We strive to facilitate inclusive, accessible programs that enable all individuals, including individuals with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, to engage fully. Each of our program registration forms includes a box to share unique needs or concerns at the time of registration. In this field, please share anything that may help us support you best during our programming. In an effort to ensure a successful experience, we recommend advanced notice of 2 or more weeks to address such requests.
Learning Calendar
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Thursday, November 19th • 9 AM - 12 PM PST
Overview
Boost team culture, strategy, and impact in this interactive workshop designed to build high-performing nonprofit teams.
About the Workshop
If your organization only takes advantage of one professional development opportunity this year—this is the one.
Developing a high-performing team doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intention, tools, and a commitment to building a culture where people collaborate effectively, stay aligned, and deliver meaningful results. In this full-day, highly interactive workshop, you’ll explore the core components of strong team dynamics and leave with practical strategies you can implement immediately. We’ll cover how to build an effective team charter, run more strategic and energizing meetings, leverage your team’s collective assets, and overcome the common barriers that hold teams back.
This session is designed for full team participation—bring your colleagues and come ready to collaborate. Whether you manage a small team or are navigating complex internal dynamics, this workshop will help your group perform at a higher level.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit leaders, managers, and staff teams seeking to improve their internal culture, collaboration, and effectiveness.
Outcomes
Learn how to build and sustain a strong team culture rooted in trust, alignment, and accountability
Identify barriers to team performance and discover strategies to overcome them
Develop or refine a team charter to clarify values, expectations, and ways of working
Gain tools to run more productive, focused, and collaborative meetings
Understand how to leverage the unique strengths of your team
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Thursday, November 12th • 1 PM - 4 PM PST • In-Person
Overview
In the interactive workshop, learn about behavioral categories, how to navigate challenging team dynamics, and monitoring your own behavior.
About the Workshop
This interactive workshop will provide an in-depth analysis and discussion about behaviors that can derail a high-performing team and a healthy workplace culture. We will discuss team dynamics, behavioral categories, and how to navigate challenging behaviors. Participants will roleplay scenarios, work on effective communication, and practice how to approach different personalities while maintaining leading management practices with compassion. Participants will also learn how to self-identify and monitor their own behaviors to set an example for others. Bring your own examples/struggles, and we will work together to create action plans.
This workshop will be in-person, and held at one of the Sobrato Nonprofit Centers. Specific locaiton to be announced.
If you are looking for a refresher on leading management practices you may also want to check out our Management Basics - Part 1 workshop.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit staff, at all levels, looking for resources to manage effective teams.
Outcomes
Translate “bad attitudes” into observable behaviors that can be corrected and improved
Identify guidelines for promoting a positive outcome in every challenging situation
Recognize the various types of challenging behaviors, underlying sources, and how to appropriately address them
Articulate why the challenging behavior is an issue and the consequences for not minimizing or changing the behavior
Monitor your own behaviors to minimize the likelihood of your team members exhibiting challenging behaviors
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Thursday, October 8th • 1 PM - 4 PM PST
Overview
Gain insight into common budgeting practices, challenges, and strategies used across the nonprofit sector.
About the Workshop
A strong budget is more than a financial document. It is a strategic tool that helps nonprofits align resources, plan for uncertainty, and make informed decisions throughout the year. This interactive budgeting session builds on the concepts introduced in Understanding Nonprofit Financials and focuses on the practical side of nonprofit budgeting.
Participants will learn budget categorization, review sample nonprofit budgets to identify effective budgeting practices and common challenges, and strengthen their confidence in participating in budget planning conversations and financial decision-making.
Designed as a collaborative learning space, this workshop encourages participants to ask questions, share experiences, and strengthen their confidence in building and managing budgets that support organizational sustainability and mission impact.
Completion of Understanding Nonprofit Financials Part 1 & 2 is recommended but not required. View our learning calendar for upcoming dates for those two workshops.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit executives, board members, senior staff, and emerging leaders.
Outcomes
Understand the core components and categories of a nonprofit budget
Differentiate between program, administrative, personnel, and indirect costs, along with how to code expenses when reconciling your budget
Explore approaches for building and managing restricted and unrestricted funding within a budget
Learn practical strategies for adapting budgets in response to funding shifts, growth, or organizational change
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Tuesday, October 13th • 1 PM - 4 PM PST
Overview
Learn practical tools to attract the right talent and match board recruiting strategies in this interactive workshop.
About the Workshop
Learn the nine key steps to finding, recruiting, and engaging nonprofit board members while matching these strategies to your organization's mission. We will explore tactics for effectively identifying what board talent your organization needs to achieve your impact goals, offer practical ways to find and develop these board candidates, and discuss strategies to keep them engaged once they've joined the board.
Intended Audience:
Executive Directors, Board Members, and nonprofit professionals working with boards.
We recommend your Executive Director/CEO and board member(s) attend this workshop together!
Outcomes
Explore the 9 steps to finding, recruiting, and engaging nonprofit board members
Identify what board talent your organization needs
Gain tools to recruit great board members
Obtain skills to engage and retain board members
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Thursday, November 12th • 9 AM - 12 PM PST • In-Person
Overview
Learn key management skills, leading HR practices, remote work strategies, and tools to boost team productivity and communication.
About the Workshop
Have you found yourself leading a team without any formal training on what it takes to be a successful people manager? Are you struggling with management and/or looking for a refresher on management best practices? Especially in the nonprofit sector, where resources for training are often scarce at best, you are not alone! This workshop will show you the management techniques you need to set yourself – and your team! – up for success. Participants will learn how to set expectations, manage performance day-to-day, and review human resources best practices. Additionally, we'll offer leading practices and strategies for managing and working remotely as well as resources to help staff cope during difficult times. You will also leave with the tools to improve productivity, communication, and overall team satisfaction.
This workshop will be held in person, at one of Sobratos Nonprofit Centers. Specific location to be announced!
Join us for Management Basics - Part 2 to build on what you’ve learned and dive deeper into behavioral categories, how to navigate challenging team dynamics, and monitoring your own behavior.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit staff in or aspiring to management positions and anyone interested in refreshing their management skills.
Outcomes
Gain knowledge/overview of management best practices
Learn specific techniques to set, communicate, and evaluate expectations
Explore how to manage strengths and weaknesses throughout the year
Leave with a personalized template for effective staff management
Gain templates, tools, & strategies for effective remote work
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Saturday, October 3rd • 9 AM - 12 PM PST
Overview
For nonprofit board chairs on leadership, CEO relations, board roles, and strategies for effective meetings.
About the Workshop
In this workshop, CEN will guide you through what it takes to an effective board leader by providing a refresher on board service responsibilities in general and a more in-depth look at the chairperson role in particular. Together we will explore strategies to build and strengthen the critical relationship between the board chair and the CEO and will share leading practices of board governance and leadership. Participants will also leave with tools to ensure your board meetings are efficient and the discussions are generative.
Intended Audience:
Executive directors, board members, and anyone interested in learning more about nonprofit board service.
Outcomes
Identify the differences between nonprofit boards and Board Chair roles and responsibilities
Recognize the characteristics of a healthy CEO-Chair relationship
Implement tools and strategies for increased board engagement
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
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Tuesday, September 22nd • 9 AM - 12 PM PST
Overview
This workshop, will unpack where leadership models that fall short of effective and compassionate leadership, and current leading practices.
About the Workshop
In this workshop, we will unpack the nonprofit sector’s historical leadership models that fall short of serving the creation of an effective while compassionate workspace. As the notion of a healthy workplace culture continues to evolve, it is important that we reevaluate our current leadership models and incorporate compassionate leadership principles to serve others. Join us in exploring what it means to lead with wisdom and compassion and to strike a balance between the two.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit board members, leadership, and staff members
Outcomes
Learn helpful listening styles
Examine harmful leadership styles and their impacts
Understand inclusive leadership styles and their impacts
Explore the pathways to compassionate leadership
Develop an individualized leadership charter
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Tuesday, September 15th • 1 PM - 4 PM PST
Overview
Deepen your financial knowledge—learn how to use financial metrics, cash flow, & fund accounting to strengthen your org's sustainability
About the Workshop
A deeper understanding of your nonprofit’s financials is essential for long-term sustainability, risk management, and strategic decision-making. Understanding Nonprofit Financials - Part 2 builds on the fundamentals covered in Part 1 and takes a closer look at how nonprofit leaders can use financial data to assess organizational health, ensure liquidity, and plan for a stable future.In this session, we will demystify key financial ratios, cash flow statements, and fund accounting principles, equipping you with tools to make more confident, data-driven decisions. Participants will leave with a clearer sense of how to leverage financial metrics not just for reporting—but as a strategic tool for growth, sustainability, and mission alignment.
Completion of Understand Nonprofit Financials - Part 1 is recommended but not required.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit executives, board members, senior staff, finance staff, and emerging leaders responsible for financial strategy and oversight.
Outcomes
Evaluate key financial ratios to assess financial health and sustainability
Analyze and interpret cash flow statements to manage liquidity
Understand fund accounting principles, including restrictions on funds
Plan for long-term financial sustainability through budgeting, reserves, and investments
Integrate financial metrics into strategic planning and decision-making processes
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Tuesday, September 15th • 9 AM - 12 PM PST
Overview
Learn to interpret nonprofit financials, track costs, and make strategic decisions to strengthen your organization's impact.
About the Workshop
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.
This workshop is the first part to a two-part series. Register for Understanding Nonprofit Financials - Part 2 as well!
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit executives, board members, senior staff, and emerging leaders.
Outcomes
Understanding basic nonprofit financial statements
Understanding the difference types of nonprofit income
Learn how to set up your cost accounting to more accurately track costs
How to interpret nonprofit financial statements
What other factors to consider when making strategic financial decision, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Tuesday, September 9th • 9 AM - 12 PM PST
Overview
Lead through change with confidence—gain tools to manage transitions, reduce resistance, and guide your team through uncertainty.
About the Workshop
We have all experienced shifts in the workplace, especially now as the world continues to change each day. This session is designed to give participants the tools and techniques to lead our organizations through times of change and crisis more effectively. As a result, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of what happens to people when an organizational change initiative (both expected and unexpected) occurs, and will feel more prepared to address the myriad challenges that come your way.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit executives, board members, emerging leaders, and key staff.
Outcomes
Understand why change initiatives fail and how to ensure their success
Implement a framework to actively lead change efforts
Begin to plan for the success of future change through close evaluation of the current initiative
Continue to plan for the success of future change through close evaluation of the current initiative
Identify, acknowledge, and manage resistance to ensure an efficient transition
Apply techniques for increasing and gaining commitment to the change
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Tuesday, September 1st • 9 AM - 12 PM PST
Overview
This workshop teaches participants how to intentionally find, hire, and onboard employees.
About the Workshop
The process of finding and hiring new employees often takes a significant investment of time and energy. As many organizations work to rebuild or expand services to meet increased demand, it can be difficult to find the right candidates and tempting to cut corners in order to get people onboarded and filling gaps in service as quickly as possible. Yet, in the long run, a bad hire is not only disruptive to your team, it also ends up being even more time consuming and expensive for your organization. On the other hand, finding the right employee - and setting them up for success in an inclusive environment - can help propel your mission forward, especially now. This interactive workshop teaches participants how to intentionally find, hire, and onboard employees. You will learn tips to assess and define your organization’s needs and values before you begin the hiring process, gain insight to develop strong job descriptions that will attract the right talent, and examine the interview process and how you can embed case studies to better evaluate candidates. Participants will walk away with tools and resources to build a more intentional and effective hiring process and a guide to help new hires excel in their roles, starting from day one.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit staff managers, hr professionals, and executive directors looking for a general refresh/overview on intentional and effective hiring practices.
Outcomes
Review strategies to frame your hiring process
Explore how you can use your mission and values to determine your hiring goals
Gain a template for creating stronger job descriptions
Learn how to develop questions to identify the behaviors and competencies you want in your next employee
Create a plan for success with a proper orientation and expectation setting
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Thursday, August 20th • 1 PM - 4 PM PST
Overview
This interactive workshop dives into how to collect and share community stories in an ethical and trauma-informed approach
About the Workshop
Fundraising stories can inspire funders and donors, deepen connections, and build support for an organization’s mission. They also carry responsibility. The Art of Storytelling in Fundraising Workshop explores how nonprofits can collect and share community stories in ways that are ethical, respectful, and trauma informed. This workshop examines the impact storytelling has on the individuals and communities behind the message, especially for organizations serving people.
Participants will learn practical approaches for gathering stories with care, obtaining clear consent, and avoiding narratives that exploit pain for donor engagement. Through discussion, reflection, and real-world examples, this workshop challenges organizations to move beyond deficit-based storytelling and toward practices that honor dignity, resilience, and community voice.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit development, marketing, and communications teams/staff; program staff who want to strengthen their storytelling practices; nonprofit leaders and board members; foundation staff and donor-advised-fund managers.
Outcomes
Understand the role storytelling plays in ethical and effective fundraising, while recognizing how traditional fundraising practices can unintentionally exploit communities
Develop trauma-informed practices that honor the dignity of the storytellers when collecting, sharing, and stewarding community stories
Learn how language and messaging can center resilience, agency, and humanity of the communities you serve over deficit-based narratives in fundraising
Balance fundraising and marketing goals with ethical responsibility and community care.
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Wednesday, July 29th • 9 AM - 12 PM PST
Overview
Learn how to confidently ask for what you want in this interactive workshop - don't miss out!
About the Workshop
Have you ever wondered who was responsible for fundraising and how this can be accomplished effectively? If so, this training is for you! The basics are revealed in our Fundraising Basics Workshop, while this session will help you identify best practices for successful fundraising while clarifying roles at every level of a nonprofit organization. Together we will explore and practice strategies and techniques to set proper expectations, expand your team's ability to raise money for your organization (including special strategies during times of crisis), and maximize your impact.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit staff, executive directors, and board members who participate or are interested in learning more about fundraising.
Outcomes
Learn to create a development plan during a crisis
Deep dive into various types of fundraising and identify ways you may help
Pinpoint fundraising responsibilities at every level of your organization
Examine the stages of fundraising
Uncover fundraising facts and trends
Practice making the ask
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Wednesday, July 22nd • 9 AM - 12 PM PST
Overview
Learn the essential tips and strategies for successful grant writing in our interactive workshop!
About the Workshop
Grant writing skills are in demand and valuable to anyone working in non-profits seeking grants or government contracts. This interactive workshop provides an introduction to the grant seeking process including an overview of the essential administrative functions for grant acquisition, types of funding sources, prospect research, cultivation of funders, breakdown of budgets, the anatomy of a grant, examining examples, and preparing a proposal concept. It also addresses changes to the funding environment and how nonprofits can adapt to changes.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit staff entering the grant writing and fundraising sector, executive directors, and board members that are seeking a better understanding of the grant funding process.
Outcomes
Gain an understanding of the different types of grant funding
Enhance grant writing and storytelling skills
Gain an understanding of the importance of grant reporting
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
Wednesday, July 1st • 9 AM - 12 PM PST
Overview
Learn the essential tips and strategies for successful fundraising in our interactive Fundraising Basics Workshop!
About the Workshop
For many of us, just thinking about fundraising can be daunting. Sound familiar? Then join us for this workshop, and learn how you can take the fear out of nonprofit fundraising! Participants will explore the basic fundraising process, gain a framework for building a comprehensive fundraising plan, and will learn how to develop a case for support and then strategies to communicate it effectively to donors. We will also touch on the Board's role in fundraising and how best to support these efforts. This beginner level session will leave you with the templates and resources you need to start fundraising more strategically.
Intended Audience:
Nonprofit staff, executive directors, and board members that are new to fundraising and/or seeking a better understanding of the process.
Outcomes
Gain an understanding of the nonprofit fundraising process
Explore common fundraising activities and how to assess ROI for each
Leave with a roadmap to identify support materials needed and develop a fundraising plan for your organization
Take away tools to help get your entire board to become more comfortable with - and involved in! - fundraising efforts
Participants will receive a digital badge of completion to display on LinkedIn, highlighting their commitment to continuous learning and effective leadership.
Learn more...
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Interested in Leaders Institute?
Applications for our 20th Leaders Institute are coming soon!
We welcome you to attend our upcoming Leaders Institute Graduation, to celebrate our 19th cohort and to learn more about the impact of the Leaders Institute Program. Our graduation event will be held on May 15th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM PT at the Redwood City Sobrato Center for Nonprofits.
Strategic Support Tailored to Your Org
CEN's consulting team works with nonprofits at every stage, from strategic planning to IDEAL implementation to leadership transitions.