St. John Fisher University to Offer Scholarships to Local Nonprofit Leaders

The Center for Nonprofit Leadership (CNL) at St. John Fisher University is launching a new scholarship to support the local community of nonprofit professionals and leaders looking for additional capacity-building professional development opportunities.

The Nonprofit Capacity Building Scholarship Fund will provide critical support to the local nonprofit sector through subsidization of enrollment in CNL’s highest-demand programs that are positioned to address capacity-building needs, including the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program and the Board Leadership Seminar. The certificate program provides specialized training for professionals seeking operational excellence, and the leadership seminar provides essential governance and strategic training for current.

“The nonprofit sector is facing compounding challenges, from increased community demand to shrinking operational budgets. Professional development funds are often the first line item eliminated, and organizations urgently require capacity-building opportunities to adapt” said Dr. Wanda Cooper, director of Fisher’s Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, home of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership. “This scholarship responds to that need to ensure that professional development remains accessible to those who need it most.”

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:

• Be currently employed by or serving on the executive committee of an active working board of a registered nonprofit organization.
• Have a demonstrated need as all scholarships will be prioritized for organizations with severe financial constraints or no professional development funds.
• Outline how they plan to apply the skills learned to directly benefit their organization’s mission

To maximize community impact, priority will be given to returning participants who have completed some non-profit management courses with the Center and need assistance to complete all six courses for their full certificate.

The scholarship application is now available and the Center is recruiting for fall courses. To learn more or to apply for the scholarship, visit the Center for Nonprofit Leadership website.