The Core Certificate Program (or Core Program) equips nonprofit, public, and social impact leaders with the skills, knowledge, and networks they need to make strategic, mission-driven decisions that center diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), and effect meaningful change in their organizations and beyond.

Accelerate Organizational and Community Impact

Through the Core Program, established community and nonprofit managers and executives can realize their full potential, building on their strengths to elevate their careers and organizational and community impact. The year-long program includes*:

  • Weekly Management Seminars (2 hours per session) taught by Management Seminar faculty – and supported by guest lecturers – that study the fundamentals of management and leadership.
  • Weekly Practice Seminars (2 hours per session) facilitated by Senior Fellows and conducted in small groups that engage in action-oriented problem-solving for specific leadership and management challenges confronted by students and their organizations.
  • Access to additional resources through the Institute’s network. This includes learning from other leaders in the sector, current students, alumni, faculty members, community partners, and funders.

Who are Core Program Students?

At INP, we know that the learning experience in the classroom is strengthened by the diversity of our students and our faculty. Our classes represent a wide array of fields and roles across the social impact sector, from education to the environment, and finance to fundraising. We encourage students across all identities, backgrounds, and organizational sizes to apply.

Ideal candidates for the Core Program are:

  • Growth-oriented individuals seeking to enhance their leadership and management impact through classroom learning and hands-on practice
  • Nonprofit and public sector C-suite executives, social entrepreneurs, senior leaders, and managers who share a passion for and dedication to racial and gender equity
  • Collaborative leaders who aspire to build or expand cross-sector networks/partnerships for social change

Applications for our Core Certificate Program are currently closed. Priority applications for the Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 cohort will open on December 9th, 2024. Please contact recruitment@nonprofitpractice.org with any questions regarding the application process.

Apply Now

Classes

Management Seminars

Generally, Management Seminars meet weekly from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. for 22 sessions. Management Seminars are:

  • A class of 24 to 36 students
  • Led by a Core faculty member, with guest instructors; topics include:
    • Financial management
    • Strategy, growth, and evaluation
    • Team development and leadership
    • Organizational culture and change management
    • Strategic marketing and communications
    • Appreciative Inquiry
    • Governance and leveraging your board
    • Development and executing fundraising strategies
    • Self-care, mindfulness and healing
  • Comprised of engaging presentations, case discussions, and small group work

Practice Seminars

Generally, Practice Seminars meet weekly from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. following the Management Seminar. Practice Seminars are:

  • Cohorts of 8 to 9 students (sub-groups of Management Seminar students)
  • Facilitated by a Senior Fellow
  • Highly engaging case presentation formats, where students address organizational and leadership challenges in supportive cohorts and develop action plans to advance their work and careers

Please visit our FAQ page for more details.

Academic Year

Our program term typically lasts from October through early May. A detailed schedule will be provided during the enrollment process. Please note that breaks are incorporated throughout all sessions.

Class Schedule

Currently offered in multiple regions across the country, this place-based program is delivered virtually with select in-person engagement. Students enrolled in the Core Certificate Program commit to the schedule of their specific class.

Generally, Core Certificate Program classes meet weekly with a 4-hour student commitment. Please see an overview of our current site schedules below:

  • Boston (MA): Weekly on Wednesdays or Thursdays, pending student assignment, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 pm for Management Seminar and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m for Practice Seminar.
  • Cape Cod & the Islands (MA): Weekly on Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for Management Seminar and Wednesdays twice a month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for Practice Seminar. Please note that the Providence and Cape Cod & the Islands cohort will meet together for Management Seminar.
  • Merrimack Valley / Essex County (MA): Weekly on Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for Management Seminar and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Practice Seminar.
  • New York City (NY): Weekly on Wednesdays or Thursdays, pending student assignment, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for Management Seminar and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Practice Seminar.
  • Providence (RI): Weekly on Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m for Management Seminar and from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. for Practice Seminar. Please note that the Providence and Cape Cod & the Islands cohort will meet together for their Management Seminar.
  • San Francisco Bay Area (CA): Weekly on Wednesdays or Thursdays, pending student assignment, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for Management Seminar and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for Practice Seminar.
  • Western New York: Weekly on Wednesdays or Thursdays, pending student assignment, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for Management Seminar and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Practice Seminar.

Process

Our application process consists of two parts, including:

Online Application

  • Resumé, program preferences, and demographic information
  • Short answer responses to two prompts. Applicants are not evaluated based on strength of writing and short answer responses are not considered as a writing sample  they are purely to understand more about you as a candidate. Please limit responses to two-five sentences. The two prompts are: 1) What specific skills, knowledge, or experiences do you hope to gain from your INP experience? and 2) Briefly describe a current management or leadership challenge you’re facing and what support you need to address it.

Group Interview

  • Candidates will participate in a virtual group interview that can last up to two hours.

Completed applications will be reviewed with priority for each deadline. Applicants will receive a more detailed timeline during the application process.

Application Deadlines

Applications for our Core Certificate Program are currently closed. Priority applications for the Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 cohort will open on December 9th, 2024. Please contact recruitment@nonprofitpractice.org with any questions regarding the application process.

Apply Now

Tuition

Please do not let financial constraints prevent you from applying to the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.

We are committed to making our award-winning programs as accessible as possible. Thanks to the generosity of our Board of Directors and funding partners, any leader who wishes to participate in the Core Certificate Program and is accepted can do so at no cost to the leader or their organization.

However, if you or your organization is in a position to contribute financially toward the cost of participating in INP, it will allow us to continue to extend these types of opportunities to even more social sector leaders. A typical contribution is $3,500.

The ability to contribute financially will in no way affect admissions decisions. If accepted into the program, you can let us know at the time of enrollment that you are open to contributing.

Continuing Education

Students who are interested in receiving Continuing Education hours should reach out to INP staff to discuss further. In Massachusetts, specifically, students can earn more than 80 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258 CMR.

Certification

Core program graduates receive a certificate in Social Impact Management and Leadership from INP.

alumni community

Become a lifelong learner. Check out our alumni page for more on these benefits.

Alumni Report

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built their social capital and gained access to stronger personal and professional networks

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improved their ability to facilitate organizational change

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achieved a better work-life balance

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improved their ability to build a healthy, high performing team culture

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