Nonprofits comprise the third-largest workforce in the United States, yet nonprofit bookkeeping differs significantly from business accounting. This course provides essential skills for managing financial processes unique to nonprofit organizations. Participants will explore fund accounting, learn to record transactions with attention to incoming and allocated funds, and gain proficiency in preparing financial statements, including cash flow statements, tailored for nonprofit operations. Registering for this course will automatically enroll you in the three required courses: - Introduction to Nonprofits- Accounting for Nonprofits- Financial Statements. Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ

Throughout history, from the earliest carvings in stone to today’s digital designs, graphic design has been the foundation of effective visual communication. Whether you're designing a logo, building a website, or crafting a magazine layout, the right graphic design can transform your work from ordinary to exceptional. Build the skills to confidently choose the perfect graphic design for any project, creating work that is not only visually stunning but also functionally effective. The Certificate program consists of three courses: Typography Essentials Unit 1 Foundations of Typography The history of typography: from carved stone to digital type Letterform anatomy and key terminology: strokes, serifs, counters, terminals, and more Proportions and ratios in letterform design How to analyze and evaluate typefaces: form, function, and personality Understanding font file formats and their uses (OTF, TTF, WOFF, etc.) Google fonts, Adobe fonts Unit 2 Understanding and Choosing Typefaces Fonts vs. font families definition History of typeface eras and the evolution of classifications Introduction to type classifications: serif, sans-serif, script, display, etc. Choosing a typeface: readability, legibility, appropriateness, tone, and medium Aligning type with message, audience, and context Best practices for font pairing and establishing harmony Sourcing and licensing fonts responsibly for personal and commercial use Unit 3 Typographic Hierarchy and Layout Principles of visual hierarchy: guiding the viewer’s eye The three core levels of typographic hierarchy in practice Creating emphasis through typographic contrast: weight, size, color, case, and style Highlighting and emphasis techniques: bold, italic, all caps, small caps, and color Type alignment and consistency: flush left, centered, justified, and ragged-right Unit 4 Formatting Text and Typesetting Working with grids and layout strategies to organize content Using column grids to structure text across layouts Choosing the right column configuration for print and digital Paragraph structure and rhythm: indentation and separation Precision spacing: kerning, tracking, and leading Managing orphans, widows, and runts Hyphens and Dashes: proper usage of hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes Mastering Layouts and Grids Unit 1 Grids & Columns: The Structural Foundation The importance of planning before placing: where and how to begin a layout What grids are and why they matter in design Understanding grids, columns, margins, gutters, and alignment Single-column layouts Two-column layouts Three-column layouts Traditional grid (Van der Gaaf) Modular grids Hierarchical grids Setting up grids in Adobe software Unit 2 Negative Space: Designing with Breathing Room What negative space is—moving beyond “empty” to an active design tool Guiding attention and hierarchy with negative space Active vs. Passive Negative Space Internal vs. External Negative Space Micro vs. macro whitespace — spacing inside elements vs. around blocks Shortening or offsetting columns to introduce a visual pause. Luxurious negative space — deliberately “oversizing” margins or padding for elegance. Eliminating columns for dramatic whitespace blocks. Negative Space Geometric Shapes: Structuring Layouts for Flow and Breathing Room Negative Space Traps—avoiding awkward gaps and unbalanced spacing Minimalism and restraint—knowing when less is more. Unit 3 Visual Hierarchy & Focal Points Understanding Visual Hierarchy: why some elements grab attention first and others follow. Creating Focal Points—scale, color, contrast, and placement to highlight key content. Layering Information (primary, secondary, tertiary) Typography as hierarchy — headline, subhead, body text Creating Focal Points — scale, color, contrast, placement Directional Cues & Leading Lines Proportional Guides & Composition Rules Unit 4 Bringing It All Together: Advanced Layout Techniques Creating complex multi-column layouts (Column elimination, merging columns) Multi-page spreads and continuity of flow Designing for different screens Common layout mistakes and how to fix them Mastering Color: Theory, Harmony, and Practical Application Unit 1 Understanding Color Theory The science of color: light vs. pigment Additive and subtractive color systems (RGB vs. CMYK) Hue, saturation, and value explained Warm vs. cool colors and their visual effects Emotional and psychological associations with color Unit 2 Color Harmony and Palette Building The color wheel: primary, secondary, and tertiary colors Color harmony rules: complementary, analogous, triadic, split-complementary, tetradic How to build and test a balanced palette Dominant, subdominant, and accent color roles Using neutrals, tints, tones, and shades Creating mood boards and palette studies Tools and resources for palette creation (https://color.adobe.com) Unit 3 Color in Practice Applying color to layout and typography Using color to guide hierarchy and focus Color in branding and identity systems Color for UI/UX design and digital products Working with color in Adobe apps (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) Unit 4 Color for Accessibility and Output Understanding contrast and readability guidelines (WCAG standards) Designing for color blindness and inclusive experiences When Colors Clash: The Flickering Effect Preparing files for accurate color printing Screen calibration and digital color accuracy Common mistakes and how to fix them: using too many colors, poor contrast, etc.

Even if you outsource your payroll needs, you still need to know the rules and regulations. Know how to calculate payroll as well as state and federal payroll tax requirements. In this program we cover payroll concepts, payroll calculations, payroll and tax withholdings, tax filings and payroll journal entries. Learn the payroll cycle from start to finish! Registering for this course will automatically enroll you in the three required courses: - Payroll Concepts- Payroll Calculations & Tax Withholdings- Payroll & Tax Filings Courses are online and asynchronous, meaning students may login to the classroom anytime during the course session, day or night, 24/7. For more information, go to our Online Professional Development Certificates & Courses FAQ

NOTE: New Time: 6-8 pm Food, Reflection, and Renewal: The 13th moons in the traditional Anishinaabe calendar system is March and April, it’s called Iskigamizige-giizis, Sap Boiling Moon. Maple sap begins to run in the maple trees and blesses the gift of maple sap to make maple syrup. In this class, participants will prepare maple-glazed bison meatballs with a blueberry vinaigrette. The maple glaze speaks to the sacred role maple sap plays as both medicine and sustenance. Bison, a powerful and resilient animal, offers grounding strength, while blueberries bring in the soft, nourishing sweetness of spring’s awakening. We’ll sip cedar tea and sage tea, which holds wisdom and purification in many Anishinaabe traditions. Throughout the evening, April will share stories, teachings, and cultural reflections on the Sap Boiling Moon. Participants will leave not only with a meal to nourish them, a recipe and with a renewed gratitude for the cycles of the seasons. April Smith is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. She is also an Indigenous Educator and Facilitator, an Herbalist from Cornell University, a Curriculum Designer, and her work is rooted in Ojibwe cultural education and nutrition, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, and community wellness. With over 16 years of experience designing and facilitating learning experiences for communities and organizations, April brings a unique approach that blends Anishinaabe foodways with modern wellness practices. Her work is grounded in reciprocity, sustainability, and respect for ancestral knowledge. She teaches that food is medicine and that every ingredient has a story, one that connects us all through shared humility and care for Mother Earth. April’s Indigenous Cooking Class Series runs from January 2026 through May 2026, featuring five seasonal classes that celebrate traditional Anishinaabe foods and share how the Anishinaabe people lived by the 13 Moon System. Cooking by the 13 Moons: Indigenous Seasons of Food Series invites participants to rediscover the relationship between food, culture, and the land, an experience that nourishes both body and spirit. If the tour is full, please add your name to the waitlist. We will notify you if a spot opens.

Come out and enjoy exploring the land, and our native plant relatives from a Dakota perspective.This plant walk will be lead by Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ. Please remember to dress comfortably and wear comfortable walking shoes. Although the walk is only an hour long, please remember to bring water. Together we will share, learn, and honor our sacred plant nation. Our walk will be 1-1.5 miles. Meet at Crosby Farm Park located at 2400 Crosby Farm Trail, Saint Paul, MN. NOTE: Subject to weather conditions. If necessary, we will reschedule the walk. If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.