Success in community development requires excellence in staff development, community outreach, policy initiatives, resource cultivation and much more. To achieve success, you must make the most of limited resources — finances as well as time.
The NeighborWorks Training Institute offers two certificate programs in nonprofit management and leadership designed to complement existing jobs in the nonprofit industry.
In this program, you will learn to plan for the future strategically and competitively, better communicate and work with your staff and board, evaluate the success of your programs and your organization as a whole, develop the resources necessary to maintain and improve products and services, and use the information from financial statements as decision-making tools.
See Below for Program Details:
CandidatesHow to Earn a Professional Certificate
Program Coursework
Online Testing
Candidates
Interested individuals at all levels of responsibility may enroll in the program.This program is particularly appropriate for:
- Executive directors
- Senior managers
- Emerging leaders in community development
- Members of boards of directors
- Executive committee board members
- Managers of community-development intermediaries
- Government managers working in community development
- Funders wishing to gain a better understanding of the demands on an executive director
- Community-development educators
Organizational Management Professional Certificate
Designed for all skill and responsibility levels within a nonprofit organization. A wide variety of required and electives allow participants to tailor the certification to meet their needs.
- Critical and strategic thinking
- Resource development and management of human and financial capital
- Results-Oriented management
- Business and strategic planning
Organizational Leadership Professional Certificate
Designed for senior staff, executives and board members. This Certificate has six required courses.
- Critical and strategic thinking and planning to help move your organization forward
- Cultural competency and skills and strategies to diversify your board and organization
- Negotiation and conflict resolution skills to negotiate from principled positions
- Board structure and governance practices to ensure your organization’s health and functionality
- Advanced leadership skills and strategies for the experienced manager
- Green strategies for visionary leadership
How to Earn a Professional Certificate
Individuals seeking to earn a professional certificate in nonprofit management and leadership must:
- Submit the enrollment form.
- Complete all coursework, practical exercises and tests within three years.
- Pass the final exam/practicum.
It is possible to complete all program requirements in as few as three NeighborWorks Training Institutes. With prior approval from the training division staff, candidates may receive credit for relevant courses taken no more than two years prior to enrollment.
For answers to questions, call 800-438-5547 or 202-760-4000 or email [email protected].
Program Coursework
The Nonprofit Management and Leadership Professional Certificate Program consists of a series of courses that together provide the theoretical framework, specialized tools and technical skills necessary to successfully lead a dynamic community development organization in an ever-changing and increasingly competitive environment.The program emphasizes a hands-on approach, combining practical experience with lectures, case studies, site visits, small-group exercises and other participatory methods. Emphasis is placed on peer learning, critical thinking, organizational assessment and action planning for results.
Listed below are the required and elective courses for earning each of the professional certificates in nonprofit management and leadership.
Organizational Management Professional Certificate
Required courses (Select 10):
- Critical Thinking for Better Results (ML101)
- Public Speaking (ML105) or Design and Deliver Dynamic Presentations (ML127)
- Strategic Thinking and Planning (ML120 or ML120vc)
- Developing a Winning Business Plan (ML125)
- Human Resource Management and Development (ML130)
- ABCs of Managing Projects and Collaborators (ML145 or ML145vc)
- Marketing Your Programs and Organization (ML162 or ML162el)
- Branding Beyond the Logo: Increasing the Visibility and Value of Your Organization (ML163)
- Laying the Foundation for Fundraising (ML170 or ML170vc)
- Grant Proposal Writing (ML173 or ML173vc)
- Money and Mission: Ensuring Effectiveness and Sustainability through Successful Financial Leadership (ML252)
- From Charity to Change: Empowering Your Community through Advocacy (ML267)
- Social Media Intensive: Advanced Strategy and Planning (ML269)
Required courses (All courses listed):
- Equipping the Board for Financial Leadership (ML159) OR Money and Mission: Ensuring Effectiveness and Sustainability through Successful Financial Leadership (ML252)
- Operational Strategies for Organizational Success (ML210)
- Board Oversight and Governance (ML240 or ML240el) or Light Your Board on Fire! (ML243)
- Leading and Engaging an Equitable Organization (ML242) or Light Your Board on Fire! (ML243)
- Coaching for Transformation (ML285) or Coaching Skills for Managers (ML280)
- Leadership Tools for Achieving Excellence (ML297)
Elective courses (Select two):
- Strategic Thinking and Planning (ML120 or ML120vc)
- Competitively Positioning Your Organization for the Future (ML160)
- Emotional Intelligence (EI) at Work (ML205)
- From Charity to Change: Empowering Your Community through Advocacy (ML267)
- How to Negotiate: The Most Important Skill You Will Ever Learn! (ML282)
- Coaching Teams to Build Leadership (ML287)
- Organizational Leadership Succession (ML312)