ECF Academy

Interactive online course designed for nonprofit leaders who are scaling their organisations for greater impact

• Provider: Nonprofit Builder
• Programme Dates: Starting after March, dates coming in January
• Application for 2026: Open 
• This course has limited places. Enrol early to secure your place!

Overview

This immersive training supports leaders and teams to build strategic clarity and translate it into focused, actionable operational plans using the One Page Strategic Plan (OPSP) model. Participants learn how to distil complex strategic thinking into a single-page framework that connects vision, priorities, people, and execution, enabling alignment, clear decision-making, and effective delivery. Designed for organisations facing growth and complexity, the training provides practical tools—including AI-supported strategy tools—to move confidently from strategy to action.

Format and Language

• Online
• This course consists of 4 workshops (each approx. 2-3  hours long) spread over a period of 1 month.
• Language: English

Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Articulate their strategy in a simple, powerful, printable, adaptable, usable, cohesive 1-page format.
• Developed their organization’s core values, mission, vision, target market and area, customer-personas, their brief theory of change (impact, outcome, outputs/activities), unique value propositions, KPIs, SWOT, 5-year goals, 1-year goals, quarterly goals and quarterly action plan.
• Tangible takeaway: a strategic plan on 1 piece of paper for your organization, ready to use.

Apply for One Strategic Plan now

Gain the skills and confidence to lay the foundations for long-term scale, identify the right pathway for your organisation, test your potential in the real world, and build a strategy that ensures you can do it all sustainably.

• Provider: Spring Impact
• Programme Dates: March-April 2026 (Exact dates coming in January)
• Application for 2026: Open
• Building Scale Brochure
• Apply here

Overview

This course helps organisations lay the foundations for long-term scale. Participants gain clarity, identify their ideal scaling pathway, test their potential in the real world, and build a sustainable strategy

Format and language

• A 5-week practical online training
• Cohorts of 20 organisations (2 pax per org).
• Includes 3 live sessions, video case studies and a suite of resources on our online learning platform, Teachable.
• English

Learning areas

• Strategic thinking and structured planning
• Access to guided scaling tools
• Achieve more with existing resources
• Define who delivers and pays for scale
• Finalise the training with Scale Readiness Assessment, High-level Scale Strategy & Action Plan.
• Learn from like-minded leaders through peer networks

Apply for Building Scale Foundations now

• Provider: Nadace Open Society Fund Praha – Advocacy Forum
• Session Date: 21 May 2026
• Registration: Now open.
• This session has limited places. Register early to secure your place!

Overview

This peer-led session gives ECF grantees a space to exchange experiences, gain fresh perspectives, and find inspiration on the advocacy challenges they face. Using the Open Space method, participants set the agenda themselves — bringing topics they want to discuss or best practices they want to share. Unlike traditional conferences with a fixed programme, participants are in control of the content. The session supports peer-to-peer learning and strengthens motivation while building a community of practice among ECF grantees.

Format and language

• Online
• 1 session of 3 hours
• Language: English
• Up to 20 participants

Upon completing this session, participants will have:

• Gained concrete insights and recommendations on advocacy challenges they are currently facing.
• Exchanged best practices with peers from across the ECF community.
• Strengthened connections with like-minded advocates working across Europe.

Register for the Experience Sharing Session here

Advocacy Strategy Training: Crafting & Executing an Advocacy Strategy — From Vision to Systemic Change Interactive online training designed for ECF grantees seeking to build high-impact advocacy strategies

• Provider: Nadace Open Society Fund Praha – Advocacy Forum
• Programme Dates: All sessions are from 09:00-12:30 CET:
  • Thursday 1 October 2026 – Session 1
  • Wednesday 7 October 2026 – Session 2
  • Thursday 15 October 2026 – Session 3
  • Wednesday 21 October – Session 4
• Registration Deadline: 14 September 2026
• This training has limited places. Enroll early to secure your place!

Overview

This immersive training guides ECF grantees step-by-step through the process of building a powerful advocacy strategy and turning it into high-impact action. Participants move from deep problem analysis to setting bold goals and developing model strategies, using proven methodologies tested across national and international contexts. Through collaborative group work, real-world case studies, and open peer exchange, the training equips organisations to become more confident, assertive, and effective in their advocacy campaigns.

Format and language

• Online
• 4 half-day sessions (approx. 3.5 hours each), spread over the course of the programme
• Language: English
• Up to 20 participants

Upon completing this session, participants will have:

• Build a sharper, clearer advocacy strategy tailored to their specific cause.
• Define concrete objectives and identify key political players through power-mapping.
• Apply practical tools including problem tree analysis, goal-setting frameworks, and activity planning.
• Draw on fresh inspiration and insights from a community of like-minded peers.

Enrol for the Advocacy Strategy Training here

Online cybersecurity learning platform available to ECF grantees. 

• Provider: MetaCompliance
• Access: Available upon registration
• Application: Open all year
• Register early to secure your access!

Overview

As part of ECF’s commitment to supporting strong and resilient organisations, ECF grantees can now access the MetaCompliance Security Awareness Platform — a comprehensive cybersecurity learning solution designed to build digital security awareness across your team. The platform gives participants access to an extensive multilingual learning library and phishing simulation exercises to help organisations identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their defenses. Whether you are looking to upskill your team on cyber threats or build a culture of security awareness, this platform provides the tools to do so at your own pace.

Format and language

• Online, self-paced
• Available in multiple languages
• Accessible to up to 100 grantees

What you will get access to

Upon registration, participants will be able to:

• Access a full learning library covering key cybersecurity topics, including new releases.
• Run phishing simulation exercises to test and improve staff awareness.
• Receive automated delivery of security awareness content through the Campaign Module.

Register for the MetaCompliance Platform here

Interactive online course designed for nonprofit leaders who are scaling their organisations for greater impact

• Provider: Nonprofit Builder
• Programme Dates: Starting after March, dates coming in January
• Application for 2026: Open
• This course has limited places. Enrol early to secure your place!
• Apply here

Overview

This course provides leaders of growing nonprofits with the skills and confidence needed to navigate increasing complexity, pressure, and responsibility. Through four modules, it supports leaders to maintain mission integrity while strengthening leadership capacity, people management, and organisational culture, and to develop the agility and emotional intelligence required to lead effectively through growth and change.

Format and language

• Online
• The course consists of 4 workshops (each approx. 2 hours long) spread over a period of 1 month.
• Language: English

Learning areas

• Leading self: emotional intelligence, resilience, and adaptive leadership
• Leading others: people management, trust, and team development
• Leading culture: values-driven leadership and organisational culture
• Leading growth: navigating complexity, change, and scaling with impact

Apply for Scaling for Impact now

A full year of access to over 20 self-directed courses covering fundraising, donor engagement, and organisational development

• Provider: Philantropia
• Programme Dates: January 1 – December 31, 2026
• Application for 2026: Open
• How to apply: Eligible organizations can apply here.
• Visit the Philanthropia website.

Overview

This programme allows grantees access to self paced learning platform with over 20 fundraising courses, live webinars and bootcamps. Courses include the following topics: donor research, proposal writing, donor networking, corporate fundraising, online fundraising, developing budgets that secure grants etc.

Format, duration, language

• Online
• Access available for 12 months
• English

Deliverables

Each course focuses on a fundraising topic with a specific set of deliverables.

Structure

• Access to some 20 self-directed courses covering fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational development.
• Several live webinars and ECF specific live webinars.
• Six specific boot camps per year providing structured learning on specialized topics such as developing donor-specific proposals, crafting effective communication strategies, building institutional partnerships, and advancing sustainability planning. Grantees will also receive access to Philantropia donor database with over 10,000 donor profiles.

Apply for the Philantropia Fundraising Courses now. 

A learning platform to help non-profit HR professionals strengthen their people practices. 

• Provider: Personio Foundation
• Programme Dates: January – December 2026
• Application for 2026: Open
• How to apply: Organisations can apply through the following link

Overview

Self paced learning platform offering structured content, tools, and templates along the employee lifecycle to help organizations build strong, effective people practices. Live and recorded events featuring expert talks, webinars, and panel discussions covering  HR topics, trends, and challenges. Mentorship programme connecting nonprofit HR professionals with experienced mentors from the private sector.

Format, duration, language

• Online
• Access available for 12 months
• English

Learning areas

• Attracting employees
• Retaining talent
• Tracking and fostering performance
• Working conditions
• Thriving in remote environment

Apply for the Employee Life Cycle Management Platform now

A peer mentoring programme to support partners working on clean energy topics

• Provider: The Human Edge
• Programme Dates: 20 May 2026 – 20 January 2027
• Application: Now Open. 

Overview

As the transition accelerates and polarization increases, expert voices must be able to communicate clearly, advocate confidently and speak up in moments that matter. 

However, stepping into this role is not always straightforward. 

This programme will connect you with peers from across the sector for mutual support in communicating with empathy, developing confidence, strengthening your voice and stepping fully into your role as an expert. 

Format, duration, language

• Combination of online sessions and an in-person workshop (see below)
• English

Programme Commitment

• Online Session — Getting ready for being together: 20 May – 10:00 AM–12:30 PM UK time 

• In-person — Mentor training: 2, 3 and 4 June – full days in Ghent, Belgium 

• Online Session — Matching session: 10 June – 10:00 AM–12:00 PM UK time 

• Online Session — Learning, reflection & tools: 01 July 10:00 AM–12:00 PM UK time 

• 7-month mentoring relationship: 1–3 hour call/month from June to November 2026 

• Online Peer Calls: 

• • 16 September – 10:00 AM–12:00 PM UK time 

• • 21 October – 10:00 AM–12:00 PM UK time 

• Online Refresher Session: 02 December – 10:00 AM–12:00 PM UK time
• Online Graduation: 20 January 2027 – 10:00 AM–12:00 PM UK time

Download more information about this opportunity

Apply here