Free training courses - Back to school for Non-Profits

Alberta's Non-Profit Learning Centre is running more than 25 free webinars between now and the end of the year, covering topics such as board roles, financial responsibilities, budgeting, risk management and grant writing.

⚠️ IMPORTANT Session dates, times, and availability can change, and seats are first-come, first-served. Confirm details on the official Eventbrite listing before planning around a session.

What is the Non-Profit Learning Centre?
Who can attend and what does it cost?
What is the Board Development Program?
Which webinars are running before the end of 2026?
Which sessions should our board start with?
How do I register?
What if I miss a session?

What is the Non-Profit Learning Centre?

The Non-Profit Learning Centre is a training hub run by the Government of Alberta through its Community Development Unit. It brings governance training for non-profit boards, staff and volunteers together in one place instead of scattering it across programs and websites.

The Centre offers three types of resources:

• Live webinars delivered online and led by a facilitator
• Self-paced online courses with recorded webinars and animated videos
• Documents and guides on non-profit governance

Live webinars are the focus of the fall schedule. They run in real time, usually with time set aside for questions and discussion with other participants.

Who can attend and what does it cost?

Sessions are open to board members, volunteers and staff from any non-profit, as well as individuals who simply want to understand how non-profit governance works. You do not need to hold a board position to register.

The webinars are free. There is no membership requirement, no organizational application and no charge for a seat.

What is the Board Development Program?

The Board Development Program (BDP) is the Centre's core governance curriculum. Rather than one long course, it is delivered as a series of standalone webinars, each covering a different part of a board's job.

Topics across the full program include the non-profit legal landscape*, roles and responsibilities, legal and financial responsibilities, organizational purpose and planning, risk management, committees and effective meetings, team building, and board relationships.

Sessions are typically 90 minutes and are usually offered twice, once on a Tuesday evening and once on a Wednesday afternoon, so board members with daytime jobs can still attend.

Alongside the BDP, the Centre runs sessions on specialized roles such as board chair, treasurer and secretary, plus practical topics including strategic planning, grant writing, budgeting and building consensus.

*Sessions covering legal obligations and incorporation reference Alberta legislation, so organizations based in other provinces should treat those specific sessions as general background rather than guidance that applies to them directly.

Which webinars are running before the end of 2026?

September 2026

• Board Roles and Responsibilities (BDP) Tue, Sep 8 at 7:00 pm
• Board Roles and Responsibilities (BDP) Wed, Sep 9 at 1:30 pm
• Basic Facilitation Skills, Session 1 of 4 Mon, Sep 14 at 9:30 am
• Basic Facilitation Skills, Session 2 of 4 Tue, Sep 15 at 9:30 am
• Basic Facilitation Skills, Session 3 of 4 Wed, Sep 16 at 9:30 am
• Basic Facilitation Skills, Session 4 of 4 Thu, Sep 17 at 9:30 am
• Demandes de subventions 101 (French) Thu, Sep 17 at 10:00 am
• Understanding Your Legal Landscape (BDP) Tue, Sep 22 at 7:00 pm
• Understanding Your Legal Landscape (BDP) Wed, Sep 23 at 1:30 pm
• Organizational Policy: It's Not Just for the Behemoths Tue, Sep 29 at 10:00 am

October 2026

• Financial Responsibilities (BDP) Tue, Oct 6 at 7:00 pm
• Financial Responsibilities (BDP) Wed, Oct 7 at 1:30 pm
• The Role of the Board Treasurer Tue, Oct 13 at 7:00 pm
• The Role of the Board Treasurer Wed, Oct 14 at 1:30 pm
• Risk Management (BDP) Tue, Oct 20 at 7:00 pm
• Risk Management (BDP) Wed, Oct 21 at 1:30 pm
• Budgeting for Non-Profit Organizations, Module 1 Tue, Oct 27 at 7:00 pm
• Budgeting for Non-Profit Organizations, Module 1 Wed, Oct 28 at 1:30 pm

November 2026

• Strategic Thinking, then Strategic Planning Tue, Nov 3 at 7:00 pm
• Strategic Thinking, then Strategic Planning Wed, Nov 4 at 1:30 pm
• Organizational Purpose and Planning (BDP) Tue, Nov 10 at 7:00 pm
• Succession Planning in Non-Profit Organizations Tue, Nov 17 at 7:00 pm
• Succession Planning in Non-Profit Organizations Wed, Nov 18 at 1:30 pm

December 2026

• Grant Writing 101 Tue, Dec 1 at 7:00 pm
• Grant Writing 101 Wed, Dec 2 at 1:30 pm
• Building Consensus Tue, Dec 8 at 7:00 pm
• Building Consensus Wed, Dec 9 at 1:30 pm

New sessions are added throughout the year, so the Eventbrite listing is the most current source.

Which sessions should our board start with?

Where you start depends on what your board is dealing with right now.

New or largely refreshed board Begin with Board Roles and Responsibilities, then Understanding Your Legal Landscape. Together they establish what the board is accountable for and what the organization's legal obligations are.

Directors uncertain about the financial side Financial Responsibilities and The Role of the Board Treasurer cover the reporting a board should expect and the questions directors should be asking. Budgeting for Non-Profit Organizations builds on both.

Board planning for the year ahead Strategic Thinking, then Strategic Planning and Organizational Purpose and Planning are the relevant sessions, followed by Succession Planning if turnover is a concern.

Organization facing a funding gap Grant Writing 101 covers what funders look for, common pitfalls and how to maintain funder relationships.

EXAMPLE A small community association elects three new directors in September, none of whom have served on a board before.

September All three attend Board Roles and Responsibilities and Understanding Your Legal Landscape

October The incoming treasurer attends Financial Responsibilities and The Role of the Board Treasurer

November The full board attends Strategic Thinking, then Strategic Planning ahead of the annual planning session

Total Cost $0

How do I register?

Registration runs through Eventbrite, not through the Alberta.ca website.

Step 1 Create a free Eventbrite account, or sign in to an existing one.

Step 2 Go to the Alberta Community Development Unit Eventbrite page and register for the sessions you want. Register separately for each session, including each part of a multi-part series.

Step 3 Watch for the attendance link. It is available through your Eventbrite account and is also emailed shortly before the session starts.

Seats are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If a session is full, Eventbrite offers a waitlist, and you will be notified if a spot opens.

What if I miss a session?

Many webinars are recorded. Recordings are posted to the online courses section of the Non-Profit Learning Centre, alongside self-paced interactive courses and short animated videos covering board development, financial management, risk management, grant writing, conflict of interest, succession planning and strategic planning. Selected content is also available in French.

These resources are free and available on demand, which makes them a practical option for onboarding new board members partway through the year.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this article, need help with non-profit governance, budgeting or year-end reporting, or just want to know more about the services we offer, please contact one of our Non-Profit Experts or complete the contact form below.