Overview

Revive. Reinvent. Revamp. After two years of operating in survival mode and adjusting to the new world around us, it is time to consolidate our learnings, redesign our strategy, and not just survive but work to thrive. Borrowing from Nassim Nicholas Taleb – many institutions are fragile to volatility. Like a vase which breaks when it falls. The opposite of fragility is not robust – things that are unaffected by volatility, but anti-fragile – things which gain from volatility.

Resilience Strategies for Nonprofits in India (RSN), initiated in 2020 by CSIP in collaboration with faculty from the Harvard Business School, as a response to needs expressed by NGO leaders, is back for its third edition. The three day course designed for senior leadership in nonprofit organisations will build on the lived experience of sector leaders with specially designed modules on fundraising and compliance, strategic opportunities, and overall well-being of leaders and their teams.

The course is designed to meet real-time needs, and answer the questions organisations are grappling with in post-covid times. Through three sessions each of 4-hour duration, the course will provide participants an opportunity to evaluate their organisations’ fundraising strategy, strategic needs and an enabling environment to reflect on leadership needs.

Key Benefits:

The participants may expect

Interaction with world-class faculty from Harvard Business School and practitioners from India’s social impact space
A diverse cohort of participants representing multiple viewpoints
A rich learning experience with case-studies and resources accessible on CSIP learning platform, beyond the three day sessions
Tools and frameworks to ease implementation post the event
A lifelong connection with the participants and other CSIP alumni to enable cross-learning and partnership

Who is RSN for?

1. Nonprofit organizations in India looking to adapt and thrive in the challenging new landscape
2. Organizations with an operating annual budget upwards of INR 50 L
3. CEOs/ Founders/ Senior Leadership

Note: The content will be delivered only in English on all three days. We will not be able to support translations this time.

How to Apply

Applications are open from July 16, 2022. Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria will be reached out on a rolling-basis.

This year’s cohort will comprise ~ 100 nonprofit leaders. Using internal shortlisting criteria, CSIP will prioritise diversity in order to facilitate deeper connection and learning.

The last date to submit applications is August 7, 2022 subject to availability of seats.

Considering the ‘rolling’ nature of the process, we encourage you to apply sooner than later. Needs-based scholarships are available for qualified candidates. For any technical query or concerns, please contact rsn@ashoka.edu.in

Curriculum

Aimed at providing a deeper learning experience, RSN will include guest speakers, panel discussions, faculty presentations, case studies, small-group breakout sessions, and a dynamic exchange of experiences and ideas on leadership and nonprofit management during and post a crisis.

The sessions will cover topics ranging from fundraising, compliances to organisational strategy, and well-being focussed leadership.

Faculty

RSN is developed and taught by top faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing nonprofit leaders across the globe.

Thomas DeLong

Thomas J. DeLong is the Baker Foundation Professor of Management Practice in the Organizational Behavior unit at Harvard Business School. Since 1997 DeLong has taught over twenty thousand MBAs and executives, both on campus and around the globe, and is internationally recognized for his teaching, writing, and course development. The author of ‘Teaching by Heart’ and ‘Flying Without a Net’, DeLong teaches courses focused on leadership, organizational behavior, managing human capital, and career management. A number of his cases have been taught around the world in universities

and organizations. His most notable cases are: Rob Parson at Morgan Stanley, Erik Peterson at Biometra, C&S Wholesale Grocers and the 1977 Alumni Profiles. He received his PhD from Purdue University and was a visiting scholar at MIT.

Ingrid Srinath

Ingrid Srinath is the Director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University. She has been a passionate advocate for human rights, social justice and civil society for the past 24 years. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata, Ingrid transitioned from her 12-year career in advertising to the nonprofit sector in 1998. She has led organisations like CRY – Child Rights and You, CIVICUS, Childline India and HIVOS India besides serving on NITI Aayog’s Voluntary Sector Sub-Committee, SEBI’s Technical Committee on the Social Stock Exchange and multiple boards.

V. Kasturi Rangan

Prof. V. Kasturi Rangan is Baker Foundation Professor at Harvard Business School. Formerly the chairman of the Marketing Department (1998-2002), he is now the co-chairman of the school’s Social Enterprise Initiative. He has taught in a wide variety of MBA courses, including the core First-Year Marketing course (was its head across multiple sections from 1993-1996), and the second-year electives, Business Marketing and Channels-to-Market. He has also taught marketing in the Advanced Management Program for senior managers. Currently Rangan teaches the elective MBA course, Business at the Base of the Pyramid

(B-BOP) and the General Management Program (GMP) for high potential executives. In addition, he teaches in a number of focused executive education programs: Managing Sales Teams and Distribution Channels, Strategic Perspectives on Nonprofit Management, and Creating Shared Value.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

1. What are the RSN 2022 registration and programme dates and time?

Please submit the completed application form by clicking on the “Apply Now” link below. The selection process will take place on a rolling basis. Applications will open on July 11, 2022 and close on August 7, 2022, subject to availability of seats .

The programme will be offered from 26th to 28th August (Wednesday – Friday). Tentative session timings are 5 PM to 9 PM.

2. Where will RSN take place?

RSN will be offered online, through the video conference application Zoom.

Details of the sessions will be communicated to you once you have been shortlisted for the programme.

3.When will the accepted applicants be notified?

The team will aim to notify applicants on the status of their application within 3 weeks of submission.

4. How much does the programme cost?

The course is being offered at a nominal price of INR 10,000/-.

5. Is financial aid available?

Yes, need-based financial aid is available for individuals and organisations. Please fill the last section of the form to seek support. No separate emails will be entertained for the same.

6. Who is eligible to attend RSN?

This programme is being offered to support the learning and development needs of nonprofit organisation leaders to navigate the effects and after-effects of COVID-19 pandemic. The course is open to:

Leaders and senior management of nonprofit organisations across the sector
Strategic decision-makers within organisations
Organisations seeking to hone their abilities to manage and navigate the fallout of the pandemic

Leaders hailing from marginalised communities and minority groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

7. Is RSN open to applicants outside India?

While the course is being designed keeping the Indian context in mind, it will be delivered in English. If you believe the content would be useful in your particular context, you are welcome to apply. Please connect with us at rsn@ashoka.edu.in if you have any further questions or clarifications.

8. What will participants gain from the RSN experience?

Through a series of mindfully designed and curated 4-hour sessions spread across three days, along with pre and post session handout material, participants will get the opportunity to assess, reflect, and formulate a plan of action to address their organisation’s unique situation and challenges as they continue to work.

9. Is it mandatory to attend the entire programme?

Yes. The three modules are interconnected. Furthermore, only participants who attend all three days are eligible to receive a certificate and join the larger alumni body.

We look forward to hosting you online, listening to your experiences and sharing a space for learning and reflection together.

Have more questions? Contact us at rsn@ashoka.edu.in

Watch & Learn

CSIP Director Ingrid Srinath leads a webinar discussion on “The Impact of COVID-19 on India’s Nonprofit Organisations.”