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.

Summary

This nonprofit management course is presented jointly with the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative.

Key Benefits

This program delivers the strategic perspectives, practical frameworks, and leadership skills you need to drive high performance across the organization. You will leave prepared to take decisive action and create a more responsive, successful, and sustainable nonprofit organization.

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Undertake strategic analysis that positions your organization to thrive and grow Undertake 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 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

Key Benefits

Details

Undertake 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.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Vital Lessons in Leadership

Read about the program from the founder and CEO of Karam Foundation.

Read Her Story

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Three participants from the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program share their st...

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 for Leadership Development participants earn 6 PLDA Points on completion of this program.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Vital Lessons in Leadership

Read about the program from the founder and CEO of Karam Foundation.

Read Her Story

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Three participants from the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program share their st...

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.

Review Our Campus Health & Safety Protocols

Learning and Living at HBS

Review Our Campus Health & Safety Protocols

Admissions Criteria and Process

We admit candidates to specific sessions on a rolling, space-available basis, and encourage you to apply as early as possible. Although most programs have no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.

Answering Your Questions

Our Program Advising team can help you at any stage of the admissions process—starting with identifying the program that best addresses your learning and development goals. Contact a program advisor via email or call 1.800.427.5577 (outside the U.S., call +1.617.495.6555).

Application Submission

We recommend that you apply at least four weeks before the program start date. You may use our online form or download an application. HBS maintains all application information in strict confidentiality. We acknowledge receipt of applications via email. In the unlikely event that you do not receive an acknowledgment, please email us at exed_admissions@hbs.edu or call us at +1.617.495.6226.

Application Review

To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, our Admissions Committee makes selections that balance each participant's experience, scope of current responsibilities, and type of organization. HBS seeks candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds. We review applications monthly and will contact you via email with the Admissions Committee's decision.

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals. You will be invoiced upon admission to the program. Invoices are due within 30 days of receipt, or upon receipt if the program start date is less than 30 days from the invoice date. If you need to cancel or defer your participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive a full refund. Cancellation or deferral requests received 14 to 30 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received within 14 days are subject to full payment.

Admissions Criteria and Process

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.

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.

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Change leadership 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 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

Key Topics

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.

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.

Faculty Chair

V. Kasturi Rangan

Baker Foundation Professor, Malcolm P. Mcnair Professor of Marketing, Emeritus

HBS Unit:

Marketing

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Lynda M. Applegate

Baker Foundation Professor and Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration, Emerita

HBS Units:

Entrepreneurial Management

General Management

Read Full Bio

Herman B. 'Dutch' Leonard

Harvard 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 Management

Read Full Bio

Monique Burns Thompson

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Read Full Bio

Brian L. Trelstad

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

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.

Faculty Chair

V. Kasturi Rangan

Baker Foundation Professor, Malcolm P. Mcnair Professor of Marketing, Emeritus

HBS Unit:

Marketing

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Lynda M. Applegate

Baker Foundation Professor and Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration, Emerita

HBS Units:

Entrepreneurial Management

General Management

Read Full Bio

Herman B. 'Dutch' Leonard

Harvard 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 Management

Read Full Bio

Monique Burns Thompson

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Read Full Bio

Brian L. Trelstad

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

Your Peers Expand Your Learning

Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

Africa

19%

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America

Middle East

70%

North America

3%Africa

19%Asia Pacific

6%Europe

1%Latin America

1%Middle East

70%North America

Experience

Years worked

Experience

Years worked

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Participating Companies Have Included:

ACLU

Ashoka University

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Boys & Girls Clubs

The Chicago Philharmonic Society

Habitat for Humanity

Make-A-Wish

Meals On Wheels

Save the Children

United Way

Your Peers Expand Your Learning: Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

3%

Africa

19%

Asia Pacific

6%

Europe

1%

Latin America

1%

Middle East

70%

North America

3%Africa

19%Asia Pacific

6%Europe

1%Latin America

1%Middle East

70%North America

Experience

Experience

Years worked

Years worked

Experience

Years worked

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Participating Companies Have Included:

ACLU

Ashoka University

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Boys & Girls Clubs

The Chicago Philharmonic Society

Habitat for Humanity

Make-A-Wish

Meals On Wheels

Save the Children

United Way