third parties. This is also a great way to create awareness and brand recognition.
Large corporate entities aren’t the only organizations that can benefit from the use of LMS. Truthfully, nearly any type of company you can think of could make use of an efficient platform.
The key is to understand your goals and needs as a company. Outlining all of these relevant characteristics will help you make better use of an LMS and develop a custom program. Contact us today for your free consultation.