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

Upcoming courses

NMI 144: Becoming a Champion of Change (June 2025)

Session details

What does it take to be a champion of change and how can we best set up our champion for success?

Becoming a champion of change—achieving buy-in and managing complex change—is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing, competency-building process. It requires the involvement of not only champions but also change management professionals, senior leaders, managers, and employees. It requires teamwork, building coalitions, and partnerships. It requires effective communication. The big difference between companies that successfully implement key initiatives and those that don’t, lies in their ability to effectively manage change.

In this course, you'll explore the topic of organizational change what it takes to be a champion for change, including the characteristics, responsibilities, and drivers of effective champions. 

Learning Objectives:

Understand:

  • What it means to be a change champion.
  • The importance of change in your organization.
  • Why people resist or support change.

Know:

  • How to determine the need for change in your organization.
  • How to support change management efforts within your nonprofit organization.
  • How to recognize why change efforts fail.

Implement:

  • An organizational change using Kotter's 8-step method.

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: $109 (ends two weeks before course start date, retail $139). 

Program description

Program dates

to

Delivery method

Online hybrid (asynchronous with Zoom sessions)

Cost

$139

In this course, participants evaluate the topic of change to advance their capacity to overcome obstacles and effectively champion and implement moments of change within their organization. Study and discuss the underlying motivations for change and the role it has in organizational structure and function. Participants will examine established models and methodologies designed to implement change management strategies within their organization.

This course is required for:

Nonprofit Operations and Program Impact Certificate

Optimizing Human Resource Strategies in Nonprofits Certificate


Knowledge Specialist

Kate Thoene
Knowledge Specialist, Nonprofit Management Institute

Kate Thoene has dedicated her career to the nonprofit sector here in The Valley. Over the past 25 years, she has held various leadership roles where her work has increased capacity and community impact for several nonprofit organizations.

Kate is the Chief Strategy Officer at New Life Center, one of Arizona’s largest domestic violence shelters. Prior to her role at New Life Center, Kate was the Executive Director at Waste Not. She was also the Chief Social Enterprise Officer at UMOM and the Director of Community Kitchen Programs at St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, where she worked for ten years.

Kate teaches Social Entrepreneurship, Innovation and New Business Models at ASU’s Nonprofit Management Institute and she serves on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters and is Board Secretary for AZ Impact For Good.

When she is not working, Kate enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, watching her son play high school football, and fostering animals for the Arizona Humane Society.

Other sessions for this program

Title Date Course delivery
NMI 144: Becoming a Champion of Change (December 2025) to Online hybrid (asynchronous with Zoom sessions)

More NMI offerings

Program Date Course delivery Qualifies for certificate(s)
NMI 108: Analyzing for Program Impact (October 2025) to Online hybrid (asynchronous with Zoom sessions) Nonprofit Management Certificate, Nonprofit Operations and Program Impact Certificate
NMI 102: Maximizing Human Potential in Nonprofits (November 2025) to Online hybrid (asynchronous with Zoom sessions) Nonprofit Management Certificate, Optimizing Human Resource Strategies in Nonprofits Certificate
NMI 104: Engaging and Developing Volunteers (December 2025) to Online hybrid (asynchronous with Zoom sessions) Nonprofit Management Certificate, Optimizing Human Resource Strategies in Nonprofits Certificate
NMI 144: Becoming a Champion of Change (December 2025) to Online hybrid (asynchronous with Zoom sessions) Nonprofit Operations and Program Impact Certificate, Optimizing Human Resource Strategies in Nonprofits Certificate