Nonprofit Center of Excellence Academy

The Nonprofit Center of Excellence Academy (NCEA) is a week-long intensive capacity-building experience for nonprofit executives and board leaders to learn the foundations of leading, managing, and governing a nonprofit organization.

MISSION: The NCEA strengthens operational and governance leadership through a series of professional workshops designed to build the foundational skills and competencies to sustainably optimize organizational impact.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Nonprofit executive and board leaders serving organizations from Parachute to Aspen, Colorado. This is a cohort-model program for up to 20 nonprofit organizations.

EVENT FORMAT: Five-day “conference style” experience delivered in-person.

FEE: ACF offers the Academy at no cost to participants

TO APPLY: Application will open in the fall of 2026

Please email Valerie Carlin at valerie@aspencommunityfoundation.org with any questions.

| What to Expect

Week-long - 9 am to 4 pm Daily
High-level, survey-style workshops
Focuses on the “Why” and “What” behind each topical area
Group exercises
Facilitated relationship-building opportunities

| Curriculum

Human Service Innovations (HSI) will provide a combination of coordination and facilitation of content areas in partnership with a cadre of subject matter experts who work across the range of organizational management and leadership elements of a successful nonprofit.

Daily Topics (Subject to Change)

January 13

Tuesday

Financial Principles and Practices of Effective Nonprofit Finances
Lunchtime “Building a Positive Workplace Culture”
Best Practices in Human Resource Management in the Nonprofit Sector

January 14

Wednesday

Program Design – The Continuum of Community Centered Design Strategies
Marketing & Communications – Strategies and Tactics for Effectively Telling Your Story
Organization and Funder Reception