Learn how to join, start, and grow an intentional community with FIC courses.
Get ready for a new kind of learning experience by joining an online course with the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Grow your network, gain expert guidance, and step into your full capacity as a communitarian.
On this page:
On-Demand Courses
Ease into your community journey with our foundational courses, designed to fit your schedule.
Live Courses
Learn in an interactive setting with fellow communitarians from around the world.
You can join our 2024 live course wait list here. You’ll be notified when the course(s) you select are open for registration.
Re-Run Courses
Same great content as our live courses! Watch at your own pace for half the price.
Not seeing a course? Check out our Video on Demand library for past workshops.
Testimonials by Community Builders
I have found tremendous value in the courses offered by FIC. The instructors are experts in their fields and really care about you getting where you want to go. I’m more closer than ever to living in an intentional community. Looking forward to signing up for many more sessions to come.
– Margret Davis
These courses are essential for us at this time of loneliness and divisiveness. We need community! FIC and their instructors create a space for deeper connection and learning. I’ve gained new perspectives and grown my network. Thank you FIC.
– Susan Johnson
Finally my community has the support it needs to figure out how to get land and make our project a success. I’m sure many roadblocks have been avoided and time saved through taking FIC courses. I hope more intentional communities consider take advantage of these great programs.
– Jerry Ayad
Have a question?
We’re happy to help! Please read the FAQs below and don’t hesitate reach out if you still need help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do live courses work?
Each live course offered by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC) is a 5-week course taking place fully online. Live courses run on a calendar schedule throughout the year, and you can enroll directly into the course dates that work best with your schedule. We typically recommend devoting 3 hours a week to the course material to get the most from your experience.
After registering for a course, you will receive an order confirmation email. You will be setup in your course learning area 1 week before the course start date. Please keep an eye on your inbox and spam folder for an email from events@ic.org with instructions on how to access your course’s learning area. The learning area will include a course schedule (for complementary events and weekly classes) that you can sync with your personal calendar, a discussion space for students taking the course, and class materials. Each week new learning materials will be uploaded to the space, including videos, handouts and homework assignments. You’ll be able to watch (if you miss a live class) or re-watch previously recorded sessions and stay on track with your weekly assignments. You will also be able to connect with the instructor and other students via a discussion forum.
Each week of the course will feature a 2-hour live session, hosted on Zoom, with the course instructor so you can learn in a dynamic setting and get your questions answered directly.
How do on-demand courses work?
Each on-demand course offered by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC) is accessible online. You can register for the course whenever it fits with your schedule. We typically recommend devoting 2 hours a week to the course material to get the most from your experience.
After registering for a course, you will receive an order confirmation email. You will be setup in your course learning area within 1 business day (Monday-Friday) after registering. Please keep an eye on your inbox and spam folder for an email from events@ic.org with instructions on how to access your course’s learning area. The learning area will include a course calendar (for complementary events and monthly office hours) that you can sync with your personal calendar), a discussion space for students taking the course, videos and other resources, as well as homework assignments.
Each month, there will be an optional, 1-hour open office hour with the instructor (see the course calendar inside the course learning area). You’ll also be able to connect with other students in the discussion space.
Does my timezone matter for live courses?
Each week’s class will include a 2-hour live session with the course instructor and other students in your cohort. As much as possible, we try to schedule these sessions to make it possible for the largest number of students to attend live. Given the geographical distribution of students, it may be possible that a session time does not work with your timezone or personal schedule. However, we do make all the session recordings available within 24 hours after the class ends so you view at your convenience.
What if I miss a live class?
No worries! All classes will be recorded and available under the Class Materials section of the student learning area within 24 hours after each class ends. Please click on the class title to view the recording of that class, along with any class slides, handouts and homework assignments.
Can I take multiple courses at the same time?
You may take multiple courses at the same time. However, we strongly advise that you only do so if you are able to commit to a minimum of 3hrs/week per course to ensure the most valuable learning experience. If that does not feel feasible, we recommend taking the courses separately and exploring future dates on our course calendar.
What will I have access to during and after my course?
Live Courses
The full course experience for our five-week live courses is available during the course dates marked on the course you enrolled in. We know many learners either don’t have the time they would have liked to complete the course or would just like to continue to view—and be inspired by—the course materials. With this in mind, we leave the course materials available for 3 weeks after the course close. After this time, you will no longer be able to access the course content. This is to honor the intellectual property agreement we have with instructors.
We strongly encourage all learners to download any handouts and assignments before their course access expires. These tools serve as a permanent resource to remind you of what you’ve learned and help you take that back to your team or community. Videos cannot be downloaded or otherwise saved.
On-Demand Courses
The full course experience for our on-demand courses is available for 90 days after you’ve been enrolled in the course. This is to honor the intellectual property agreement we have with instructors.
We also strongly encourage all learners to download any handouts and assignments before their course access expires. These tools serve as a permanent resource to remind you of what you’ve learned and help you take back to your team or community. Videos cannot be downloaded or otherwise saved.
How do I access my course? What are the technical requirements?
Live Courses
About 1 week before the course starts, you will be prompted to log-in to learn.ic.org using your FIC username and password. Once logged-in you will be able to access the private learning space for your course(s), as well as the forum discussion group. If you need help logging in, please contact us at events@ic.org.
All of the classes will be hosted on Zoom. Please ensure you have access to Zoom from your computer or mobile device before the start of a session. Here’s a helpful video if it is your first time joining a meeting on Zoom. As always, please contact us if you have any tech troubles.
On-Demand Courses
After you’ve been setup with your course, you will receive an email that prompts you to login at learn.ic.org using your username and password. Once logged-in, you’ll be able to access your course by selecting it under the “My Courses” dropdown at the top. Here you’ll be able to access a private learning space which includes a discussion space for you and other students taking this course. If you need help logging in, please contact us at events.ic.org.
How do I enroll as a group? Does FIC offer group discounts?
We encourage groups, teams, or communities to enroll in courses. Simply have each person in your group register for the same course start date. Once registered, you’ll have an opportunity to share the names of your group members in our pre-course survey. Whenever possible, we’ll try to group your members together for in class activities.
If you are wanting to pay for multiple registrations with one card, please purchase gift cards for the enrollees here. Then they can register themselves for the same course start date using their gift card.
FIC does not offer any group discounts at this time. Our classes and courses draw from our extensive experience in community building and provide learners with the opportunity to learn at an affordable price.
You can also sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of our homepage to receive updates of discount opportunities as they arise in the future.
Do you offer grants or scholarships?
We no longer offer scholarships. However, we do offer sliding scale pricing. When registering for a course, you can select the price that works best for your budget.
Do you offer refunds?
Course participants are eligible for a refund prior to the start date of the live course and prior to being setup in the learning area of the on-demand course. As soon as the course has begun, FIC will not issue a refund. However, we can offer credit towards another course. Please contact us if you are in need of a refund.
How can I contact you?
Our support staff is here to answer questions about your learning experience, platform, payments, enrollment, technical hiccups, or anything else on your mind!
Reach us anytime at events@ic.org.
Looking for a discount?
Here’s a way to save on your communitarian learning! FIC Members receive 20%-off of all courses. Become a member today.