This free course introduces nonprofit organizations, NGOs and the wider civil society they belong to. It is for anyone curious about how these organizations work, including students, staff and volunteers of nonprofits, funders and public servants. You do not need any background in the subject.
The course has four units and 13 lessons. Each lesson takes 25 to 45 minutes and follows the same pattern.
At a glance, with the time needed and what you will be able to do
A short explanation, with diagrams and a real example
Part of one reading that is free to access online
A task to try, with model answers you can open to check your thinking
A key takeaway and a button to the next lesson
Each unit ends with a ten-question quiz in Google Forms. You see your score and feedback straight away, you can retake it as often as you like, and no sign-in or email address is needed. The whole core course takes about nine hours, and you can work through it at your own pace.
Unit 1. What these organizations are and why they exist
Unit 2. People and money
Unit 3. Running the organization
Unit 4. Civil society in context
On the core track, you work through the lessons and quizzes. On the optional applied track, you also build a full profile of one real nonprofit or NGO, using a free project template. Each unit page suggests which part of the profile to work on next, and the Project page explains how to choose an organization, interview its leader and write up your findings.
When you write for the project, give credit to every source you use, and quote exactly when you use someone else's words. You are welcome to use AI tools as a language editor or as a tutor on difficult topics. If you do, note which tools you used and for what, so your work stays transparent. Your own judgment and perspective are what make a profile worth reading.