6 Stakeholders That Benefit From An LMS
Having so much information at our fingertips has made us cynical about everything, including activism and charity. On the ground, people see NGOs allegedly raising large sums of money. Overseas participants are fed, housed, and offered standards of living they rarely get at home. It makes locals wonder who the NGO is really for. Learning management systems can make nonprofits far more transparent, which helps their credibility. Who exactly does this software benefit, and how? And is it really worth your investment?
Who Can Make The Most Of Nonprofit Learning Management Systems?
1. Beneficiaries
Every nonprofit is aimed at a specific group of people. Whether it’s unemployed youth, mental health patients, or drought-stricken regions. But seeing all these outsiders—whether or not they’re foreigners—can stoke suspicion. LMS with user portals can bridge the information gap. Local “targets” can find out more about the organization, its visitors, how much money is raised, and what it’s used for. They can also suggest areas of need for the nonprofit to focus on. For example, regions that are particularly hard-hit by a recent natural disaster or have the highest rate of unemployment.
2. Employees
LMS allows staff members to do their jobs. They can write reports, track the local population, keep records, and perform work-related tasks. But they also have access to support tools that improve productivity and keep them in the loop. For instance, bite-sized tutorials on how to file a report on behalf of a beneficiary or how to deal with cultural customs that differ from their own without offending the locals. This training may be in the form of live events, online microlearning libraries, or full-fledged certification courses. You should also consider a nonprofit LMS with built-in authoring so that you can repurpose existing assets.
3. Partners
Those reports and statistics that are generated by employees and beneficiaries are immensely useful to partner organizations. Say the nonprofit is aimed at educating illiterate adults and helping them earn sustainable incomes. They will probably collaborate with potential employers. These (commercial) organizations might offer internships, or even paying jobs. The hiring manager can visit the LMS hiring portal to review potential candidates. They can even use these portals to interview candidates. If the nonprofit deals with water, partners can scout borehole locations or assess logistics to see how they can best deliver to affected regions.
4. Volunteers
The bulk of unpaid participants is students and retirees. High school and college students might get involved to fulfill curriculum requirements or just to be helpful during their school holidays. Retirees might want to give back or start their next phase in a new part of their city or country or abroad. LMS for nonprofit organizations can help them at every stage. They can look through projects to see where their skills are best suited or upload their volunteer profiles to help the organization place them appropriately. If they’re traveling to another town or country as part of their voluntourism, they can arrange travel and accommodation via LMS, as well as learn about the culture, language, social mores, and dialects.
5. Contributors
For donors and sponsors, the LMS benefits are similar. They can explore projects undertaken by the nonprofit. This provides accountability because they see tangible proof of what their money is doing. They might get to decide where their money is invested. Or maybe they want to offer suggestions on new projects that can be undertaken. For well-wishers that are thinking of getting involved, they can review options on how and where to donate. Seeing the array of projects makes them more likely to give. They might see a cause that’s dear to them and end up giving more than they originally planned to. You can also launch a donor certification course so that they can explore the cause in greater depth; then earn a certificate to post on their social media page to spread the word.
6. Researchers
Many nonprofits flounder because people simply aren’t aware of their purpose, or that there’s even a problem, to begin with. Nonprofits are rich data sources for academics, corporates, and even government agencies. Many marginalized communities are wary of authority figures. Well-managed nonprofits get right into the grassroots. They live within these communities and become enmeshed in their lives. A level of trust is developed, so the beneficiaries open up more. The information they provide can be uploaded to the LMS and structured to protect their privacy. Researchers can then harvest that data and use it to create products, initiate services, and help nonprofits achieve their goals, as well as create content that helps further the cause. For example, a paper on the need for conservation in a particular region raises awareness for the charity and its purpose.
Conclusion
A lot of the time, working for a nonprofit is perceived as a “sneaky way to travel overseas.” Or a chance to have an “adventure” in another part of your city, town, or country—somewhere you wouldn’t otherwise have gone. But these organizations do a lot of good. Who really enjoys the advantages, and how? An LMS helps beneficiaries access resources and explain their needs in a more structured way. Employees can work efficiently while partners and contributors can see how to best channel their resources. Volunteers are able to find the right fit and organize their participation more effectively. And researchers can gather data that can be used to push the nonprofit’s agenda and benefit the entire target community.
Get our guide to learn how your nonprofit organization can implement an LMS to benefit the greater good. You can also search our online directory to find a nonprofit LMS that aligns with your budget and includes must-have features.
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