Advanced Management for Leaders in Foundations and Non-Profits

Deutsche Stiftungsakademie (DSA) and WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management have collaborated with renowned executives from the non-profit sector to create an Executive Education program specifically for executives of non-profit organizations such as foundations and social enterprises. Our aim is to expand your strategic toolkit and to provide you with new, inspirational content, for example on the subject of digitalization. In a compact one-week format we will give you the time and space you need to reflect on your own strategic approaches and related topics among like-minded people. Expand your professional network and take the opportunity to interact with colleagues from the non-profit sector.

You can expect a theory-driven, practically focused curriculum that deals specifically with issues that are relevant to the future. You will have the opportunity to discuss key topics with renowned faculty, and also to reflect collegially on the issues that matter to you with your peers in a safe environment. The diverse experiences of the participants, as well as the heterogeneity of the organizations represented, provide an enriching learning environment that will enable you to develop new and creative approaches to challenges you are facing.

Method: The basis is an interactive, theory-based, and practice-oriented curriculum. Participants work on various topics in two content blocks per day with the instructors and in working groups, and reflect on these topics in peer consulting sessions.

The compact, five-day face-to-face program has been specially developed for executives from the non-profit sector and will help you expand your strategic competence. The carefully selected topics provide new stimuli for the ongoing development of both your organization and you personally.

During the program you will enhance your knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Management in the non-profit context: outlook on the latest management techniques and insights into new management approaches
• Context: strategic implications of new legal and fiscal/financial frameworks
• Transformation: digitalization of civil society as an opportunity and challenge for non-profit actors
• Innovative business models: social enterprises as an innovative instrument for extensive and sustainable social impact
• Agile methods & ways of working: opportunities for deploying agile methods (e.g. design thinking) in the non-profit context
• Organizational culture: management of change processes in non-profit organizations

Upon completion, you will be awarded a WHU Executive Education and DSA Certificate, a recognized mark of your commitment to growth, leadership, and lifelong learning, issued by one of Europe’s top business schools.

The target group for the program are executives and high potentials from the foundation and non-for-profit sector, DSA and WHU alumni as well as graduates of other programs in foundation management.

Participants should have at least five years’ experience in management, governance or project management at non-profits, or similar qualifications. Admission to the program is decided by a joint admission board of DSA and WHU.

The number of participants is limited to 25 persons.

The in-classroom program will take place at WHU Campus Düsseldorf.

For more information and application please visit the DSA website.