Gain critical insights into performance measurement and learn how to lead performance-focused initiatives that scale your nonprofit's impact.

  • Dates

    Mar 20 – 28, 2025

  • Status

    Accepting Applications

  • Format

    Virtual

  • Location

    Virtual via HKS

  • Fee

    $4,200

  • Application Due

    Mar 3, 2025

The program fee covers tuition and program materials.

Program Announcement

The upcoming session of this program will be hosted by Harvard Kennedy School.

Performance measurement is essential for innovation, learning, and success. As a nonprofit, identifying the ideal assessment metrics is a complex task—especially for organizations tackling some of society’s biggest challenges.

Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation—Virtual, presented jointly with HBS Social Enterprise Initiative and Harvard's Hauser Institute for Civil Society, fosters critical and conceptual thinking around performance measurement. You will learn how to implement a stronger performance management strategy that aligns with your mission and positions your organization to achieve its objectives.

Key Program Features

Key Topics

  • Link mission, strategy, and performance for maximum impact  

  • Build a performance-based culture and implement a performance management strategy  

  • Develop a culture of learning and innovation within your organization 

  • Identify key metrics for measurement 

  • Design methods for testing new interventions and improving existing programs 

  • Collaborate with partners and communicate social and environmental outcomes to key stakeholders 

  • Manage for collective impact amid the challenges of today's rapidly changing world

  • 6
    half-days of live online learning
  • 12–15
    hours of pre-program work

Participants will receive a detailed schedule and case materials approximately two weeks before the program starts.

Participants will attend live online sessions via Zoom every weekday (except Friday, March 21) from 8:00 a.m.–12:30 a.m. ET. Most days include an optional open conversation with faculty after the class session until 1 p.m. ET.

Collaborative learning is an integral part of the experience. To maximize the benefit for everyone, participants are expected to attend each session, complete all assignments, and contribute to group and class discussions.

  • CEOs, presidents, executive directors, board members, and other senior executives in nonprofit organizations who are committed to improving performance measurement and management 

  • Particularly appropriate for: organizations with annual budgets over $1 million 

  • Not appropriate for: those interested in individual-level or human resource-focused performance measurement 

Individuals and teams are welcome to attend. Sending two or more representatives from your organization fosters teamwork and amplifies program impact.

Global Perspective

Two female and two male executives sit and smile around a table filled with notes.
2%
Africa
6%
Asia Pacific
7%
Europe
3%
Latin America
5%
Middle East
77%
North America

Experience

Years Worked

  • 10%

    Less than 10 years

  • 11%

    10-14 years

  • 21%

    15-19 years

  • 20%

    20-24 years

  • 14%

    25-29 years

  • 13%

    30-34 years

  • 7%

    35-39 years

  • 4%

    40 or more

Education

Highest Level Attained

  • 8%

    JD/Law

  • 1%

    MD

  • 12%

    PhD

  • 13%

    MBA

  • 26%

    MS/MA

  • 23%

    BS/BA

  • 1%

    Two Years College

  • 2%

    High School Diploma

Companies That Have Participated

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters
  • Equitable Food Initiative
  • Habitat for Humanity International
  • Health Sciences Centre Foundation
  • Land Trust Alliance
  • Multi-Agency Alliance for Children
  • Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  • The Arc of Opportunity
  • The Global Fund
  • World Vision

All our executive education programs are developed and taught by a team of widely recognized HBS faculty. Many are skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.

Faculty Chair

  • Headshot of Dutch Leonard

    Dutch Leonard

    Eliot I. Snider and Family Baker Foundation Professor and Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus<br>George F. Baker, Jr. Professor of Public Management

When you participate in a virtual HBS Executive Education program, you benefit from a powerful learning experience carefully designed with a virtual setting in mind.

Through live, synchronous program sessions you'll engage directly with our renowned faculty to learn from their latest research, gain actionable takeaways, and facilitate your growth. Additionally, virtual learning groups will connect you to a global group of peers and build your network.

We admit applicants on a rolling, space-available basis, so you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible.

The selective admissions process is based on professional achievement, organizational responsibility, and the admissions criteria for each program as described in Who Should Attend. There are no formal educational requirements for HBS Executive Education programs.

Learn more about the admissions process and requirements.

Partial Scholarship Opportunities

Program fees are subsidized by Harvard Business School and its Social Enterprise Initiative. Limited, additional need-based scholarship funding may be available. Visit the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative website for scholarship information.

Program content, dates, schedule, fees, technology platforms, and faculty are subject to change. In accordance with Harvard University policy, Harvard Business School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.