Seventeen Area Funders Continue to Strengthen Local Nonprofit Sector through Leadership Development Program

​On September 25, the Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) launched Year 4 of its award-winning Core Certificate Program on Cape Cod and the Islands through a unique funder collaborative. Seventeen funders, dedicated to strengthening the local nonprofit sector, have underwritten the costs of INP’s nonprofit leadership development program, also offered in Greater Boston, the Merrimack Valley, and Rhode Island. The program is affiliated with the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University.

The participating funders for Year 4 are:

Arts Foundation of Cape Cod; Bilezikian Family Foundation; Cape and Islands United Way; Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank Charitable Foundation; The Cape Cod Foundation; Cape Cod Healthcare Community Benefits; The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod; Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation; Martha’s Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative; Gerald Jones; Lynne Kenny; MVY Radio; Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard; Rotary Club of Martha’s Vineyard; The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation; The Vineyard Fund for Board Development and Education; and Don Wilks.

“As this program enters its fourth year on Cod Cod and the Islands, we can clearly see the individual and collective impact it is having across the region,” said Kristin O’Malley, President and CEO of The Cape Cod Foundation. “Our nonprofit leaders have developed additional skills and resources to propel their own organizations forward.  They’ve also become part of a vibrant support network that perpetuates team work and collaboration. We are grateful our funders are continuing to support this transformative initiative.”

Yolanda Coentro, INP President and CEO, added, “We are thrilled to return to the Cape and Islands for a fourth year! It is a privilege to work with the region’s talented nonprofit leaders, and we are grateful to the 17 funders who have come together to make our work here possible.”

The 54 alumni from the past three Cape Cod and Islands cohorts continue to meet and collaborate. The new group consists of 24 leaders and managers from a diverse group of nonprofit organizations from Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. Because traveling from the island presents a barrier to participation, this year’s cohort from Martha’s Vineyard will meet weekly for its small-group practicum sessions on the island and then travel to the Cape for the monthly sessions with the larger group.

“We are excited about the success of this program on the Vineyard, and that’s why our donors supported sending another nine nonprofit leaders this year. Access to training like this is very difficult for Islanders, so we are grateful to the Institute for Nonprofit Practice for their flexibility and willingness to adapt the program to meet the needs of our leaders,” said Peter Temple, Executive Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative.

The program includes 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. Participants also have mentoring opportunities and access to the Institute’s alumni programs.

In April 2020, members of this cohort will graduate with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Institute and the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University.

Learn more about the Institute for Nonprofit Practice at www.nonprofitpractice.org.