North Park鈥檚 Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management鈥檚 programming has helped nonprofits thrive for more than 25 years.
By Ellen Almer BA 鈥�94
Small but mighty, 萝莉社鈥檚 Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management this year celebrated 25 years of helping nonprofits grow and thrive.
During that time, Axelson has earned such a stellar reputation that it was one of the first organizations to appear in internet searches for 鈥渘onprofit workshops.鈥�
This is a point of pride for Axelson Director Pier Rogers, who joined Axelson in 2007.
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鈥淲e鈥檝e been doing this longer than a lot of people, and it鈥檚 grown immensely, so our SEO (search engine optimization) is pretty high,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淎nd many people have been pleased with the services they鈥檝e gotten here and talk about us online,鈥� she said, adding 鈥淲e鈥檙e known for reasonable prices that are affordable for smaller organizations.鈥�
When Axelson鈥檚 former senior vice president, Melissa Morriss Olson, established the center in 1999, it was one of only a few academic centers of its kind. The center鈥檚 mission was and remains to enhance the performance and effectiveness of organizations and individuals in the nonprofit sector.
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鈥淧eople often think of the programmatic side of nonprofits but forget about the infrastructure and management needed to deliver those programs,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 our area of focus.鈥�
One of the benefits of running a small ship鈥攂esides Rogers, the only other full-time staffer is Assistant Director Adam Joyce鈥攊s that Axelson can pivot quickly to address emerging needs.
鈥淲e can do custom training for organizations with unique needs,鈥� said Lynn Stevenson, MBA 鈥�16, part-time assistant director of programs. 鈥淪ay their board needs training in fundraising; we can put a team together to address their specific goals.鈥�
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Listening to what organizations want, and what skills are in demand, is a large part of why Axelson thrives.
For instance, after sensing a demand, Rogers and her team recently pivoted to offering companies bespoke training. They learn an organization鈥檚 specific needs and bring in outside speakers and trainers to provide tailored instruction.
Another tweak Axelson鈥檚 staff made after listening to clients was to make the courses more advanced. They recently upped the complexity of courses, taking them from basic to a 鈥�201 level,鈥� Rogers said.
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Axelson is prized for the flexibility of its workshops, hosting an annual series on a specific topic and offering the first session for free. Last spring, the subject was fundraising. Presenters gave a capsule about their session, and participants chose which they鈥檇 like to attend, from one to all.
The center is especially known for its professional development workshops and seminars. Its BootCamp for New Nonprofit CEOs offers participants knowledge from experts in the fields of fundraising, board governance, strategic planning, and human resources management.
Another highlight of each year is the nonprofit conference. The title of this year鈥檚 event, held in October, reflected topics of interest within the nonprofit sector: 鈥淢ore Than Money: Philanthropy, Fundraising, and Justice.鈥� It explored employment, racial justice, and resource generation. Sessions included speakers from Indiana University and the MacArthur Foundation, who discussed how nonprofits can create resources to sustain societal justice.
6,000 Nonprofit Leaders Attended Programming
Each year, the center recognizes nonprofits with its coveted Alford-Axelson Award (AAA) for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence鈥攆or which a committee of civic volunteers selects the winners鈥攁nd the newer Excellent Emerging Organization award, de-signed to acknowledge newer, small- er organizations. Axelson chooses winners whose values match theirs. The 2023 AAA recipient, Girls on the Run Chicago, bolsters the mental and physical health of adolescent girls.
鈥淭heir practices reflect an organizational priority that life-thriving wages are necessary for all its staff,鈥� Rogers said in awarding the prize.
8,500 Annual Conference Attendees
Axelson has an academic side, as well. Rogers teaches undergraduate and graduate nonprofit management courses in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management. This makes sense, Rogers said, at a university whose mission is to produce graduates who pursue lives of significance and service.
Last spring, Rogers, her team, and Axelson alumni took a moment to reflect on and celebrate their accomplishments with a fundraising gala hosted by Provisio Partners, whose chief strategy officer is on Axelson鈥檚 board.
The event had a silent auction and raised $10,000, including donations for the center to fund programs. One of the guest speakers was Mary Santana, an alumna from the 2006 cohort and founder of The Miracle Center, an organization that transforms communities through visual arts. She reported her organization is going strong, largely thanks to Axelson.
Despite the praise, Rogers and her team are always searching for ways to improve their offerings.
鈥淲hat we do is solid, but we鈥檙e always tweaking, in pursuit of continuous improvement,鈥� she said.