NONPROFITS FIRST INC

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: EDUCATION, CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS MEET THE CONTINUOUS DEMAND FOR NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN 2024-25 NONPROFITS FIRST DELIVERED 99 CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS TO OVER 1,300 NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS. CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE SKILLS OF CEOS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND BOARDS TO BETTER LEAD AND MANAGE THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. OUR HALF-DAY AND FULL-DAY WORKSHOPS PROVIDE PROFESSIONALS WITH COST-EFFECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEEPEN AND STRENGTHEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. MANY OF OUR WORKSHOPS RELATE TO AND SUPPORT THE NONPROFITS FIRST ACCREDITATION PROCESS AND ADVANCE THE USE OF BEST PRACTICES. NONPROFITS FIRST DEVELOPED A PROGRAM CALLED "RISING LEADERS" IN 2006 WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT THE PIPELINE FOR FUTURE NONPROFIT LEADERS IS RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD. THE 8-MONTH RISING LEADERS PROGRAM CULTIVATES LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN EMERGING NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS AND EQUIPS THEM WITH STRATEGIES TO FACE INDUSTRY CHALLENGES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2006, 496 PARTICIPANTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE RISING LEADERS PROGRAM, INCLUDING 26 GRADUATES IN 2025. EACH COHORT OF RISING LEADERS WORKS IN TEAMS TO FULFILL A SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT DIRECTLY BENEFITING A LOCAL NONPROFIT. IN 2025, THE SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS BENEFITED 5 ORGANIZATIONS; MANY OF THE RISING LEADER GRADUATES HAVE GONE ON TO SERVE IN UPPER MANAGEMENT.THE YEAR 2025 SAW THE FIFTH COHORT OF A HIGHER-TIER PROGRAM, ADVANCING LEADERS, A 6-MONTH PROGRAM FOCUSED ON KNOWLEDGE NEEDED FOR SENIOR LEVEL NONPROFIT LEADERS. THE 2025 CLASS EQUIPPED 10 LEADERS WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF NONPROFIT EMPLOYMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. LAUNCHING LEADERS, A COLLEGE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHICH EMPLOYS COLLEGE STUDENTS TO WORK ON SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS STARTED THIS YEAR, WITH 14 INTERNS COMPLETING 13 NONPROFIT PROJECTS. NONPROFITS FIRST RESUMED "101 FOR THE 501 AND PROVIDED FOUR HALF DAY PROGRAMS OFFERING 4 CORE NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS TO LEADERS OF EMERGING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE NEWEST PROGRAM IS "201 FOR THE 501", AN EXTENSION OF THE POPULAR 101 PROGRAM, WHICH TEACHES ADVANCED CONCEPTS IN NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT.