Seven key resources for advancing your skills in 2024

Whether you’re aiming to progress your charity career or solve a common stumbling block in your organisation, there is no time like the present for developing your skills. And luckily, there are a range of resources available, ready for you to kickstart your learning today. In this article, we explore seven of the best resources to help you grow your skillset and achieve your ambitions in 2024.

TechSoup courses

Specialising in digital technology skills in the non-profit sector, TechSoup courses cover a lot of ground, with over 200 expert-led courses, training, and events currently available.

There is something for every charity role, with courses from fundraising and social media marketing to cybersecurity and data analytics.

Their courses can also help you master popular tech products, like Adobe, Microsoft 365, and Excel, and can help you keep your skills up-to-date with the latest tech trends such as artificial intelligence (AI).

LinkedIn Learning

Did you know that LinkedIn offers a non-profit discount? Using the LinkedIn Learning platform, you can develop in-demand skills such as communication, organisation, and emotional intelligence, as well as learn more about pressing areas of work from generative AI to sustainability skills.

The platform gives the ability to assign courses to others, so is suited to team use – and when your learning is complete, you can even publish your achievement on your LinkedIn profile, if you choose.

Directory of Social Change

The Directory of Social Change aims to support charities in everything they do. That includes holding training sessions across the diversity of charity operations: fundraising, management and leadership, personal development, finance and law, governance, and marketing and communications.

All courses are delivered by professionals with experience in the third sector, and training sections can be followed with the charity’s other services, such as 1:1 coaching and mentoring.

Charity Job

Charity Job is a specialist job board for the non-profit sector which also offers courses to help you in your professional development. That includes cause-specific teachings from social care to mental health. On completion, some of the courses offer accreditation, giving learners a recognised qualification for performing certain tasks in the workplace.

HubSpot Academy

HubSpot Academy aims to transform the way people and companies grow by offering free online trainings suited for the digital age.

Their website offers free online training for marketing, sales, and customer service professionals. Popular course titles include Email Marketing, Inbound Marketing, YouTube Marketing, Social Media Marketing, and Search Engine Optimisation.

NCVO

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is a membership community for charities, voluntary organisations, and community groups in England, and has a 100-year history.

The organisation offers training for the charity sector. Some of these are uniquely focused towards trustees and volunteer management, while others include fundraising, personal impact, safeguarding, and decision making.

The Open University

The Open University is a higher education provider with the ambition to give anyone, anywhere the power to learn.

The Open University’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership offers a range of useful free courses for charity professionals. Examples range from Collaborative leadership in voluntary organisations to Leadership challenges in turbulent times to Empowering communities.

And a surprise final entry…

Charity Digital also offers a host of skill-building opportunities throughout the year. Our past webinars are all free to view on-demand and cover topics from generating ethical and high-quality AI content to best practices in cyber security. You can also sign up for upcoming free, live webinars here.

Our webinars and events are carefully crafted to help charity professionals stay up-to-date with the necessary skills to make a difference in the sector today.