To create a training program that meets your organization's needs, first you have to know what those needs are. Then, you have to find the resources to address them. Often, the latter proves to be more challenging!

So, how do you squeeze the most member development out of a limited budget? The Northwest Service Academy/Mt. Adams Center is a small, rural and remote environmental program that's become adept at finding resources. Here's their advice:

• Look within your organization–By communicating your training needs to fellow staff members, you can often find the right person from within your own ranks. Aside from keeping expenses down, no one knows your specific training needs better than your own people.
• Partner with another organization to share expenses–Great trainers can be expensive. Consider hosting the training with another program to split costs. This practice works best in metropolitan areas with multiple organizations and for more general topics such as volunteer management, diversity, or leadership.
• Open your training session up to the general public for a fee–Not only can this reduce your costs, it can shake up the dynamic of the training group. The Northwest Service Academy is able to afford the services of the internationally renowned (and expensive) Wilderness Medicine Institute by inviting public participation, which cuts the cost by 50-75 percent. Another plus: your program benefits from increased public exposure and goodwill!
• Let your supporters know what you need–Include specific training needs on your fundraising "wish list." It is often easier for a community member to give time and expertise rather than money to causes they believe in.

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