Change is a constant, yet our brain naturally rejects it. As a leading nonprofit professional, your role is to embrace the opportunity that emerges from the current volatility. In this webinar, we will uncover the good side and dark side of our leadership style and also find ways to become better influencers to create value for ourselves and the communities we represent.


Nonprofit Leadership & Management Certificate Program

This summer, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona has partnered again with The University of Arizona’s Eller Executive Education team to provide nonprofit leadership and management training to local nonprofit professionals!

In addition, nonprofit professionals are eligible to receive a Leadership & Management Certificate from Eller Executive Education if they complete three of the eight provided modules. This certificate program is provided free of charge to local nonprofits, thanks to community support provided by local individuals and organizations through the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.

The Summer 2022 cohort registration is closed.

The following webinars are open to the public:

  • Eller Intro to Partnership: June 29, 2022, 9:30-10:30 AM | Watch the recording.
  • Eller Nonprofit Business Challenge: July 21, 2022, 1:00-2:00 PM| Register here
  • Eller Nonprofit Leadership Challenge: August 18, 2022, 3:30-4:30 PM | Register here

Important Dates:

  • June 20, 2022: Summer 2022 registration opens
  • July 22, 2022: Summer 2022 registration closes
  • August 1, 2022: Summer 2022 courses begin
  • September 16, 2022: Summer 2022 courses end

Program Modules:

(NEW) Fundraising for Nonprofit Professionals  
Fundraising is a critical nonprofit function, yet many nonprofit professionals and volunteers remain uncomfortable with it and default their activities to those that they perceive as less “in your face.” In this course, you will learn the difference between relationship-based and transactional fundraising strategies and how to apply them when using specific fundraising techniques. You will learn how to identify prospective donors with the potential for the highest impact. We will walk through the process for developing those prospects toward a major gift, what an “ask” really entails, and what you need to do to keep that donor engaged and supporting your organization over their lifetime. View the course description video here.

(NEW) Grant Writing for Non-Profit Professionals
Diversifying fund sources ensures sustainable growth and grants are one of the best ways for nonprofits to fund their programs. Grant seeking can be at times abstruse and time-consuming and yet it can be life-changing for the communities at large. In this course, you will learn how to find the right grants for your nonprofit, write impactful grant proposals, and build strong relationships with grantors so that the organization can count on funding for years to come. View the course description video here.

(NEW) Accounting for Non-Profit Professionals
Knowing the “numbers” is an important skill for all managers in a nonprofit environment – sometimes, it can make a difference in the long-term sustainability of the organization. This practical course will improve your understanding of the financial health of your organization by introducing the required financial statements of not-for-profit organizations, as well as providing an overview of some of the elements within the financial statements. You will acquire essential budgeting skills and financial tools to learn how to build program budgets and review program financial statements. This course is ideal for program managers, as well as accounting staff that want to improve their understanding of basic not-for-profit accounting. View the course description video here.

Understanding & Overcoming Leadership Derailers in Times of Stress & Uncertainty
Most of us have blind spots – those aspects of our leadership that may emerge and limit our effectiveness. These can be exacerbated in times of stress, uncertainty, and turbulence. In this course, you will learn the causes of leadership derailment and pinpoint what Derailers may be present and cause you difficulty.  At the conclusion of the module, you’ll develop a set of actions to risk mitigate your potential for derailment.  View the course description video here.

Developing Resilience & Power in Turbulence through Sponsor & Mentor Networks
There seems to be universal agreement that the post-pandemic workplace will continue to evolve and most likely be forever changed. Navigating your career will undoubtedly bring opportunities, as well as challenges and the role of mentors and sponsors will take on an even greater significance. In this course, you’ll learn the difference between mentors and sponsors – and leverage both to advance your business interests. You’ll practice asking for mentorship and sponsorship. Lastly, you’ll rethink the role of mentors and develop actions to cultivate a more diverse portfolio of them to empower your career decisions.  View course description video here.

The Paradox of Leadership
Today we are confronted more than ever with paradoxes – those complex challenges where there may not be one “right” solution. The options in these situations may appear to be in direct opposition to each other when in reality, each decision has upsides and downsides. Common themes are focusing globally vs. locally, planning for the long term vs. short term, whether federal vs. state oversight is appropriate, and how to balance work and family. These paradoxes can lead groups to “dig in their heels” and argue for one side or the other and potentially miss the opportunities of embracing aspects of both sides towards a common goal. In this course, you’ll learn how to differentiate between a paradox and a problem, practice using a tool to map a paradox, and guide a productive dialogue that strives for an optimal balance between the two opposing ideas – the critical leadership skill of and+both thinking.  View course description video here.

Managing Business Models & Business Options through Turbulence & Change
Challenging business conditions and turbulence can play havoc with our current value propositions and our profitability. While turbulence is certainly filled with threats, it can also unlock new opportunities. The task for any leader or manager then becomes how to stay true to the strategy and vision for the organization while responding to changing conditions. This module will explore how to assess our current business model between the constraints and the potential opportunities that exist during turbulence and unwanted change. In this course, we will identify the essential components of what an effective value proposition is and uncover what the non-negotiables to good execution look like.  View the course description video here.

Board Governance & Advancing Project Oversight
Joining a board is an aspiration for many business professionals. Passion for a cause, offering deep expertise, and prestige are just some of the reasons. Yet the most effective directors and board members possess a deep and expansive view of their roles. Their commitment extends beyond aspirations to ensure value creation for all stakeholders. As executive directors, the passion, expertise, and value creation provided by board members are the foundation for an effective organization. In this course, we will cover the fundamental components of board governance: from board composition to board-staff partnerships, and the role of a board during change. In the process, we will examine the approaches, assumptions, and practices of board leadership. The principles in this course apply to executive directors and those who are responsible for overseeing non-profit boards as well as new board members and those aspiring to join boards. View the course description video here.