CLI develops customized trainings for individual nonprofits and foundations. These sessions (typically one to three days) focus on a variety of communications skills, pending the needs and interests of the group. For example, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation engaged CLI to create a tailored, in-country training program for its international grantees that work on reproductive health issues in five countries around the globe. And a network of six New York City community foundations worked with the SPIN Project to create and host an annual communications training conference for their grantees.

Our approach to tailored training programs is to first assess the group’s present strengths, challenges and communications opportunities. This assessment is often completed through online surveys, interviews with key stakeholders, review of collateral materials or some combination thereof. Once we have a clear picture of the group’s communications capacity and needs, we work with key leadership to establish training objectives, an agenda and a coordinating curriculum. Tailored training programs often feature a combination of workshops from the robust library of curriculum we’ve developed in our years of training and capacity building for nonprofits and foundations. Training topics include:

* Smart Chart Communications Planning: This interactive session focuses on teaching organizations to use the Smart Chart strategic communications planning tool to build the foundation of a solid communications plan.

* Activation Point: Based on CLI’s newest publication, this training offers participants tips and strategies for bridging the gap between people saying they care about something, and actually doing something about it.

* Audience Targeting and Messaging: Breaking down the Smart Chart, this session hones in on the strategies needed to define a target audience, identify a value to tap and craft messages that will resonate with the targeted audience.

* Internal Communications: This session focuses entirely on strengthening and optimizing internal communications activities to achieve desired external results.

* Collateral Materials: Through this session CLI shares tips for developing strong print pieces and helps participants assess their own materials and determine strategies for revising pieces to make them work more effectively.

* E-Communications: A strong companion to the collateral materials workshop, this session provides participants with tips and strategies for maximizing their online presence.

* Media Training: CLI offers a variety of training options for helping participants build their media interview skills. These often include on-camera work to allow participants to practice what they are learning in real time.

* Visionary Leadership: Communications is an act of leadership. Through this session, we examine the role of effective communications in the work of outstanding leaders, and present ideas on how to practice leadership through thoughtful communications.

* Reaching Out to Policymakers: For many nonprofit organizations, educating policymakers about their issues is the key to moving the issue forward. During this session we offer practical tips on reaching out to policymakers with messages that will resonate and have a better opportunity of garnering their support.

* Outreach to Media: Earned media is a powerful way to drive messages to target audiences. During this session, we cover tips for developing relationships with journalists, discuss how to write for different types of media, and review strategies for determining which types of media are most effective for a given story.

For each of our trainings, CLI tailors the content to the interests and skills of the client. We also work with outside communications experts to create curriculum that specifically meets the needs of each client.

Tailored training programs usually feature some follow-up consulting or coaching to ensure participants are supported in implementing the learning from the training in their day-to-day work. Coaching can be used to provide whatever communications help the training participants may need to solidify their training experience and use the lessons learned to have a greater impact. Counsel is generally provided via telephone and email exchanges and through written feedback on Smart Charts, communications plans or other materials. This technical assistance may include:

• Finishing up the Smart Chart started during the training and turning it into a communications plan;
• Honing messages for a specific program or project;
• Reviewing and revising brochure copy, Web content or other materials; or
• Bringing lessons from the training back to the rest of the organization’s staff.

Tailored training programs can also be supported with toolkits to support participants with additional resources and information. Toolkits can contain general information on strategic communications best practices – such as how to craft an effective press release or pitch a reporter – or issue-specific content – such as message tip sheets, interview talking points, template press releases, etc.

For More Information
Please feel free to contact us if you’d like additional information on our tailored training services. Call Holly Minch at 415/227-4200 x210 or email holly [at] communicationsleadership.org. She’ll be happy provide our work samples such as toolkits or agendas from training conferences for your review.