CEN - Center for Excellence in Nonprofits

Join us online on August 14th from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PST for an enriching information session. Learn about how CEN supports nonprofit leaders through our high-quality programs, consultations, training, and community-building efforts, all centered around our IDEAL principles. Discover how these resources can empower you to create a lasting impact.

Register here today and take the first step toward making a difference with CEN! https://www.addevent.com/event/Ho21832685

Join us over the coming months as we recognize our most diverse cohort of CEN Leaders Institute Grads yet. Learn more about our first three LI graduate spotlights here!

Feeling overwhelmed by fundraising? Join CEN’s Fundraising Basics Workshop on 8/13 from 9 AM -12 PM PST via Zoom to learn how to take the fear out of nonprofit fundraising! This beginner-level session covers the basics, from building a fundraising plan to crafting a compelling case for support. You'll also explore the Board's role in fundraising and gain templates and resources for strategic fundraising. Perfect for nonprofit staff, executive directors, and board members new to fundraising.

Outcomes:

Understand the fundraising process
Explore common activities and assess ROI
Develop a fundraising plan and support materials
Engage your Board in fundraising efforts

Don't miss this opportunity to boost your fundraising confidence and skills! Register here today: https://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/216552/69

Did you know that organizational consulting is at the foundation of what we do? CEN’s organizational consulting program combines IDEAL principles with leading practices to offer tailored consultations that meet your organization's unique needs. Whether you are looking for a basic refresher on board roles, a custom-designed staff or board retreat, or a long-term engagement on organizational effectiveness, CEN can provide an engagement that meets your organizational needs.

Interested in learning more about CEN’s organizational consulting? Head over to our website to explore customized engagement opportunities: https://www.cen.org/consulting.html

We are excited to announce that applications are now open for CEN’s 2024 Scholarship Opportunity! This year, we are offering two full scholarships for in-person attendance and one full scholarship for virtual attendance at the Nonprofit Management Institute 2024 Conference, "What's Next for the Social Sector: Strategies and Tactics for Today's Agile Leaders."

Scheduled for September 17th-18th, this conference will feature nonprofit and business executives, noted academics, and prominent public-sector leaders brought together by the Stanford Social Innovation Review. Don’t miss this chance to strengthen and renew our collective commitment to improving society.

Apply here today and take your leadership skills to the next level! https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=dLM2sLO1pki7kLNR0h865I_KXHp0FwFDvoEQSirh01ZUM0oyWE1SNEFTQVQzWVZaTlJSU0RUOEJCNy4u

Set for 7/30-8/1, 9 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM -4 PM PST, Daily, CEN's 3-day Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Boot Camp is an inclusive opportunity to learn from industry experts, develop management skills, and gain a thorough toolkit to excel in your nonprofit career. The course covers leadership, financial stability, strategic development, operational planning, fundraising, and governance, with a focus on current challenges and equity-based learning.

Perfect for new executives, managers, board members, and emerging professionals, this three-day certificate boot camp offers essential skills and insights to enhance leadership and confidence for nonprofit professionals.

Register Here Today: https://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/213895/69

We want to express our deepest gratitude to three of our outstanding Board members, Anna L. Waring, Mary Carbullido, and Lisa Conover. These remarkable leaders have dedicated years of service and are concluding their terms this summer. CEN is grateful for their support and commitment to our mission.

Thank you all for everything! We will miss you dearly, and you will always have a home at CEN.

CEN will be closed next week for our yearly summer Rest and Recharge week. Our team will be back online on July 8th.

Strategic planning has become increasingly important as many of our organizations are facing new challenges and shifting business models due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it's time for your organization to develop a new plan or you're looking for guidance to adjust your current plan, this workshop on July 24th from 9 AM - 12 PM PST will equip you with the tools and resources you need to get the process going.

What You'll Learn:

The three basic steps to effective strategic planning
Various ways organizations can utilize the process to increase impact and meet goals
How to tackle strategic planning with a limited budget
Adapting strategic plans to meet your organization's needs
Making strategic thinking an integral part of your organization

Our Strategic Planning Workshop is intended for nonprofit staff and board members involved in or exploring strategic planning options. Participants will learn to recognize the difference between a strategic plan and other planning processes, identify situations where a strategic plan is most useful, and develop and implement strategies to achieve long-term goals.

Register Now to start enhancing your organization's strategic planning skills: https://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/213876/69

Check out CEN’s Upcoming Scholarship Opportunity! This year, we are offering two full scholarships for in-person attendance and one full scholarship for virtual attendance for individuals to attend the Nonprofit Management Institute 2024 Conference, "What's Next for the Social Sector: Strategies and Tactics for Today's Agile Leaders." Set for September 17th-18th, The Stanford Social Innovation Review will bring together nonprofit and business executives, noted academics, and prominent public-sector leaders to explore pathways to strengthening and renewing our collective commitment to improving society.

Check back soon! Scholarship applications will open on July 8th.

Join us over the coming months as we recognize our most diverse cohort of CEN Leaders Institute Grads yet! Learn more about our first three LI graduate spotlights here! hashtag hashtag

At the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits, we recognize the significance of this day and stand in solidarity with the Black community, both in the Bay Area and beyond.

Join us in recognizing the endless efforts of Black nonprofit leaders by sending them a CeleGram. You can donate to CEN in honor of a dedicated leader and select our newest Juneteenth CeleGram e-card to be sent their way.

Celebrate Juneteenth by lifting up Black nonprofit leaders and their vital work. Together, we can build a more just and equitable society.

Click here to send a Juneteenth CeleGram today: https://app.ecardwidget.com/w/wkr4pyt8v

Today, we celebrate , a day that marks freedom and the ongoing journey toward equality and justice for the Black community. At the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits, we recognize the significance of this day and stand in solidarity with the Black community, both in the Bay Area and beyond.

This day is not only a celebration of freedom but also a reminder of the work that still needs to be done. At the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits, we believe in the power of communities uniting to drive meaningful change. Donors and funders have a unique and powerful role to play in elevating Black communities across the United States.

Prioritizing funding for Black-led nonprofits, which possess insights into their communities' challenges and opportunities, is a powerful way for donors to honor Juneteenth and support racial justice throughout the year. Additionally, supporting organizations actively working to combat systemic racism and advocate for policy changes ensures sustained impact and progress toward equity and justice.

We are proud to highlight a few incredible nonprofits in the Bay Area that are making a significant impact:

The East Oakland Collective - Committed to serving residents of East Oakland with resources, advocacy, and economic empowerment programs.

Black Futures Lab- Transforming Black communities into politically engaged constituencies through grassroots organizing and policy development.

MegaBlack SF - Fighting for visibility, sovereignty, dignity and justice for Black San Franciscans.

Black Cultural Zone - Help keep Black folks in East Oakland through a strategy of building power, securing land, and directing more dollars to community driven projects.

Community Response Works - Creating tools, developing trainings, and removing barriers to help community crisis responders across the country meet need with care — not violence.

Equity for Black Women and Girls - A Black Women and Girls Incubator Program, to support Black women and girls’ new and existing business enterprises.

African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) - Preserving the dignity and culture of a diverse African American Community, and to provide services that promote the full participation of Santa Clara County and the general society.

Youth Utilizing Power and Praise - Empowering and equipping youth by developing cross cultural networks through music, dance, drama, fine arts, public speaking, and more.

Join us in celebrating Juneteenth by supporting these organizations and their essential work. Together, we can continue to build a more just and equitable society.

Have you sent a CeleGram yet? CEN’s CeleGram is a creative way to celebrate a colleague, leader, or friend! You can donate to CEN in honor of someone and select a special, limited edition, e-card to send to them to showcase your appreciation. All proceeds will help CEN continue to build nonprofit leadership capacity and are 100% tax deductible.

Want to thank a nonprofit professional for their hard work this fiscal year? Click here to send a CeleGram today: https://app.ecardwidget.com/w/wkr4pyt8v

Drive your leadership skills and financial literacy in our upcoming workshop Understanding Nonprofit Financials. Scheduled for July 11th from 9 AM - 12 PM PST via Zoom, this session will guide you through interpreting financials, managing nonprofit income, and making strategic decisions. Ideal for executives, board members, and emerging leaders aiming to boost their financial understanding.

What You'll Learn:
Basics of nonprofit financial statements
Managing various types of nonprofit income
Setting up cost accounting for effective tracking
Interpreting financial data for strategic decision-making, especially in crises

Whether you're new to finance or looking to refine your skills, this workshop is essential!

Note: Santa Clara County and San Bruno Community members can access CEN’s workshops at a discounted rate of $40. Make sure to select “Promo Code” when registering.

Sign up here to secure your spot and gain the tools to strengthen your nonprofit's financial health: https://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/213857/69

Is your organization located in or serving Santa Clara County? Thanks to generous funding from the Applied Materials Foundation, all staff and board members of nonprofits that are located in or serving Santa Clara County can still take advantage of deep discounts on any of CEN’s nonprofit professional development workshops! Through this partnership, nonprofits located in or serving Santa Clara County can access these workshops at the discounted rate of $40.

Visit the registration page of any workshop through our learning calendar to learn more and register: https://www.cen.org/calendar.html. Thank you to the Applied Materials Foundation for this opportunity.

Dive into the essentials of nonprofit financial statements and develop your leadership skills by making informed, strategic decisions. Set for June 26th from 9 AM to 12 PM PST via Zoom, this workshop will cover everything from interpreting basic financials to understanding accounting nuances specific to the nonprofit sector. Perfect for executives, board members, and emerging leaders who want to enhance their financial literacy and drive their organizations forward during uncertain times.

We are thrilled to announce that we have a new addition to our CEN Board of Directors! ​Sabrina-Moné Lamontagne, CFRE, is the Director of Leadership Annual Giving at San José State University, spearheading efforts to revitalize the university's giving pipeline and enhance donor engagement campus-wide. With a background as Operations & Finance Manager at the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) in San Jose, CA, where she dedicated over a decade in various volunteer and professional capacities, Sabrina-Moné brings extensive experience in community service and nonprofit management. Passionate about community empowerment, Sabrina-Moné actively mentors emerging leaders and advocates for the advancement of Black women and girls. This can be best exemplified by her work and leadership roles in various organizations. Her commitment to professional growth is evident in her participation in the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Fellowship Program and her current role as Mentorship Program Chair for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Silicon Valley Chapter. Sabrina-Moné holds a BS in Business Administration from San José State University and a Fundraising Certificate from UCLA Extension. Her dedication to excellence in fundraising is underscored by her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential, embodying her belief in continuous learning and development.

Facilitated by Sinjin Jones, come explore the power of inclusion in the arts with CEN’s "Telling a New Story: Inclusion in the Arts" workshop on June 12th, from 9 AM - 12 PM PST, via Zoom. Dive into how the arts can better embody IDEAL principles—Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Liberation. Participants will learn tools to dismantle oppressive structures, promote BIPOC staff development, and discover self-care strategies for overworked individuals. This workshop is perfect for arts organization staff, directors, Board members, volunteers, and community supporters.

Join us to shape a more inclusive future in the arts! Register here today using the discount code TELLYOURSTORY for 20% off: https://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/207030/69

According to the Harvard Business Review, 62% of Nonprofits are run by women, and we are proud to say that CEN is female-led and operated. This May, we are calling all nonprofit professionals and leaders to recognize with CEN’s Spring Celegram Campaign.

Want to celebrate the efforts of the women leaders in your community? Donate to CEN in their name and a limited edition e-card will be sent their way. Check out our LeadHERship e-cards and more designs here: https://app.ecardwidget.com/w/wkr4pyt8v.

Last Friday CEN hosted our annual Leaders Institute Graduation. We hold this event yearly to bring our community of supporters, partners, and the Leaders Institute Alumni together in recognition of this special program. We want to extend gratitude to all who joined us, and a special thank you to our event sponsors.

Congratulations again to the graduating cohort. Click here to make a donation in honor of one of the graduates by sending them a CeleGram. Thank you for celebrating with us! Visit this link for information: https://app.ecardwidget.com/w/wkr4pyt8v

CEN relies on the generosity of our community to ensure that we can resource and lift up nonprofits and their missions. Each and every one of you makes this work possible. If you were unable to attend but would like to invest in resourcing our nonprofit community, please visit https://www.cen.org/donate to donate today.

🌟 NEW OPPORTUNITY: Administrative Assistant to the CEO at CEN 🌟 The Center for Excellence in Nonprofits is dedicated to empowering nonprofit organizations to thrive. Guided by their commitment to inclusion and community-building, they provide resources and support to nonprofit leaders.

Salary & benefits: $60-80K, flexible/hybrid 1-3 days in Redwood City, CA, comprehensive healthcare, 401K.

Ideal candidate profile: 3+ years of experience, preferably with nonprofits. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Drive and project management software. And above all, a default towards proactivity/figuring it out/learning on the job.

Ideal start date is early July. Join us in our mission to strengthen the nonprofit community! Visit us at https://www.cen.org to apply today!

Don't miss CEN's very own Shana Peete (She/Her/Ella) at Thrive Alliance's Thrive OnBoard event for nonprofit board service in Silicon Valley! The event is today from 3:30 PM - 7 PM PDT. More details below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thrive-onboard-tickets-893643932057?aff=oddtdtcreator #:~:text=Thrive%20OnBoard%20is%20the%20ultimate,networking%20opportunities%2C%20and%20amazing%20nonprofits.

CEN's Community Spotlight this month is Claudine Sipili. Driven by her own experience with homelessness and a deep commitment to affirming the dignity of others, Claudine passionately advocates for recognizing the humanity of those impacted by homelessness in efforts to end it. As the Director of Lived Experience and Innovation at Destination: Home, a Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd Project, and the recipient of the 2023 SVCN Patricia A. Gardner Changemaker Award, Claudine champions sustainable solutions and works to break down misconceptions about homelessness.

A graduate of CEN's Building Representative Boards program, Claudine holds pivotal roles on influential boards, including the Santa Clara County Continuum of Care (CoC) Governance Board and as a member of the Abode Services Board of Directors. During the two-year CASPEH study, Claudine served as the Northern California Co-Chair of the UCSF BHHI Statewide Lived Expertise Advisory Board, contributing her invaluable insights and expertise to the research. Through her op-eds, Claudine fearlessly shares her personal story and advocates for systemic changes to address the root causes of homelessness. Her tireless efforts have not only raised awareness about the complexities of homelessness but have also inspired others to take action and create a more compassionate society that upholds the inherent worth of every individual, regardless of their housing situation.

CEN is grateful to have advocates like Claudine in our community! Thank you for all you do.

Celebrate the achievements of our nonprofit leaders at the CEN Leaders Institute XVII Graduation! Set for May 17th at the Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos, from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM PST, join us and witness the culmination of hard work and dedication from our participants.

We would love to have you with us as we recognize nonprofit excellence—secure your spot today!

https://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/206435/69

Celebrate the achievements of our nonprofit leaders at the CEN Leaders Institute XVII Graduation! Set for May 17th at the Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos, from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM PST, join us and witness the culmination of hard work and dedication from our participants.

We would love to have you with us as we recognize nonprofit excellence—secure your spot today! hhttps://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/206435/69

Unlock your potential in the nonprofit sector! Join us for an enlightening information session, where you'll gain valuable insights into the ways that we support our nonprofit leaders. Discover how CEN's high-quality programs, consultation, training, and community-building efforts, all centered around our IDEAL principles, can empower you to create lasting impact. Register here https://www.addevent.com/event/qy18990389

Set for May 21st from 9 am to 12 pm PST via Zoom, Compassionate Leadership is intended for both nonprofit Board members and staff members. In our Compassionate Leadership workshop, we will unpack the nonprofit sector’s historical leadership models that fall short of serving the creation of an IDEAL, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Liberation, workspace. As the notion of a healthy workplace culture continues to evolve, we must reevaluate our current leadership models and incorporate compassionate leadership principles to serve others. Join us in exploring what it means to lead with wisdom and compassion and to strike a balance between the two.

Register today to start making a meaningful impact! https://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/207011/69

Whether you're nearing retirement or already there, join us to explore the benefits and impacts of Roth conversions on May 22nd from 12:00 - 1:00 pm via Zoom. This no-cost workshop, hosted by CEN and presented by our partners at MassMutual, will help you and your clients determine if Roth conversions are the right choice for you Tailored for both the public and those in the nonprofit sector, this hour session is your key to informed financial decisions for retirement programs

CEN and MassMutual are committed to providing essential financial education for everyone. Register today for this no-cost workshop! Don't miss out on this opportunity to prioritize your financial future. https://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/208611/69

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Effective managers help their employees in successfully achieving their goals, which also helps the organization, in the end, achieve its overall mission impact. Unlock the potential of your organization's greatest asset—its people! Effective team management is your key to impactful leadership. Join our Management Basics 2 Workshop to discover strategies for building a culture of trust, vital in today's virtual landscape. We'll explore working styles, set expectations, and transform dysfunctional teams into high-performing assets. Bring your real-world challenges, and together, we'll craft actionable plans. Whether you're a seasoned leader or exploring management basics, this workshop is tailored for nonprofit staff at all levels seeking resources for managing effective teams. Elevate your leadership skills and make a lasting impact. Join us for this afternoon session on January 9th by registering here: https://cen.liveimpact.org/li/9565/sevent/evt/home/206034/69