[eLearning] OWL: Free online courses for nonprofits

Recent data shows just how urgent the shift to online learning is for nonprofits. Canada’s nonprofit/charity sector is more challenged than ever. It employs about 2.7 million people and contributes roughly 8.2% of GDP—about $192 billion annually. Yet many of these organizations are small and stretched thin: more than 55% have no paid staff, and another 21% have fewer than five employees. While demand for nonprofit services is on the rise, only 13% report their capacity has increased at the same pace. 

Meanwhile, traditional supports for nonprofits are shrinking: volunteering rates dropped to 32% in 2023, and total volunteer hours fell to 1.2 billion—nearly 80% less than a decade ago. Giving rates are also declining, with fewer Canadians donating and overall donation amounts slipping after inflation. 

At a time when equity gaps persist in pay and opportunity, online learning offers a practical way to create more inclusive workplaces. Online learning helps make professional development accessible to everyone, supporting career growth and narrowing systemic gaps by offering accessible courses in DEI and HR Compliance. 

All of these challenges—staff shortages, declining volunteering, falling donation participation, increased demand, limited staff, equity gaps—create a landscape where every tool that helps nonprofits build capacity is invaluable. 

That’s why OWL partnered with Imagine Canada to launch Building Equitable HR at Your Nonprofit. This free course—available on both HR Intervals and OWL—is designed for nonprofit leaders who want to strengthen equity in their HR practices. From inclusive hiring to equitable policies, it’s a helpful resource every leader should take advantage of.

Through animation, video, and interactive exercises, you’ll learn how to:

• Select the appropriate equity framework for your organization’s HR strategy
• Evaluate your organization’s HR practices and identify barriers to equity
• Establish meaningful equity goals and measurements of success
• Design inclusive and collaborative policy development procedures
• Develop a roadmap for implementing new equitable HR policies and practices
• Effectively communicate equity-based HR policies to your team and stakeholders

OTHER FREE COURSES AVAILABLE ON OWL:

• Fundraising and Grant Writing
• Volunteer Management
• Leadership Skills
• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Business Tools
• and much more