The Institute for Nonprofit Practice

Nonprofits can be a driving force for positive change and greater equity in the communities they serve. But many organizations struggle with two longstanding issues: they have not built the bench of new leaders needed as baby boomers retire from longtime tenures as chief executives; and their staff and board leadership often do not reflect the communities they serve. Though the benefits of diverse and inclusive teams and leadership have been well established, still only 11% of nonprofit executives are people of color. It was this reality that inspired Barry Dym and colleagues to develop a network of future leaders, with a particular focus on leaders of color. And in 2007, the Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership (now, the Institute for Nonprofit Practice) was born.

INP offers a year-long Core Certificate Program for nonprofit executives, senior staff, and middle managers. The program equips them with the skills, resources, and networks to more confidently lead their organizations, and they earn a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life. INP also offers a fully-funded, year-long Community Fellows Program, primarily for emerging leaders of color, to create opportunities for career advancement and network-building.

In its first decade, INP (formerly the Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership) has graduated nearly 1,000 students, nearly half of whom are people of color. These graduates have gone on to lead organizations like the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Silver Lining Mentoring, and the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, and to, in turn, support their staffs in developing their leadership skills as new cohorts of INP students.

Recognizing that a more diverse, skilled, and connected community of leaders is critical to the ability of nonprofits of all kinds to deliver on their missions, Barr has supported INP since its first full year of programming in 2008. Under President and CEO Yolanda Coentro, an INP alumna, the Institute developed a strong plan for continued organizational growth and programmatic expansion in New England and beyond. With support from Barr and other dedicated funders, INP will more than double its metro-hub locations and student body over the next few years, ensuring that the work of creating a more inclusive and equitable social sector continues.

Barr’s Sector Effectiveness priorities reflect our strong commitment to invest in leadership and to strengthen the nonprofit sector in our region. We are proud to partner with the Institute for Nonprofit Practice to support the nonprofit leaders of today and tomorrow who achieve great impact with, and not just for, the communities they serve.

Learn more and apply for 2018-2019 certificate programs

Recent grants to support INP: