Resilience Strategies for Nonprofits

Registration has now closed. Thank you for your interest!

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

The registration form is available online.

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.

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.

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.

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Watch & Learn

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