Competency Areas
These 13 competency groupings and the competencies within each represent the areas where we receive frequent requests for support.
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Strategic Planning, Community Planning, Project Management, Change Management
Example Projects: Landscape analysis, Strategic plan & roadmap, Scaling a pilot program
Culture and Leadership
Org/School Culture, Leadership Development, Board Development & Governance
Example Projects: Board effectiveness audit, Leadership training, Climate and culture surveys
Talent
Talent Acquisition, Talent Management
Example Projects: Search, Talent strategy, Compensation study
Communications and Advocacy
Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications, Policy and/or Advocacy
Example Projects: Rebranding strategy, Website development, Advocacy campaign
Revenue Generation
Fundraising, Sustainability, Earned Revenue
Example Projects: Grant writing, Fundraising strategy
Research and Evaluation
Measurement, Learning, & Evaluation, Field-building, Knowledge Management and Codification
Example Projects: Program impact evaluation, Best practices playbook
Operations, Finance and Legal
Operations, Finance, Legal
Example Projects: Budget planning, Strengthening back-office operations, Legal consultations
Technology and Data
Technology Strategy and Development, Data Strategy and Data Systems
Example Projects: KPI dashboards, Data collection and tracking systems, Data-driven decision-making
Equity
Advance Equitable Outcomes, Shifting & Building Power
Example Projects: Participatory design, Narrative change & storytelling, Community engagement and mobilization
Teaching and Learning
Curriculum, Assessments, and Instructional Practice, Career and Technical Education (CTE), Personalized Learning
Example Projects: Curriculum implementation, Scope and sequence, Work-based learning
SEL and Student Support
Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Student and Family Engagement
Example Projects: Plan for family engagement, Trauma-informed practices, Mental health support programs
Diverse Learners
Special Education, English Language Learners
Example Projects: Special education compliance review, ELL program design
Networked Improvement
Continuous Improvement, Network Management & Support
Example Projects: Creating a peer learning network, Streamlining improvement processes
We are grateful to the following providers in our network who have contributed to the articulation of these competency descriptions: Aditi Goel, Danya Pastuszek, Dayna Cobarrubias, Dwight Rhodes, Elana Feinberg, Elise Darwish, Genevieve Thomas, J’Taime Lyons, Jacqueline Skapik, Jenn Barr Weiss, Jihada Garrett, Josh Dormont, Karen Van Ausdal, Kristi Ransick, Kyle Gardner, Marcela Andrés, Mina Kumar, Raj Thakkar, Rasheeda Washington, Shermica Farquhar, and Veronica Brooks-Uy.