Bridges Goals

From the Program Initiative Overview, prepared for the June, 1997, Invitation for Proposals:

1. Extend the reach of, and access to, a full range of educational programs which increase the capacity of educational programs which increase the capacity of more diverse and representative Third Sector leaders. The aim is to help them respond to the changing nonprofit management environment with more effective and efficient programs.

2. Foster more comprehensive nonprofit management education. This will increase the capacity of practitioners, scholars, organizations, and institutions to improve practice and contribute to the growing body of knowledge. 

3. Continue the commitment to growth and reform in higher education. This will be done by supporting stronger relationships between the needs of the community and the contributions of higher education institutions. 

4. Deepen the impact of educational programs on improving nonprofit management practice. This will increase their responsiveness to the field as represented by systematic change in critical areas such as:

• New leadership and management competencies

• Increased diversity in leadership

• Greater policy development capacity

• Improved financial development capacity

• Interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral curricula

• Institutionalization of programs.

Guiding Principles

The Initiative’s Guiding Principles are:

1. Respond to the field and grow out of the needs and desires of those whom the project seeks to serve;

2. Engage program participants in decision making and leadership;

3. Intentionally address issues of diversity and inclusion;

4. Emphasize systemic change objectives, such as institutional policies and organizational structure;

5. Incorporate a range of appropriate academic disciplines into the content of the curriculum;

6. Organize to leverage greater change through marketing, evaluation, and dissemination;

7. Build on past programming investments, lessons, and relationships;

8. Focus on sustainable, comprehensive, integrated, and long-term commitments;

9. Build bridges, partnerships, and collaborative efforts; and

10. Demonstrate strong relationships with continuing education.

Learning Community Meetings: Goals

1. Education for impact.  Educational components of the Learning Community Meetings are intended to provide information, extend knowledge, and present diverse viewpoints to increase the impact the leadership teams have on the success of the grants.
   

2. Leadership development for influence.  Leadership development components of the Learning Community Meetings are intended to increase awareness of the role of leadership in diverse settings and to teach skills and techniques that will increase the ability of leadership teams to influence decision makers and policy makers in the program’s operating environment.
   

3. Networking for inspiration.  Networking components of the Learning Community Meetings are intended to create new relationships and deepen existing relationships among individuals and organizations and to provide opportunities to increase awareness and knowledge of the nonprofit management education field. The relationships fostered and knowledge gained will inspire leadership teams to see their work in a larger context, to both seek and give advice, and to extend their vision of the work of the Initiative.

Learning Community Meetings: Values that Guide Planning

1. Listen and respond to the needs of those whom the meetings seek to serve.

2. Engage participants as leaders.

3. Employ a variety of methods to include different learning and interaction styles.

4. Encourage participants to value diversity of perspectives and viewpoints.

5. Construct activities that promote the development of relationships built on common interests and shared experiences.