Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management
- Dates: 09–15 JUL 2023
- Format: In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.
- Location: HBS Campus
- Fee: $7,000

"It was extremely valuable to follow the journeys that led organizations to clarify their missions."
Summary
Today's nonprofit organizations are faced with shifting demands for services, resource constraints, and diverse operational challenges. They must also learn to navigate the advent of new technology and new sources of funding. To fulfill their missions, nonprofit leaders must step up their game and create organizations that can thrive in the midst of change. Exploring crucial concepts and skills for nonprofit leadership, this program will prepare you to strengthen management and accountability while leading the evolution needed to create an effective, high-performing organization.
This nonprofit management course is presented jointly with the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative.
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Summary
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Today's nonprofit organizations are faced with shifting demands for services, resource constraints, and diverse operational challenges. They must also learn to navigate the advent of new technology and new sources of funding. To fulfill their missions, nonprofit leaders must step up their game and create organizations that can thrive in the midst of change. Exploring crucial concepts and skills for nonprofit leadership, this program will prepare you to strengthen management and accountability while leading the evolution needed to create an effective, high-performing organization.
This nonprofit management course is presented jointly with the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative.
DetailsExpand AllCollapse All
Under take strategic analysis that positions your organization to thrive and growUnder take strategic analysis that positions your organization to thrive and grow
- Focus your mission and create service offerings that truly address the needs of your target populations
- Develop the core capabilities, operational alignment, and external alliances to fulfill your mission and execute your strategy
- Strategically and deliberately consider growth/scaling options and choose when one is better than another
- Develop and implement appropriate and effective performance management systems
- Lead effective organizational transformation to drive impact
- Build a governance system that enables mission performance
Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your organization’s challenges, and your own leadership actions
Under take strategic analysis that positions your organization to thrive and grow
- Focus your mission and create service offerings that truly address the needs of your target populations
- Develop the core capabilities, operational alignment, and external alliances to fulfill your mission and execute your strategy
- Strategically and deliberately consider growth/scaling options and choose when one is better than another
- Develop and implement appropriate and effective performance management systems
- Lead effective organizational transformation to drive impact
- Build a governance system that enables mission performance
Expand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your organization’s challenges, and your own leadership actions
Who Should Attend
- Nonprofit executive directors and chief executive officers who are responsible for shaping the direction, mission, policies, and major programs of their organizations
- Participating organizations must be public-serving nonprofits, fully operational, and out of the startup phase; they typically have operating budgets in excess of $1 million
- Not appropriate for: Industry or trade associations, management support organizations, or consulting firms
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 for Leadership Development participants earn 6 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
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Who Should Attend
-
- Nonprofit executive directors and chief executive officers who are responsible for shaping the direction, mission, policies, and major programs of their organizations
- Participating organizations must be public-serving nonprofits, fully operational, and out of the startup phase; they typically have operating budgets in excess of $1 million
- Not appropriate for: Industry or trade associations, management support organizations, or consulting firms
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 for Leadership Development participants earn 6 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
Learning and Living at HBS
When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.
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Learning and Living at HBS
-
When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.
Admissions Criteria and Process
Answering Your Questions
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
Answering Your Questions
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
What You Will Learn
Through a rich learning experience that includes faculty presentations, case studies on nonprofit organizations, group exercises, and structured and informal group discussions, you will explore how today's nonprofit leaders are tackling a broad range of challenges. As you enhance core skills crucial to leading nonprofit organizations, you will prepare to implement new strategies and drive change across your organization.
Participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
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What You Will Learn
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Through a rich learning experience that includes faculty presentations, case studies on nonprofit organizations, group exercises, and structured and informal group discussions, you will explore how today's nonprofit leaders are tackling a broad range of challenges. As you enhance core skills crucial to leading nonprofit organizations, you will prepare to implement new strategies and drive change across your organization.
Participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All
Change leadershipChange leadership
- Defining your mission, developing a strategy, and aligning the organization behind it
- Creating excellent core service operations
- Developing appropriate performance measures and processes for achieving mission goals
- Identifying and developing the capabilities for change
- Managing for high performance, and growth when so desired
- Creating an effective governance and oversight system
People and organizationsPeople and organizations
- Understanding customers and constituencies
- Creating strategic collaborations across peers and the sector
- Developing a successful partnership with the board
- Assessing organizational and system performance, and taking corrective steps when required
Change leadership
- Defining your mission, developing a strategy, and aligning the organization behind it
- Creating excellent core service operations
- Developing appropriate performance measures and processes for achieving mission goals
- Identifying and developing the capabilities for change
- Managing for high performance, and growth when so desired
- Creating an effective governance and oversight system
People and organizations
- Understanding customers and constituencies
- Creating strategic collaborations across peers and the sector
- Developing a successful partnership with the board
- Assessing organizational and system performance, and taking corrective steps when required
Peer Consultation Sessions: Applying Strategic Concepts to Your Organization
Breaking into small groups, you and your peers will work together on challenges that each of you has identified as critical to the success of your respective organizations. Employing insights from the curriculum and from your peers, you will develop a strategic direction and formulate an action plan that you can implement immediately upon returning to work.
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Peer Consultation Sessions: Applying Strategic Concepts to Your Organization
-
Breaking into small groups, you and your peers will work together on challenges that each of you has identified as critical to the success of your respective organizations. Employing insights from the curriculum and from your peers, you will develop a strategic direction and formulate an action plan that you can implement immediately upon returning to work.
The HBS Advantage
Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as 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.
Baker Foundation Professor, Malcolm P. Mcnair Professor of Marketing
Baker Foundation Professor and Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration, Emerita
Baker Foundation Professor of Management Practice
Senior Lecturer of Business Administration
Eliot I. Snider and Family Professor of Business Administration
George F. Baker, Jr. Professor of Public Sector Management Teaching Programs
Senior Lecturer of Business Administration
Senior Lecturer of Business Administration
Richard L. Menschel Professor of Management Practice
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The HBS Advantage
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Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as 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 ChairBaker Foundation Professor, Malcolm P. Mcnair Professor of Marketing
HBS Unit:MarketingFacultyBaker Foundation Professor and Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration, Emerita
HBS Units:Entrepreneurial ManagementGeneral ManagementBaker Foundation Professor of Management Practice
HBS Unit:Organizational BehaviorSenior Lecturer of Business Administration
HBS Unit:General ManagementHarvard Business School:Eliot I. Snider and Family Professor of Business Administration
Harvard Kennedy School:George F. Baker, Jr. Professor of Public Sector Management Teaching Programs
HBS Unit:General ManagementSenior Lecturer of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Organizational BehaviorSenior Lecturer of Business Administration
HBS Unit:General ManagementRichard L. Menschel Professor of Management Practice
HBS Unit:Entrepreneurial Management
Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.2%Africa17%Asia Pacific13%Europe1%Latin America2%Middle East65%North America2%Africa17%Asia Pacific13%Europe1%Latin America2%Middle East65%North AmericaExperienceExperienceYears workedYears workedExperienceYears workedLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 years or more40 years or moreLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 years or more40 years or more
