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INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT PRACTICE ANNOUNCES NATIONAL CORE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Surdna Foundation funds national leadership development cohort, expanding reach of INP’s Core Certificate Program to social impact leaders across the country for the first time.

May 9, 2024, Boston, MA — The Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP), a nationally recognized provider of leadership development and capacity building offerings, announced its Core Certificate Program will reach a cohort of social impact leaders across the country for the first time. The National Core Certificate Program (NCCP) builds off of INP’s nearly 20 years of successfully delivering the place-based Core Certificate Program by partnering with philanthropy to offer this cohort-based program virtually to a national audience. It is the latest program innovation from INP, which recently added a national Black Leadership Institute to its suite of leadership development offerings.

NCCP is designed to equip social sector leaders with new tools and concepts to manage and lead high performing teams and organizations, connect with peers and expert faculty, and build the confidence to make strategic, mission-driven decisions that center diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to accelerate organizational and community impact.

The Surdna Foundation – which seeks to foster sustainable communities guided by principles of social justice and distinguished by sustainable environments, inclusive economies, and thriving cultures across the U.S. – was the first to invest in INP’s National Core Certificate Program, making a three-year grant of $720,000 to underwrite participation for 48 Surdna grantees across three NCCP cohorts.

Sophy Yem, Senior Program Officer, Philanthropy at the Surdna Foundation, said “Strong leaders and organizations are essential to realizing a more just, equitable, and sustainable society. That’s why we are proud to partner with the Institute for Nonprofit Practice to provide our grantees access to the National Core Certificate Program. Nonprofit leadership is complex, and leaders, especially leaders of color, are navigating an ever-changing context. By supporting NCCP, we hope to offer grantees the opportunity to connect with fellow mission-driven leaders across the country and forge lifelong networks of support, collaboration, and learning. We believe this program will equip grantees with the strategies, skills, and confidence to advance their organizations’ missions, improve their own and their teams’ well-being, spark inspiration and creativity, and sustain themselves in the work.”

Over the course of nine months, NCCP participants strengthen critical leadership competencies to propel individual and team performance, build lasting professional networks, and expand skills and confidence to navigate the challenges and opportunities involved in social impact leadership. Graduates will earn a certificate in Social Impact Management and Leadership from INP and gain lifelong access to INP’s national network of changemakers and ongoing alumni programming.

Yolanda Coentro, President and CEO of INP, expressed deep appreciation for the partnership with Surdna Foundation, realizing its vast potential to transform the landscape of social impact across the country for the better through more connected, diverse, equitable, and effective leadership pipelines. “We are profoundly grateful to the Surdna Foundation for this catalytic investment allowing INP to reach social impact leaders nationwide through our Core Certificate Program for the first time,” said Coentro. “It’s imperative that we continue to fuel more leaders with the essential skills, networks, and resources to deliver on their critical missions at an increasingly complex time in our nation. Surdna Foundation’s shared commitment in doing so sets a philanthropic standard that will set future generations of leaders up for success, building a more just future for us all.”

The inaugural NCCP cohort launched in March 2024 with 16 leaders from around the U.S. Last week, the cohort gathered in Chicago for a three-day retreat to meet one another and their faculty members in person, and build upon the community connections they began to establish earlier in the spring. The second NCCP cohort will begin in fall 2024 with limited space remaining for additional funders to underwrite participation for their grantees.

Funders who are interested in learning more about how they can support their grantees through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice should contact Audrey Gillis, Chief Advancement Officer, at agillis@nonprofitpractice.org.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT PRACTICE

A nationally recognized provider of social impact leadership development and capacity building, the Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) transforms communities by equipping leaders – at all career stages – with the skills, networks, confidence, and resources to effectively lead, advance justice, and make their organizations more effective, innovative, and sustainable. Since our founding in 2007, INP has served over 6,500 leaders nationwide through our suite of leadership development programs, workshops, and convenings.

ABOUT THE SURDNA FOUNDATION

The Surdna Foundation supports social justice reform, sustainable environments, inclusive economies, and thriving cultures across the United States – dismantling the barriers that limit opportunity to create more prosperous, culturally enriching, and sustainable communities. For over five generations, the Foundation has been governed largely by descendants of John E. Andrus and has developed a tradition of innovative service for those in need of help or opportunity.

For press inquiries, please contact media@nonprofitpractice.org.

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