Changing Organizational Culture

Information and intent spark change, but without training and practice, they stall out. Changing an organization’s culture is like using a tiny tugboat to move a gigantic container ship – it takes carefully applied, consistent, gentle pressure. The courses described below provide training in cultural assessment, organizational change goals, and building a strong organizational culture.

The Organizational Assessment | Nonprofit Association of Washington

This workshop, presented by Jeffrey Wilcox, CFRE, guides participants through a full organizational assessment, including a framework for culture and accountability. With a clear and accurate understanding of the association, a leader can see what needs to be changed and consider how to guide that change.

Nonprofit Innovation Summit: Centering Equity in Fundraising | Nonprofit Association of Washington

This summit explores how nonprofits can embed equity into fundraising practices, reframing development as part of cultural change. Michelle Shireen Muri and a panel of nonprofit leaders discussed how to set goals and guide an organization through systemic cultural change, sharing both strategies and real-world experiences.

Culture and Leadership | ASAE Academy

This three-part course from the American Society of Association Executives is designed for young professionals and provides guidance in building a strong organizational culture. Grounded in ethics, diversity, equity, and inclusion, it offers a foundation for ethical, inclusive leadership early in an association career.

No single training changes culture overnight, but each of these courses provides tools for steady progress. Together, they show that culture shifts when leaders commit to learning, applying, and modeling new approaches.

In our book review next week, we will look at the root of all culture–behavior and relationships.