Overview

‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ (Faster, Higher, Stronger) the age old Olympics motto may be even truer for the nonprofit sector than for athletes as organizations learn to pivot faster, are required to aim for higher goals and become stronger to face the ever changing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic

Resilience Strategies for Nonprofits in India (RSN), initiated last year by CSIP in collaboration with faculty from the Harvard Business School and Dasra, as a response to needs expressed by NGO leaders, is back as RSN 2.0 this year. The three day course designed for senior leadership in nonprofit organizations will build on the lived experience of sector leaders with specially designed modules on strategic fundraising, technological readiness and overall well being of leaders and teams.

The course is designed to meet the real-time needs and answer the questions organizations are grappling with in these challenging times. Through three sessions each of 3-hour duration, the course will provide participants an opportunity to evaluate their organization’s fundraising strategy, technological needs and an enabling environment to reflect on leadership needs.

Key Benefits:

The participants will be able to

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 Should Participate?

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

Application is live now!

Applications are open from Aug 5, 2021. Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria will be reached out on a rolling-basis.

This year’s cohort will comprise 90 – 100 nonprofit leaders. Using an internal shortlisting criteria, CSIP will prioritise diversity in order to facilitate deeper connection and learning.

The last date to submit applications is Aug 25, 2021, 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

The sessions will range from ‘Building Your Fundraising Roadmap’ to ‘Tech and Decision Making’ to ‘Well-being focused leadership’ and more. The tentative session plan for the three days is as follows

Day	Sessions
Day 1	Fundraising strategy, emerging forms of philanthropy, innovative practices and more
Day 2	Building a Technology plan by need identification, articulation and adoption roadmap
Day 3	Tools and frameworks for authentic leadership and well-being during a crisis

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 a Baker Foundation Professor of Management Practice and the former Philip J. Stomberg Professor of Management Practice in the Organizational Behavior Department at the Harvard Business School. He is an expert in leader development, organizational and career transformation. His most recent book, “Flying Without a Net”, was recognized by the editors of Amazon Publishing as one of the top ten books written on leadership this century. 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.

Vikram Gandhi

Vikram S. Gandhi is a Senior Lecturer in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit, Harvard Business School. He has developed and teaches a new course, Investing – Risk, Return, and Impact, in the Elective Curriculum of the MBA Program. He also teaches Leadership & Corporate Accountability, and has taught the Entrepreneurial Manager, and FIELD Global Immersion in the Required Curriculum of the MBA Program. Along with MBA courses, he has taught in various Executive Education Programs.

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 19 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.

Donald Lobo

Donald Lobo serves as Executive Director of the Chintu Gudiya Foundation, a private family foundation
based in San Francisco, CA, that funds US-based NGOs and organisations developing open source
software for the public good. Their current focus is working with NGOs in India. Donald is also the Co-
Founder and Lead Developer of CiviCRM, an organisation founded with the goal of giving the sector a
free, liberal, and open alternative to their software needs. Moving from Mumbai to the US in the early
1990s to pursue a postgraduate degree in computer science,

Donald Lobo subsequently joined Yahoo’s
founding team as the “Technical Yahoo.” Lobo began thinking about investing his time & resources in
causes close to his heart early in his life and started his philanthropic journey 15 years ago when he
founded the Chintu Gudiya Foundation. Understanding pressing and neglected issues on the ground and
taking big bets on organisations with the most effective solutions are integral parts of Donald’s
philanthropy.

What are the RSN 2021 registration and programme dates and time?

Please submit the completed application form by clicking on Apply Now. The selection process will take place on a rolling basis. Applications are open from now until Aug 25, 2021, subject to availability of seats .

The programme will be offered from 31 August to 2 September (Tuesday – Thursday). Tentative session timings are 5 PM to 8 PM.

Where will RSN take place?

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

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

When will accepted applicants be notified?

The team will aim to notify applicants on the status of their application within 2 weeks of submission.

How much does the programme cost?

The course is being offered at a nominal price of INR 5000/-. The total amount will be donated to support COVID-19 response and relief work.

Is financial aid available?

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

Who is eligible to attend RSN?

This programme is being offered to support the learning and development needs of nonprofit organisations through the on-going 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

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.

What will participants gain from the RSN experience?

Through a series of mindfully designed and curated 3-hours 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.

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.

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.

RSN 2020

Overview

The roots of India’s civil society run deep, drawing strength from a reservoir of endurance, perseverance, and sheer belligerence of not giving up in the face of adversity. Its response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been no different. Since March, we have witnessed civil society leaders and organisations galvanised to meet the needs of communities hit hardest by this health, economic, and social crisis. More than ever, their success requires a focussed mission and strategy, a solid operational model, strong governance, and leadership skills.

To meet these capacity building needs, the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP) at Ashoka University, in partnership with Harvard Business School faculty, is offering an interactive workshop on Resilience Strategies for Nonprofits (RSN).

Key Benefits:

RSN is a certificate programme designed to meet the real-time needs and answer the questions organisations are grappling with in these unprecedented times. Through three 2-hour sessions, the cumulative course will provide you with the opportunity to reflect on your organisation’s response to the crisis, assess your resilience needs, and reimagine your future.

Who Should Participate?

—Representatives from Indian nonprofit organisations of any size and scope.

—Senior leadership and management who are strategic decision-makers within their organisations.

—Organisations seeking to hone their approach to the COVID-19 crisis.

Logistics

This is a registration-based, three-part programme being offered via 2-hour sessions (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. IST) on July 27, 28, and 29 for a nominal fee of INR 5000 (inclusive of GST) per organisation; proceeds will be donated to COVID-19 response efforts. Applicants are requested to commit to attending all three sessions, and organisations may send up to two qualified representatives to this programme.

Needs-based scholarships are available for qualified candidates. For details, please contact Pallavi Kaushal at rsn@ashoka.edu.in.

How to Apply

Watch this space for RSN 2021 registrations.

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 a time of crisis. The three sessions will help you assess your response, reflect on your resilience needs, and reimagine a plan of action to address your organisation’s challenges as you return to work.

More details available upon registration.

Faculty

V. Kasturi Rangan

Prof. V. Kasturi Rangan is Malcolm P. McNair Professor of Marketing at Harvard Business School. View his full bio here.

Vikram Gandhi

Prof. Vikram Gandhi is Senior Lecturer of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. View his full bio here.

Neera Nundy

Neera Nundy is a Partner & Founder at Dasra. View her full bio here.

Ingrid Srinath

Ingrid Srinath is Director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP) at Ashoka University. View her full bio here.

Additional speakers include:

Arun Kumar, CEO, Apnalaya
Gayatri Lobo, COO, A.T.E. Chandra Foundation
Sohini Bhattacharya, President & CEO, Breakthrough India
Puja Marwaha, CEO, CRY India
Anshu Gupta, Founder & CEO, Goonj
Archana Chandra, CEO, Jai Vakeel Foundation
Ashif Shaikh, Founder & CEO, Jan Sahas
Bharath Visweswariah, Director, Investments, Omidyar Network India
Kuldeep Dantewadia, Co-Founder & CEO, Reap Benefit
Aakash Seth, Founder & Executive Director, Quest Alliance

Frequently Asked Questions About RSN

What are the RSN 2020 registration and programme dates?

RSN is specifically designed for nonprofit leaders and senior management. CSIP reserves the right to vet your registration based on this criteria. Offered on a first-come, first-served basis, we require you to complete a questionnaire as a part of the registration process. This will allow us to design a course more suited to your needs and requirements. Registration is open from now until July 20, 2020.

RSN’s interactive workshops will be offered 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. IST on July 27, 28, & 29, 2020 (Monday-Wednesday). Sessions will be 2 hours each.

Where will RSN take place?
RSN will be offered online, through the web-based application Zoom. Participants will receive log-in credentials in advance.

When will accepted applicants be notified?
If you meet the eligibility requirements, once you have submitted the completed registration form and paid the course participation fee, you will receive an acceptance notification within the same week.

How much does the programme cost?
The course is being offered at a nominal price of INR 5000/- per organisation. Payment details will be shared with you upon the successful submission of your registration form. Proceeds will be donated to support COVID-19 response and relief work.

Is financial aid available?
Yes, need-based financial aid is available for individuals and organisations. Please contact Pallavi Kaushal for details at rsn@ashoka.edu.in.

Who is eligible to attend RSN?

A one-time programme being offered to support the learning and development needs of nonprofit organisations through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the course is open to:

—Leaders and senior management of small, medium, and large organisations across India’s nonprofit sector.

—Strategic decision-makers within organisations.

—Organisations seeking to hone their abilities to manage and navigate the fallout of the pandemic.

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 find the content useful to your context, you are welcome to apply. Please connect with us at rsn@ashoka.edu.in if you any further questions or clarifications.

What will participants gain from the experience?
Through a series of tightly curated 2-hour sessions, spread across three days, participants will understand how organisations are responding to the crisis and how we can learn from each other’s experiences. Curated by Harvard Business School faculty, through a combination of panel discussions and faculty presentations, participants will reflect, assess and deliberate on your response to the COVID-19 crisis; on what resilience means for your organisation; on reimagining your organisation’s place in the post-COVID world.

Is it mandatory to attend all three RSN sessions?
Yes. The three modules are interconnected. Furthermore, only participants who attend all three days will be eligible to receive a certificate of completion.

We look forward to hosting you online, listening to your experiences and providing you a space for learning and reflection in this time.

Still, have 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.”