Nonprofit organizations are one of the fastest growing segments of the United States economy. Although they address many of society’s most critical needs and wants -- they face many challenges.
Competition for resources, problems of governance and accountability, and risks associated with rapidly changing economic, social and political environments all put the success of these organizations (and their constituents) in almost constant jeopardy.
Effective, proactive leadership by senior administrative and management staff and chief executives is the key to surviving and thriving in the years and decades to come.
The challenges mentioned above are further compounded by an impending leadership gap. In part, this gap is growing as succession planning and professional development efforts have not typically resulted in placing adequate numbers of “new” nonprofit management talent in postions that enable keeping pace with the retirement trends of current nonprofit leaders.
It is imperative that current leaders in every nonprofit arena — health care, arts, human services, education, environment, international assistance, community development, social justice, and others — perform at their highest possible level, and that emerging leaders are identified and receive the best possible management and leadership education.
This context forms the motivations and foundation for the Executive Leadership Program for Nonprofit Organizations (ELPNO).
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