Running, managing, and leading a nonprofit requires versatility—and no single person does it alone. While Executive Directors often wear many hats, it takes multiple leaders working together to successfully run and sustain a nonprofit organization.

In addition to building and managing impactful programs that move the needle, nonprofit leaders are often called upon to:

• Manage complex finances, including donations and grant funds
• Support and partner with a board of directors that looks to leadership for guidance while also helping to shape the organization’s vision and mission (including recruiting and onboarding board members)
• Recruit, supervise, and support volunteers and staff while navigating employment laws and compliance requirements
• Fundraise and write grants to sustain the organization’s work
• Continually evolve in understanding equity, inclusion, and social justice—and translate those values into practice

You shouldn’t have to navigate this complexity alone. Our Leadership Academy exists to support nonprofit leaders at every level. Whether you are an Executive Director, CEO, Co-Director, mid-level manager, or executive assistant supporting your ED, this program equips you with essential skills and shared leadership practices to lead with confidence and clarity.

Participants build a strong foundation in organizational leadership, gain practical tools for real-world implementation, and explore strategies for integrating both required and emerging practices into daily work. This Academy also prioritizes self-care and burnout prevention—for you and your team—so leadership remains sustainable, not exhausting.

Our Leadership Academy is intentionally cohort-based, creating a peer learning and support network. You’ll connect with others navigating similar challenges, with dedicated time to learn together, problem-solve, and share collective wisdom.

Online Course Description

Our modernized Leadership Academy is an online cohort of no more than 20 participants who have been in their current leadership role for fewer than 5–7 years. This intentional and consistent gathering of leaders with similar tenure is designed to:

• Build a clear understanding of the complexity of nonprofit leadership roles and the full range of skills required for success
• Strengthen relationships and peer networks across the nonprofit community
• Foster collaborative problem-solving and shared learning

The course includes additional tools, assessments, and matrices designed to support both nonprofit leaders and their boards. Each cohort’s learning journey is shaped by what participants bring into the space, ensuring the Leadership Academy remains responsive, relevant, and rooted in equity—supporting leaders where they are, while strengthening the organizations and communities they serve.

• Key leadership responsibilities across roles and functions
• Building and navigating effective board–leader relationships
• Having hard and necessary conversations with clarity and care
• Your role in human resources and people management
• Trust-building and values-driven leadership
• Financial oversight, budgeting, and fiscal responsibility
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies in practice
• Understanding and engaging your audience and community
• Nonprofit technology and systems that support your work
• Succession planning and leadership continuity
• Self-care, resilience, and crisis management

 Schedule of Virtual Sessions: 

The Academy will meet live and online for eight sessions, on Thursdays approximately every other week which includes an intro and wrap up session for Spring 2026
We meet in the Eastern Time Zone.
*How This Works: Assignments (pre-work/home-work before each date starting with session 2) will be required to be completed online (on your own schedule) prior to each session after the intro. These learning sessions are approximately 45 minutes to an hour of materials for review, that may consist of short informational videos, blogs, articles, and resources review. We will then meet on Zoom for a facilitated learning session.