Nonprofit Leadership Development

Capacity-Building for Nonprofits

Solving society’s most complex challenges requires effective leaders. Leadership training for nonprofit organizations fosters greater courage, creativity, and collaboration.

Nonprofit organizations are instrumental in changing lives and transforming communities. And nonprofit organizations need effective leadership to successfully advance their missions.

It can feel like an uphill battle. Nonprofit leaders face distinct challenges that go beyond the drive to enact positive social change while navigating complex, resource-constrained environments.

A big part of the job also involves building the future leadership pipeline; attracting, developing, and retaining top talent; and fighting burnout among dedicated staff. 

We’ve worked hard to build solutions that help nonprofits address these challenges and grow the leadership skills of current and future leaders through nonprofit professional development.

In our decades of experience in the sector, we’ve partnered with thousands of foundations for philanthropic leadership development initiatives, such as providing nonprofit leadership training programs for emerging, mid-level, and executive nonprofit staff and providing capacity-building for nonprofit organizations and next-generation social sector leaders. Together, let’s become a catalyst for change.

Leadership Training for Nonprofit Organizations

We can partner with you to craft nonprofit leadership development that gives you and your community the greatest possible return on investment.

With a combination of leadership analytics, talent diagnostics, 360 assessments, and other instruments, we can do a deep dive into your leaders, your culture, your priorities, and your employee engagement levels to help inform your investments in nonprofit leadership training.

  • Exceptionally thorough and focused on your needs

Starting from the transformative premise that better culture starts with better conversations, our suite of coaching and conversational skills solutions can help you strengthen the fabric of your entire organization and community.

Build and scale coaching skills for more candid and productive conversations, more effective solutions to your challenges, and a stronger, more psychologically safe culture of feedback.

  • Human-centered, research-based development experience
  • Transformational, lasting impact

A job promotion doesn’t automatically create a new leader — it creates the opportunity to become one.

Frontline, first-level, and new managers are your largest population of leaders, the critical people responsible for day-to-day operations, yet most are new to managing others.

Equip them to start strong, or groom those with leadership potential, using our new manager courses and solutions designed to address the specific challenges of this leader level.

  • Variety of formats and options to meet your needs

Go Deeper on Nonprofit Leadership Development

Explore our research-based report on the 5 most important leadership skills in nonprofit leadership, and learn how leadership development in nonprofit organizations helps build and retain strong leaders.

What Our Nonprofit Clients Are Saying

At CCL, we measure success by lives touched and impact made. That’s why the organizations we work with and the leaders we transform consistently tell us the same thing: their experience in partnering with us for leadership development in nonprofit organizations is a game-changer. We’re honored that our work in capacity-building for nonprofits has helped many organizations impact thousands of lives in hundreds of communities.

But don’t just take our word for it — take theirs.

American Express Leadership Academy
Habitat for Humanity
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Disability Rights North Carolina (NC) logo
The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation logo

“American Express is known for growing great leaders, and we’re passionate about applying our skills and expertise to help nonprofits cultivate and advance talent within their own organizations.”

American Express Leadership Academy

Richard Brown

Vice President of Philanthropy
American Express

“We have created a critical mass of leaders who are connected, collaborative, and committed to our mission. We are working in more system-focused ways and leveraging our strengths in ways we never anticipated.”

La June Montgomery Tabron

President and CEO
W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Impact of Our Leadership Training for Nonprofit Organizations

What participants said about the effectiveness of our solutions for leadership development in nonprofit organizations:

would recommend the course to others
1 %
have been able to apply program lessons at work
1 %
say they’re more effective as a leader
1 %

Meet Our Nonprofit Leadership Development Experts

Shera Clark

Shera Clark, PhD

Program Director & Global Solutions Faculty

Shera has extensive experience in in leadership education. Her experience includes business development, account management, and the design and delivery of customized leadership development programs for corporate, education, and nonprofit sectors. Her interests include building leadership capacity in the nonprofit sector and the changing face of diversity in the workplace.

Andrea (Andi) Williams

Andi Williams, MAEd

Global Director, Nonprofit & Population Health

Andi designs and delivers transformational development experiences, with a particular focus on developing public health leaders. She has also authored a book chapter, “Culture of Health Leaders: Building a Diverse Network to Advance Health Equity” in Leading Community Based Changes in the Culture of Health in the U.S.

Marin Burton

Marin Burton, PhD

Senior Faculty, Societal Impact

Marin has extensive experience working as an experiential educator and facilitator. She’s a nationally recognized expert with over 25 years as a sought-after trainer for schools, districts, universities, nonprofits, and corporations. She leverages her experience in community, business, and academia to create dynamic, learner-centered experiences. Her work spans a diverse array of portfolios, including nonprofit and public health sectors, where she develops leaders to drive meaningful societal change.

Jayke Hamill

Jayke Hammill, MA

Senior Faculty, Societal Impact and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Jayke designs and facilitates leadership development programs with nonprofit organizations, grassroots community leaders, foundations, and educators. Jayke has worked alongside clients and communities to create spaces that foster equity, diversity & inclusion, supporting leaders in advancing racial equity, building advocacy pipelines for disability rights, and strengthening networks among LGBTQ leaders.

Let’s Discuss Nonprofit Leadership Development

Our experts are here to help. Get in touch with us to discuss how our solutions for leadership development in nonprofit organizations could be transformational for your organization and community.

Nonprofit Leadership Development: Research & Resources

More About Capacity-Building for Nonprofits

Nonprofit Leadership Development Strengthens the Talent Pipeline

As a nonprofit ourselves, we understand the need for strong, mission-driven, focused leadership. We can help you achieve your mission, advance your cause, and build stronger and more equitable communities.

Whether you’re an executive director of a national charity, or a local or regional cause-related organization, we share your sense of purpose and unwavering passion to improve the human condition.

That’s why we believe in the power of life-changing, transformational leadership development. Capacity-building for nonprofits can help social sector leaders remain mission-focused as they sharpen their skills through nonprofit professional development, including sharpening their ability to navigate challenges and equipping them to build a strong organizational culture.

leadership development in nonprofit organizations
nonprofit organizations leadership training

Leadership Development in Nonprofit Organizations: Partnering for Success

Our approach is collaborative, and we work with you, your partners, and funders to develop and deliver innovative and top-quality nonprofit leadership development solutions that meet the unique needs of your organization and align with your values and mission.

We offer capacity-building for nonprofits through leadership training experiences designed for the distinct environment and specific challenges facing funders, organizations, and community partners working in the nonprofit sector. Like you, we are guided by purpose and fueled by passion.

Combine your talented team with our world-class, research-based nonprofit leadership training solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Leadership Development in Nonprofit Organizations

A nonprofit organization needs effective leadership to successfully achieve its mission. Training nonprofit leaders and staff reduces burnout, builds leadership skills, strengthens and advances the cause, and builds stronger, more equitable organizations and communities.

A good nonprofit leader is an individual who is a mission-driven team player guided by purpose. They are passionate about igniting systemic change, and they proactively work to create a candid, collaborative culture within their organization. Additionally, a strong nonprofit leader rises to the occasion when faced with challenges, and finds new opportunities to invest in their team through nonprofit leadership training.

Our research-backed nonprofit leadership training programs are created for emerging, mid-level, and senior or executive-level staff. Whether you’re a current or future leader tasked with building the nonprofit leadership pipeline, attracting talent, or navigating complex challenges, our decades of research and experience in the public sector can help you become a catalyst for change.

The benefits of nonprofit professional development include leaders with a renewed sense of purpose, reduced burnout, improved communication skills, strengthened team alignment, advancement toward the mission, and more equitable and inclusive organizations and communities. Plus, our nonprofit leadership training solutions can be customized to meet the needs of your organization’s unique values, culture, challenges, and mission.

More questions? Our experts are here to help. Let’s have a conversation!