Innovative Nonprofit Leadership Program Set to Launch on Cape Cod

This month, the Institute for Nonprofit Practice will launch its award-winning certificate program on Cape Cod through a first-of-its-kind funder collaborative initiated to strengthen the local nonprofit sector. Eight funders have underwritten the costs of the Institute’s Core Certificate Program, a nonprofit leadership development program currently offered in Greater Boston, the Merrimack Valley, and Rhode Island. The program is affiliated with Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life.

The participating funders are:

• Bilezikian Family Foundation
• The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
• The Cape Cod Foundation
• Cape and Islands United Way
• Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank Charitable Foundation
• Cape Cod Healthcare Community Benefits
• Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation
• Edward Bangs Kelley and Elza Kelley Foundation

The Community Foundation for Nantucket is also a partner and has been instrumental in helping to facilitate transportation for students coming from Nantucket.

Cape Cod Foundation’s Executive Director Kristin O’Malley says “All involved funders are proud of the important work taking place in our region’s nonprofit sector. We came together to explore the best way to leverage our shared resources to support our community, increase organizational effectiveness, and prepare for the future. Investing in leadership was the natural conclusion. We are thrilled to be able to offer the Institute’s exceptional Core Certificate Program to our local leaders, and we are proud of the model we have created to do so. We want to show other communities that, by coming together, we can contribute to a powerful and sustaining investment. We know that the region will continue to reap the benefits of this joint effort for years to come.”

Yolanda Coentro, the Institute’s President and CEO says, “Nonprofit leaders work to address some of society’s most complex issues, and often must do so with limited resources or preparation. Leadership development is a powerful tool that foundations can use to help organizations succeed and improve performance. These funders are making a bold statement, and we are delighted to partner with them to take a stand and bring this issue to light. For nonprofit leaders in the area, the Institute’s program will offer a transformative opportunity for more meaningful collaborations and collective skill-building.”

A total of 17 students are expected to participate in this inaugural class, representing organizations across the Cape from Mashpee to Truro, as well as Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Students are executives and senior leaders of their respective organizations, which range in focus from youth services to housing to philanthropy and beyond.

Hy-Line Cruises is providing space for class sessions in Hyannis. Classes will include approximately 50 hours of classroom sessions on nonprofit management and leadership skills, and another 30 hours of small-group sessions which encourage shared problem-solving, reflection, and application of skills. Students will also have the opportunity to meet with a mentor and will have ongoing access to all of the Institute’s alumni programs. In May 2017 students will graduate with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, a national leader in civic engagement. Learn more about the Institute for Nonprofit Practice at www.nonprofitpractice.org.