Target Audience
This 3-hour online programme is designed for staff, managers, coordinators, project leads and volunteers working in community, voluntary and nonprofit organisations who are responsible for planning, delivering or overseeing projects.
It is particularly suitable for those who are new to project management or who have gained project management experience informally and would benefit from a practical, structured approach.
No previous formal project management training is required.
Outline
Community organisations regularly deliver projects involving multiple stakeholders, limited resources, funding requirements and competing priorities.
Effective project management helps ensure that these projects remain focused, achievable and aligned with organisational and community needs.
This practical programme introduces participants to the fundamentals of project management in a way that is relevant and accessible to community and nonprofit organisations.
Participants will explore the key stages of a project, from defining the initial need and establishing objectives through to planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
The programme will cover:
- Understanding what constitutes a project and the project lifecycle.
- Moving from an identified need or idea to clear project objectives and outcomes.
- Defining project scope and avoiding scope creep.
- Identifying key stakeholders and planning effective engagement.
- Breaking a project into manageable activities, milestones and deliverables.
- Clarifying roles, responsibilities and accountability within the project team.
- Developing realistic project timelines and allocating resources.
- Identifying and managing project risks.
- Monitoring progress and responding when projects move off track.
- Managing communication, reporting and documentation.
- Evaluating project outcomes and capturing learning for future projects.
Methodology
Delivered virtually via Zoom.
This is a practical and interactive workshop combining short presentations with facilitated discussion, practical exercises and examples relevant to community and nonprofit organisations.
Participants will have opportunities to apply the project management principles and tools introduced during the session to real-life project scenarios. The emphasis will be on straightforward, adaptable approaches that can be used in organisations of different sizes and with varying levels of resources.
Participants will also receive practical tools and templates that can be adapted for use in planning, managing and reviewing their own projects.
Instructor
Rita Kearney
With over 30 years’ experience across Ireland’s nonprofit, voluntary, and international development sectors, I specialise in training, consultancy, and mentoring in the areas most critical to sustainable impact - governance, strategic planning, risk management, board development, HR compliance, and funding strategy.
I bring both deep sectoral knowledge and a highly practical, values-driven approach to capacity-building. My training and consultancy engagements are grounded in sensitivity to organisational realities, respect for voluntary governance, and a commitment to meaningful, achievable improvement. I work with boards, CEOs, senior teams, and community leaders to embed strong governance, align with the Charities’ Governance Code, and unlock strategic direction.
Outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants will:
- Understand the key principles and stages of effective project management.
- Be able to translate a project idea or community need into clear objectives, outcomes and deliverables.
- Understand how to define project scope, responsibilities and priorities.
- Be able to develop a practical project plan incorporating activities, timelines, milestones and resources.
- Understand how to identify stakeholders and plan appropriate engagement and communication.
- Be able to identify key project risks and develop proportionate responses.
- Understand how to monitor project progress and take corrective action where necessary.
- Have practical tools and templates that can be adapted for use within their own organisation.
- Feel more confident in planning and managing projects from initiation through to completion and evaluation.
Carmichael’s Spring Summer 2027 Scheduled Training Programme is kindly sponsored by BoardEffect.
BoardEffect is part of Diligent, the leader in modern governance. BoardEffect delivers an agile board management solution optimised for governance leaders of nonprofits, higher education institutions, community healthcare organisations, and credit unions with the right tools, analytics, and insights to drive more efficient, transparent, and secure governance.
Fees
| €80 | Nonprofit Organisation |
| €70 | Carmichael Resident Organisation |
| €90 | Statutory Organisation |
| €90 | Corporate Organisation |