There's still time to give to CEN!

Please join us in supporting nonprofit leaders and creating spaces for them to step into their own power through continued learning to better serve our communities.

If everyone on our subscriber list gave $20 today, we'd meet our goal. We are $15,000 away from reaching the finish line!

Nonprofit organizations are constantly asked to do more with less, making their work incredibly challenging, and your contribution to CEN means we can help develop and sustain these leaders so they can continue to fully show up and make a difference in the lives of thousands that rely on the nonprofit sector to meet their everyday needs.

According to Forbes magazine, over four million American workers quit their jobs each month in 2023. Poor mental health is skyrocketing as 70% of the C-suite with the weight of the world—or at least the company—on their shoulders considered quitting to search for a job that responded to their mental health and well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially classified burnout as a medical diagnosis, including the condition in the International Classification of Diseases: “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.

Join us at our upcoming workshop, curated to address the pressing issue of burnout in our sector. In this course, you will engage in transformative discussions, where you'll unravel dynamic strategies for navigating workplace stress, fostering resilience, and mastering effective communication amid organizational change. Elevate your professional toolkit with insights into personal responses to change, stress-relief techniques, and robust resilience-building methodologies. Your journey to a more fulfilling and satisfying nonprofit career begins here!

Gaining a true understanding of your organization’s financials and making strategic decisions as a result can increase your long term impact, perhaps more than any other leadership skill. In this class, we will explore the basic elements of common nonprofit financial statements and will identify tips to better understand what they mean and how they can be used to determine the health of an organization, specifically in times of uncertainty. In addition, we will review basic "financial jargon" and will discuss the nuances of accounting in the nonprofit sector. Participants walk away with an understanding of how they can use this financial information to make timely, strategic decisions.

An effective team is a great asset to your organization; an ineffective one can damage productivity and morale, and can be detrimental to your long-term organizational health. As we all know, teams are made up of individuals with different work experience and backgrounds, each with his or her own particular working style and expertise. These dynamics can often lead to conflict when colleagues don't have the tools they need to work together. CEN can help! This full-day session will show teams how to use an understanding of individuals' social styles and values to create a more effective working environment, leverage collective assets, and work together more strategically. Participants will discover ways to identify barriers, such as implicit vs. explicit agreements, explore how to use team charters to set yourselves up for success, as well as tips for great team meetings. You must register in groups of at least 3 team members ... we encourage full team participation for maximum impact (please contact us if your team is larger than 6 people)!

As the world around us demands changes and shifts that ensure equity and inclusion, it can be difficult for nonprofits and nonprofit leaders to know where to begin. This full day program is a genuine, candid space to explore the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Liberation (IDEAL) and the effect of these principles on the community you serve and the organization as a whole. We understand that there are multiple forms of oppression, such as sexism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism, etc., and we are explicitly, though not exclusively, centering on racism. It is our approach that centering race creates a ripple effect that leads to practices and outcomes that address pervasive structural and institutional oppression within the nonprofit sector and the communities which we serve.



This workshop is intended to provide a respectful, nonjudgmental space and opportunity for growth and thought-partnership. Because we will deeply and authentically discuss IDEAL topics in this course, it will require vulnerability and courage. The goal of this course is not for participants to leave as "experts" in IDEAL, but rather for this to be another key building block that helps you and/or your organization move forward with expanded knowledge, strategies, and the beginning of an action plan as you engage in this critical work.

Our organizational consulting program combines IDEAL principles with leading practices to offer tailored consultations that meet an organization's unique needs. Whether an organization is looking for a basic refresher on board roles, a custom-designed staff or board retreat, or a long-term engagement on organizational effectiveness (IDEAL work, strategic planning), CEN can provide a solution to meet both your needs and your budget. Once we agree on a scope of work, we begin with an organizational assessment (recommended assessments vary by project but include resources such as the DEI Spectrum Tool and our board self-assessment survey based on BoardSource’s Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards). 

Armed with a baseline for expectations, we work in partnership with organizations to set new goals for improvement. Each engagement is customized for our clients based on organization size, goals, and need and is delivered in a format that appropriately fits the scope of work. These customized consultations are conducted by CEN's nonprofit experts on staff and can range from a 1-hour onsite facilitation to an 18-month long, in-depth engagement that involves the entire staff and board in an organizational evolution.

We offer customized coaching using an IDEAL framework to support individuals at any stage of their leadership journey, working within organizations of any size. Coaching provides the opportunity for professionals to take a closer look at their current challenges as well as short and long-term professional goals. This process will help individuals develop skills, implement new strategies and create new practices to maximize their impact and the impact of their organizations. Rooted in IDEAL, individuals who enter into a coaching partnership with us will develop skills to help uplift inclusion, celebrate diversity, and create equitable programs and systems that lead to greater access and liberatory practices for the organization and communities being served. If you have a need for coaching, please reach out to us by clicking on the button below for a no-cost

30-minute consultation.

Coordinating Staff Roles in Disaster: An Introduction to Incident Command System for Organizations

The Incident Command System (ICS) is a framework that emergency workers use to efficiently organize and manage response efforts during disasters. Because the nonprofit sector plays a major role in disaster response, it is essential that San Mateo County nonprofits are trained in and applying ICS principles to their own emergency response efforts. 

This two-hour interactive, in-person workshop will provide a brief background on ICS and show you how to adapt ICS principles to your organization’s emergency planning. Participants will practice applying these principles to realistic disaster scenarios and will walk away with templates for creating Emergency Response Plans and Teams. As with all COAD trainings, this will be an opportunity to connect with other San Mateo County nonprofits that are active in emergency preparedness and response. This workshop is designed for nonprofits, but open to all. 

The event will be held Wednesday, February 21, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, in-person at CZI Community Space, 801 Jefferson Ave, Redwood City, CA 94063.

Are You Thinking About Starting A Nonprofit Organization?

Hosted by Las Positas College Community Education

Are you looking for an overview of the steps and requirements for incorporating and applying for nonprofit status with the IRS and state for your organization? This workshop will provide information to understand the needs and process to obtain nonprofit designation.

The event will be held Monday, February 5, 2024, 6:30 – 8:00 pm on Zoom.

Elevate Tutoring - Executive Director

Elevate Tutoring is an education organization that empowers low-income students through an innovative pay-it-forward model. We train and support our first-generation college fellows who provide near-peer tutoring that inspires younger students to follow in their footsteps to academic and career success. Elevate is looking to hire a full-time Executive Director to join their team and lead the organization as it continues to grow and develop. If you're an experienced Program Director, Development Director, Executive Director, or feel drawn to this work, we would be excited to hear from you! 

Click here to learn more, or apply directly by submitting this form.

Foundation for a College Education - Program Manager

Since 1995, Foundation for a College Education (FCE), a nonprofit organization, located in East Palo Alto,  California, has offered comprehensive college access and success services to students in the local community.  FCE’s mission is to increase the number of students of color from East Palo Alto and similar communities who  graduate from a four-year college or university.

FCE is seeking a Program Manager, College Bound – 9th & 10th Grade to provide academic and college planning  support to high school students and their families. Ideal candidates will have 3-5 years of youth development  experience. For more information, please visit: www.collegefoundation.org. Interested candidates please email resume and cover letter to: twashington@collegefoundation.org.

WeHOPE - Chief Financial Officer

WeHOPE helps vulnerable people thrive by giving them the support and tools to realize their full potential and lead healthy, stable lives. For more than 24 years, we have helped thousands of individuals and families develop the skills and abilities to improve their lives and build their own futures. WeHOPE is searching for a Chief Financial Officer to perform effective risk management and to plan the organization’s financial strategy. The position will report to the President, CEO, and become part of a dynamic, grassroots development team tactically focused on advancing our mission.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Sunnyvale Community Services - Chief Financial Officer

Founded in 1970, Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS) is an independent, nonprofit emergency assistance agency in the heart of Silicon Valley. SCS’s mission is to prevent homelessness and hunger in our local community. SCS is designated as one of seven Emergency Assistance Network (EAN) agencies that together are the safety net for all zip codes in Santa Clara County. Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS) seeks a strategic, mission-centric, and collaborative CFO, who will be integral part of the executive management team. This is an exciting opportunity for a nonprofit financial leader that would like to make a real difference in the lives of under-resourced families in and around Sunnyvale.

Click here to learn more and apply.