WORK WITH US - LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Nonprofit Leadership Development Training and Retreat Facilitation
We offer Retreat Facilitation as well as courses and trainings on Project Management, Delegation, Communication and Emotional Intelligence. Our training and nonprofit retreats strengthen team alignment and effectiveness.
Upcoming Courses and Trainings
Nonprofit Strategic Planning
CSUEB course, September 2 & 9, 2025, 5-8 pm PST (online course, accessible from anywhere in the world), $160.
Designed for key staff members, board members, and other leaders of nonprofit organizations or foundations.
In this 6-hour hands-on, interactive workshop, we’ll build a nonprofit strategic plan together. We will choose an organization and then work through the steps of creating a strategic plan for that organization. Topics will include: parts of a strategic plan, sample timeline and process, data collection, vision, mission, strategic pillars, goals and implementation planning. Register.
Nonprofit Board Development
CSUEB course, October 23, 30, November 6, 13, 5- 8 pm PST (live online course, accessible from anywhere in the world), $315
An overview of the roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards of directors/trustees in: Defining and developing policy, clarifying board/staff roles and the function of committees, recruiting, nominating and orienting new board members, effective meeting management, team building and consensus decision making, and defining the board’s role in strategic planning. Register.
Cal State East Bay Nonprofit Management Information Session - August 21
Are you seeking to deepen your skills in fundraising, board governance, leadership, financial management, strategic planning and more? The CSUEB Nonprofit Management Certificate program includes eleven courses that are live, online, affordably priced, and interactive - taught by a dynamic group of instructors. Learn more at the free information session on August 21 at 5pm PST - Registration coming soon.
Nonprofit Consulting
CSUEB course, will be offered in Summer 2026 (online course, accessible from anywhere in the world), $160
So many people asked us about consulting that we built a course about it! This hands-on workshop explores the process of building a nonprofit consulting practice. In our first meeting, we'll look at your foundation as a consultant: The value you bring, people you might serve, and how you might serve them (service design). Meeting 2 will explore marketing, finances, and networking. We'll use individual exercises, small group work and class reflection to build on and deepen our ideas. Throughout, we'll discuss the challenges of being a consultant and practices that could contribute to your success. Join The Ross Collective e-list to be notified when registration opens.
Feedback from past participants…
“Renee is an incredible professor who is thoughtful, engaging, inclusive and makes learning fun.”
“Dr Ross facilitated in a manner that everyone was highly engaged and as a result of this approach I was able to learn from not only her but the rest of the class participants as well. The material was all relevant. Even though I have served/do serve on numerous Boards I learned so many key things of which I was not aware. I am truly looking forward to other classes where she may be the instructor. What an amazing experience!”
Why is Nonprofit Leadership Training needed? Here’s what we’re hearing from current and prospective clients:
—Mission Success: Leaders need the tools and knowledge to manage more effectively and achieve greater impact.”
—Team Building: We want to strengthen team collaboration and communication, given the complexity of our work and the times we are in.
—Employee Retention: Team members want to develop and enhance their leadership skills, such as self-awareness, fundraising, communications, strategic planning and more. We care about personal and professional growth - which supports recruitment and retention.”
Nonprofit Leadership Trainings We Offer
Trainings share frameworks and tools around strategic planning, board development or team effectiveness, provide time for practice and encourage participants to create next steps.
Trainings are 1-3 hours and include time for Q&A.
Steps to Strategic Planning
Effective strategic plans balance process and product as well as vision and action.
Assess your organization’s readiness to create a strategic plan.
Deepen your understanding of strategic planning generally, and your organization’s specific needs and focus.
Plan for next steps.
Design and Lead Inclusive, Interactive Meetings
Acknowledge, celebrate and plan for diverse working styles and perspectives.
Practice techniques for deepening participant engagement.
Discuss considerations for designing meetings that incorporate diverse participation styles and bring forth the wisdom of the group.
Move from conflict to inspirational meetings.
Our immersive workshops allow learners to assess their own strengths and challenges and build a plan to strengthen their organization.
Workshops can range from two hours to several days.
Engaging Your Board For Better Fundraising
Board Engagement in fundraising depends on ENERGY.
A 3-step process for building board engagement in fundraising.
Reflect on what is and isn't working in engaging the board with fundraising,
Participants choose from a variety of possible next steps that will take board fundraising to a higher level.
Board Recruitment for Equity
Consider: Does your board of directors look like your community or alumni?
Assess board recruitment needs, successes and challenges.
Reflect on your organization’s values and their impact on this process.
Learn about sector best practices and challenges.
Using proven tools, create a plan.
What our clients and participants are saying:
Steven Shattuck, Chief Engagement Officer, Bloomerang:
“Renee is a dynamic, inclusive presenter. In my role, I host multiple webinars monthly. Renee's webinar on Designing & Leading Virtual Meetings stood out for audience engagement and its inspiring content. The 500+ attendees participated by responding frequently and thoughtfully to the prompts in the chat. Renee shared valuable information in a clear and structured manner, giving participants immediately actionable tools to do better work. She raised important and timely points about inclusion that can support all of us to hear more voices in meetings and conversations. I'd highly recommend Renee.”
Pamela Grow, Fundraising Expert & Coach:
“Renee shared an excellent presentation on Strategic Planning with Equity and Justice for a recent MotivateMonday session. She provided a clear framework on strategic planning that was immediately useful to participants and generated excellent feedback. Her presentation style is interactive, warm and engaging. We’d love to have her join us again on MotivateMonday in the future.”
Virginia Taylor, Senior Policy Advocate, Safe and Sound:
“I took two courses with Renee at CSU East Bay: Strategic Planning for Nonprofits and Nonprofit Consulting. I also meet one and one with Renee and she so kindly gave me career advice. Renee really embodies being inclusive, listening and facilitating well. I also like that she brought a guest speaker into each class to give another perspective. I wish I had discovered these courses earlier, and I highly recommend everyone in the nonprofit space check out their courses as they are virtual, convenient (just 2-4 night sessions), cheap, and well taught! Thanks, Renee!”
Past Workshops and Trainings (Selected list)
Renee and Christal M. Cherry joined the Nonprofit Radio Hub podcast to share their work with boards. Listen.
Renee and Christal M. Cherry joined the What the Fundraising podcast for a terrific conversation on our work with boards from resistance to inclusion. Listen and be inspired!
Renee and Christal also were interviewed about their DEIB work with boards on the Nonprofit Jenni podcast.
Talking Shizzle episode hosted by Taylor Shanklin - Renee and Christal M. Cherry discuss Board DEIB work.
Renee’s Nonprofit Technology Conference presentation on Building Inclusive Board Culture was featured on the Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio podcast.
Nonprofit Lowdown episode hosted by Rhea Wong - Renee and Christal M. Cherry discuss doing Board DEIB work right.
Mission: Impact podcast episode on moving nonprofit boards towards equity, with Renee and Christal M. Cherry.
Growing a Board that Cares about Inclusion and Equity with Christal M. Cherry, Network for Good webinar. Watch here
Racial Equity on Nonprofit Boards, Renee and Christal M. Cherry spoke with Julia Campbell on Nonprofit Nation podcast. Listen here.
Renee and Christal M. Cherry spoke on their racial equity work supporting boards and teams on the We Are For Good podcast. Listen here.
Planting the Seeds for Nonprofit Board Equity, Keela webinar. In this session, Renee and Christal M. Cherry and Renee Rubin Ross shared four questions to move your board towards equity. Watch replay here
Building inclusive processes in branding and beyond, Big Duck Smart Communications podcast. Listen here.