Learning Circles: Self-Assessment Form

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Program Overview

Learning Circles is an intensive capacity building initiative created to meet the urgent and evolving needs of our sector. These dynamic expert-led learning experiences are designed to move nonprofit professionals from challenge to action through hands-on training, coaching, and peer collaboration. This Communications Learning Circle runs from April 2026 to August 2026:

Expert-led in-person and virtual sessions (April-July)
Peer collaboration (April-July)
Individual organizational coaching (May-August)

Developing Your Nonprofit’s Communications Plan

Communications teams are often in reactive mode, responding to organizational needs, external crises, and competing demands as they arise. An effective communications plan can break that loop, providing a strategic foundation that centers your organization's goals, audiences, and values. By the end of the series, participants will have a draft communications plan they can begin applying right away, serving as a working framework for their communications activities.

Whether you're building a communications plan from scratch or refreshing one that's overdue for an update, this cohort series offers the structure, support, and peer connection to help you get it done.

This learning circle will include two half day in person sessions, three 1-hr virtual sessions and one-on-one coaching sessions with communications experts, Ally Dommu and Farra Trompeter, from Big Duck. Participants in this series will:

Set primary goals to guide your plan and select relevant measurable objectives
Identify audience priorities and craft an audience profile based on the motivations of a current or prospective desired audience member
Explore proven and fresh strategies and tactics to elevate your communications
Evaluate processes, roles, and internal tools that are working or may need to shift
Start mapping out a timeline to seamlessly put their plan into action

Series Overview

Session One: Communications Strategy Foundations

April 23rd - In-person at FPWA - 1-4 pm

Kick off the Communications Learning Circle by meeting your cohort and exploring the foundations of an effective communications plan. Through introductions, icebreakers, and hands-on exercises, you'll conduct a S.W.O.T. assessment, set primary goals and objectives, and identify key audiences for your plan.

Session Two: Strategies and Tactics

May 19th - Virtual - 1pm-2pm

Review and prioritize strategies and tactics to improve your communications and effectively reach key audiences. Learn from peers across channels — email, social, events, grassroots outreach, and more — about what's working, where they're hitting roadblocks, and success stories worth trying.

Session Three: Messaging and Storytelling

June 1st - Virtual - 1pm-2pm

Explore how strategic messaging and storytelling drive audience engagement. Develop clearer messaging and narrative approaches that align with your communications plan.

Session Four: Workplan and Timing

June 16th - In-person at FPWA - 1-4 pm

Meet in person again to review the operational aspects of communications. Assess current processes, roles, and tools, to identify what works and where adjustments are needed. Engage in peer discussions and begin creating a timeline for implementation.

Session Five: Communications Plan Peer Feedback

July 8th - Virtual - 1pm-2pm

Present your draft communications plan to small groups for peer feedback, gaining practical insights to refine and finalize your strategy.

Program Requirements

To participate in this program, each organization is required to:

Attend In-person sessions
Commit to completing the entire program from April 2026 through July 2026.
Send two staff members to attend each session (if possible)

Who Should Attend:

This series is designed for nonprofit staff responsible for communications who want to take a more strategic approach to their organization’s communications work.

This may include:

Communications Managers and Directors
Marketing or Digital Communications staff
Development staff responsible for messaging and campaigns
Program or Executive staff overseeing communications
Staff at smaller nonprofits who manage communications among other responsibilities

Cost Per Organization (includes up to 2 staff members)

$30 (Nonprofit New York members)
$50 (Non-members)

Registration includes all 5 sessions for up to 2 staff members

I read and agree to the program requirements above.

Organization Information

Organization Name

Please select your organization's NTEE category/primary activity:

Enter your organization's annual expenses (i.e. operating budget size):

How many full time staff are employed by your organization? (Include only full-time, paid staff. Do not include volunteers, board members, or open positions).

How many part-time staff or volunteers work at your organization?

Organizational Communications Learning Circle: Developing Strategies to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Communications

Contact Information for First Staff Member

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Phone Number

Contact Information for Second Staff Member

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Phone Number

How many people are on your communications team? (Select one)

Which of the following best describes the status of your nonprofit's communications plan (select one)

We don't have a current communications plan.We have a communications plan but it has not been updated recently.We have a current communications plan.

On a scale of 1-5 where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree, to what extent do you agree with each of the following statements:

	1	2	3	4	5
We have an up-to-date set of messages that our team uses to write and speak about our work.
We have identified goals and objectives that guide our communications.
We have identified audiences to prioritize in our communications.
We know which channels to use to reach and engage our priority audiences.
We have effective processes for making decisions regarding messaging and communications

How interested are you in learning about the following topics?

	Very interested	Somewhat interested	Not interested at all
Clarifying or updating our messaging
Setting communications goals and objectives
Identifying and understanding priority audiences
Developing effective communications strategies and tactics to guide our efforts
Putting together a realistic timeline
Creating strong internal systems to support our communications effort

Are there additional topics that you would like to learn about and/or discuss with other nonprofit communicators?

Closing

What do you hope to get out of this program? (check all that apply)

Develop a community with other nonprofit professionalsEnhance my expertise in a select areaExpand my network of nonprofit professionals with similar positionsGain insight on how other nonprofits are managedObtain support and guidance in working through issues specific to my organizationOther

If other, please explain (212 words max)

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you or your organization?

Thank you for completing the Learning Circles Capacity Building Self Assessment form.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to programs@nonprofitnewyork.org with the subject line "Learning Circles".

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