Civic Space Park and the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus
Nonprofit Management Institute

Upcoming courses

NMI 142: Communicating with Purpose (February 2025)

Session details

In this course, you will explore what it means to communicate with purpose by exploring the topic of communication in relation to marketing and storytelling. In particular, you will learn the importance of knowing your audience and professional landscape, aligning your communications to your organization's strategic plan, developing SMART goals to support your communication goals, and how to develop strategies  and tactics to help you achieve your goals.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss the similarities and differences between communication, marketing, and storytelling.
  • Explain the importance of knowing your audience and how to appeal to what's important to them.
  • Devise a strategy for analyzing peer organizations to better understand how your organization stands apart.
  • Develop effective messages to support your organization in achieving its communication goals.

This course will consist of article reading, discussion questions, authentic assessments, and self-tests to enhance learning and build upon prior knowledge.

NMI courses are taught using the Canvas learning management system and include a variety of multimedia tools and resources. To ensure you can successfully access the multimedia tools in your courses, we recommend you use a standard PC or Mac desktop or laptop. Mobile devices are not recommended. Courses are best accessed using a high-speed Internet connection and a modern web browser such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Chrome or Safari.

Early Bird special: $119 (ends two weeks before course start date, retail $149). 

Program description

Program dates

to

Delivery method

Online

Time commitment

15 hours (5 days per course)

Cost

$149

In this course, participants examine the topic of communication and its influence on the recipient. Participants review foundational communication concepts and explore additional topics, including verbal vs. nonverbal communication, communication style, self-awareness and listening, to advance their knowledge and ability to engage in purposeful communication.

This course is required for:

Nonprofit Marketing and Strategic Communications Certificate

Optimizing Human Resource Strategies in Nonprofits Certificate


Knowledge Specialist

Julie Coleman
Knowledge Specialist, ASU Lodestar Center

Julie Coleman is Principal of Julie Coleman Consulting, a strategic community engagement consulting firm providing advisory counsel and program execution in partnership with nonprofit organizations, businesses (of all sizes) and individuals/families. She helps clients maximize the impact of their giving and drive sustainable change through partnerships, philanthropic investments, and volunteerism.

With more than 20 years’ experience in philanthropy and a Certificate in Corporate Community Involvement from Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, Julie’s unique perspective allows her to create approaches tailored to each client. Julie’s background includes serving as Director of Public Relations at the American Red Cross, Vice President of the Community Foundation and Director of Community Relations at US Airways, and Executive Director of the Arizona Public Service Foundation, among other roles. Her experience in this profession is a rarity as she worked directly for non-profit organizations as well as private sector corporations cultivating partnerships and purposefully guiding millions of dollars in donations to impactful community programs and projects.

Julie is a Phoenix Business Journal "40 Under 40" awardee, Valley Leadership graduate and volunteers with numerous Valley nonprofit organizations. As a philanthropic leader throughout her career, Julie has served on a number of nonprofit boards, including Hospice of the Valley, Arizona Grantmakers Forum, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, Treasures 4 Teachers, Arizona Humane Society and the Arizona Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism. 

Other sessions for this program

Title Date Course delivery
NMI 142: Communicating with Purpose (August 2025) to Online

More NMI offerings

Program Date Course delivery Qualifies for certificate(s)
NMI 111: Impactful Board Governance (September 2025) to Online Nonprofit Management Certificate, Fundraising and Sustainable Financial Management Certificate
NMI 106: Optimizing Nonprofit Resource Fund Development (September 2025) to Online Nonprofit Management Certificate, Fundraising and Sustainable Financial Management Certificate
NMI 105: High Impact Leadership (September 2025) to Online Nonprofit Management Certificate, Nonprofit Marketing and Strategic Communications Certificate, Nonprofit Operations and Program Impact Certificate
NMI 227: Strategic Planning Boot Camp (October 2025) to Online Fundraising and Sustainable Financial Management Certificate, Nonprofit Operations and Program Impact Certificate
NMI 112: Emerging Marketing & Social Media Strategies (October 2025) to Online Nonprofit Management Certificate, Nonprofit Marketing and Strategic Communications Certificate