STRATEGIC

LEADERSHIP

INSTITUTE

The Nonprofit Track

 The Need

Executive Directors and Senior Staff members of today’s nonprofits face difficult and often exhausting challenges.  Responding to the needs and interests of varied constituents, including clients, donors, staff, board, grantors, peers, and community leaders, is demanding while resources are limited.  The spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-being of the key leader is essential to maintaining a healthy, viable organization.

 And, because the work is so often of personal importance to the CEO, it’s critical that the vision and burden not be carried alone.  In the Gospel of John, chapter 17, verse 23 Jesus prays to the Father with a concern for the unity of the his people:  “May they be brought to complete unity so that the world may know that you sent me…”   A survey of church history reveals that at no time has this prayer been answered. 

Faith-Based Organizations are vital to the continued care of our world.  They represent a dimension of the Church that cares for the least, the last, and the lost.  And yet, who cares for the people who lead these important ministries?  And, where do ministry leaders go to connect with their peers in safe and promising ways that bring accountability, encouragement, and hope?

 If you are in ministry leadership, there is no better time than now to cultivate your own skills and vision in a manner that brings like-minded servant leaders together.  Within these SLI communities you will enhance your network while becoming equipped to develop your ministry plans even more effectively and quickly.  SLI is poised to help facilitate this process with you and for you.

Responding to the Need - Our Solution

 The Institute has produced a training program tailored especially for nonprofit leaders.  It provides a comprehensive, integrated approach to developing the personal integrity and professional ability of those who provide leadership in the challenging work of caring for others.  The Institute believes that the entire person is involved in developing a leader with integrity and responsibility within the community.  Therefore our program educates and challenges the individual CEO/Executive Director in four basic areas of training and growth.  These are:

             Community Development – Directors within a local community grow together in intimate fellowship with each other and are encouraged through accountability and mutual support.  Because leadership is often “lonely at the top,” SLI provides a place for leaders to go to combat feelings of isolation.  This community of peers provides on-going support for each other long after the training is completed.  While developing relationships within, the Nonprofit Certificate Program helps to open doors to the community at large, we also facilitate introductions to leaders in education, business, public safety, government and other civic institutions with whom you may decide to cooperate or partner. 

             Personal Growth - A program of personal goal-setting is introduced which encourages intentional growth spiritually, physically, emotionally, intellectually and relationally.  Each participant produces a personal growth plan which balances these five dimensions of their lives.

            Professional Assessment - Each ministry CEO will conduct a realistic assessment of his or her leadership style, identify stress inducers and responses, learn areas of strength, gain skills in team building, board development and group functioning, and learn how to discover and transfer vision.

             Organizational Intentionality - Over the seven month period, a strategic plan is developed in conjunction with each participant’s leadership team which may be used for the future benefit of the organization each participant leads.  Additionally, when each SLI participant shares their vision and plan with the others in the group; cooperative programming and community involvement emerges which can lead to collaborative city-wide initiatives.  It is often the case  that a “regional” plan develops that helps to define those visions and opportunities that are best done together”

Our Training Program and Course Specifics

“Certificate in Strategic Nonprofit Leadership”

 The participants who are selected by the Institute for a particular Certificate Program are peers who have a likelihood of developing an on-going personal and collaborative working relationship which will remain, for their mutual benefit, after the program is completed.  To help facilitate such cooperation the Institute only trains groups of leaders who are in the same geographic proximity. 

Program Results

             With a solid history of success in training non-profit leaders, the SLI Certificate in Strategic Nonprofit Leadership can help you see your dreams become reality.  Participants represent ministries of all types who see their nonprofit reaching for a new level of excellence, service, or funding.

             During the seven month training cycle the leaders bond together in remarkable fashion.  Each produces a personal plan to continue growth in spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and relational areas.  Often, there is an earnest growth in community with corporate seasons of prayer, sharing and fellowship.  Each leader also writes a corporate strategic plan for his or her organization. 

            Throughout the training cycle these spiritual leaders are in contact with the larger community, often spending a day each with the mayor and city council, the chief of police, the superintendent of the school district, and representatives from significant corporate interests in your area.  From these contacts a passion to pray for the needs of the city and a new vision for cooperative ministry is often developed.

             A pervasive sense of isolation in ministry can be effectively combated and replaced by loving fellowship.  Joint events are often planned for the relevant community ministry: 

 Synopsis of Program Goals

1.  Develop a sense of community among those in ministry leadership within a local area.  

2.  Encourage personal growth in five areas:  spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and relational.

3.  Further leadership skills and enhance performance.