Nonprofit | Leaders

Resources for Nonprofit Leaders

March 20, 2026
The Center for Transforming Engagement

Leading a nonprofit organization in 2026 requires navigating unprecedented challenges, from financial instability and workforce burnout to rising program demands and cultural shifts. Whether you’re a mainline pastor managing institutional decline, an executive director of a faith-rooted nonprofit, or an innovator building new expressions of community service, you need connection, training, and support.

The good news is you are not alone. A growing ecosystem of national organizations exists specifically to support nonprofit leaders through professional development, advocacy, peer connection, and practical resources. Here’s your guide to the most valuable organizations supporting nonprofit leadership today.

National Nonprofit Support Organizations

National Council of Nonprofits

The largest network of nonprofits in North America, representing thousands of organizations and serving as the primary advocacy voice for the sector. They provide policy updates, operational resources, and connect leaders to state associations of nonprofits for localized support.

Website: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org
Best for: Policy advocacy, operational resources, connecting to state-level support
Key offerings: Biweekly policy updates, monthly operations newsletter, advocacy resources, connection to state associations

Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP)

Maintains the Nonprofit Voice Project to elevate nonprofit leader experiences and produces the annual “State of Nonprofits” report tracking sector trends, challenges, and opportunities.

Website: https://cep.org 
 Best for: Research and data on nonprofit sector trends, funder relationships
 Key offerings: Annual State of Nonprofits report, research on burnout and staffing, funder-nonprofit relationship insights

Nonprofit Leadership Alliance

Offers the nationally recognized Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential and the Leaderosity online learning platform with extensive courses covering leadership, equity, management, and technical skills.

Website: https://nla1.org
 Best for: Professional credentialing, online courses, building competencies
 Key offerings: CNP certification tracks, Leaderosity Library courses, equity and social justice training

Nonprofit Learning Lab

Provides training, tools, and support for nonprofit professionals through workshops, webinars, and a comprehensive resource library. Serves executive directors, program directors, development staff, volunteer managers, and board members.

Website: https://www.nonprofitlearninglab.org
 Best for: Practical, hands-on training that can be applied immediately
 Key offerings: Deep Dive workshop series, resource library, job board, supportive learning community

Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)

Provides research-based leadership training specifically designed for nonprofit challenges, including the “Amplify: Heighten Your Impact” program focused on building leadership capacity and program evaluation skills.

Website: https://www.ccl.org/industries-sectors/nonprofit-leadership
 Best for: Research-backed leadership development, capacity building
 Key offerings: Amplify program (6-week and 16-week versions), leadership analytics, coaching solutions

NonprofitReady.org

Offers free online courses on nonprofit leadership, management, fundraising, marketing, and more—all at no cost to learners.

Website: https://www.nonprofitready.org
 Best for: Free foundational training for new and emerging leaders
 Key offerings: 100+ free courses, certificates of completion, self-paced learning

Allstate Foundation Nonprofit Leadership Center

Partners with Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management to offer free online training programs, including Nonprofit Management Essentials and Board Excellence resources.

Website: https://www.allstatecorporation.com/the-allstate-foundation/nonprofit-leadership-center.aspx
 Best for: Free management and governance training
 Key offerings: 70+ on-demand training videos, 8-week facilitated cohorts, board member resources

Organizations Supporting Christian and Faith-Based Nonprofits

Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA)

The primary national association for Christian nonprofit leaders, representing over 10,000 individuals from more than 5,200 Christian nonprofit organizations. CLA has supported organizations like World Vision, The Salvation Army, Cru, Compassion International, and The Navigators for over 40 years.

Website: https://christianleadershipalliance.org
 Best for: Christian nonprofit leaders seeking biblically-grounded professional development
 Key offerings: Outcomes Conference (annual gathering), Outcomes Academy online learning, Leader2Leader peer groups, certification programs in nonprofit leadership, resources integrating organizational excellence with biblical worldview

Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)

Founded in 1979, ECFA accredits over 2,700 Christian churches and nonprofit organizations based on seven standards of responsible stewardship. While primarily an accreditation body, ECFA also provides ongoing training, resources, and support to member organizations.

Website: https://www.ecfa.org
 Best for: Financial accountability standards, donor trust, operational integrity
 Key offerings: Accreditation with seal of approval, Church & Nonprofit Tax Guide, compliance coaching, weekly news and quarterly educational outreach, Washington policy updates

City Vision Institute

Offers free online courses for Christian nonprofits and ministries, including training in Christian community development, cross-cultural effectiveness, nonprofit management, calling and vocation, and leadership in under-resourced communities.

Website: https://www.cityvisioninstitute.org
 Best for: Free professional development for ministry and nonprofit leaders
 Key offerings: Free courses on Christian community development, leadership in diverse environments, instructional design, life reflection and calling discovery

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

Founded by Dr. Mark Rutland, provides intensive year-long leadership training specifically for church and ministry leaders, focusing on both spiritual and business principles of ministry leadership.

Website: https://www.thenicl.com
 Best for: Church and ministry leaders needing practical business principles
 Key offerings: Year-long cohort-based training, real-world applications, practical business and spiritual principles

State and Regional Support

Many states have State Associations of Nonprofits that provide localized support, advocacy, professional development, and peer connection. These organizations understand the unique policy landscape, funding environment, and challenges in your region. Examples include:

  • CalNonprofits (California)
  • Maryland Nonprofits
  • Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance
  • Alliance for Nonprofit Impact (Rhode Island)
  • Montana Nonprofit Association
  • Hawai’i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations

Find your state association: Contact the National Council of Nonprofits or search “[your state] nonprofit association” to connect with local support.

Conferences Worth Attending

Several organizations host annual conferences that provide networking, learning, and peer connection:

  • Outcomes Conference (Christian Leadership Alliance) – Annual gathering for Christian nonprofit leaders
  • Bridge Conference – Marketing and fundraising conference
  • NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) – Technology and digital strategy
  • AFP International Conference – Fundraising professionals
  • Generosity Xchange (Neon One) – Free virtual conference for fundraisers

How to Choose the Right Resources

With so many organizations offering support, how do you decide where to invest your limited time and budget?

Start with these questions:

  1. What’s my most pressing need right now? Policy advocacy? Skill development? Peer support? Financial guidance?

  2. What’s my budget? Some organizations offer free resources (NonprofitReady, City Vision Institute, Allstate Foundation), while others require membership or course fees.

  3. Do I need faith-integrated content? If your leadership is grounded in Christian calling, organizations like Christian Leadership Alliance and ECFA will speak your language and address your unique context.

  4. Am I looking for credentials or just learning? Some organizations offer formal certification (CNP from Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, CCNL from Christian Leadership Alliance) while others focus on practical skill-building.

  5. Do I prefer cohort-based or self-paced learning? Some programs offer structured cohorts with peer interaction, while others provide on-demand content you can access anytime.

The Reality of Nonprofit Leadership in 2026

Current research shows that nonprofit leaders are facing:

  • Financial instability (55% cite this as their top concern)
  • Staff burnout (95% of leaders report this as a major challenge)
  • Recruitment and retention struggles (nearly 50% find it difficult to fill vacancies)
  • Rising program demand against shrinking resources
  • The need to rebuild organizational trust and culture

These challenges require more than resilience. They require community, ongoing learning, and access to resources that address both the practical and the personal dimensions of leadership.

Moving Forward

Leadership can be isolating, especially in seasons of uncertainty and change. The organizations listed here exist to remind you that you’re part of a larger movement of leaders committed to serving communities, advancing missions, and stewarding resources with integrity.

Whether you’re a pastor navigating institutional decline with hope, a nonprofit executive director managing competing demands with limited resources, or an innovator building new models of community engagement, these organizations offer pathways to connection, learning, and support.

Start with one. Explore their resources. Join a cohort. Attend a conference. Connect with your state association. The investment you make in your own development isn’t self-indulgent—it’s essential to sustainable, effective leadership.

You’re not meant to do this alone.

Become More Resilient.
When you invest in your personal resilience, you are also building the resilience of the communities around you. Start today with our free Self-Facilitated Resilience Retreat Guides.

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The Center for Transforming Engagement strives for intentionality in the ways we relate to one another - how we as a team relate to each other, how we relate to participants, and how we hope participants will relate to us and one another. To that end, we hold cultural norms about the ways we interact with one another. Your participation in this program is contingent on your agreement to abide by these cultural norms. i. For growth to happen, we all need to be able to share about the deeper challenges we face. To provide that atmosphere of openness and support, you commit to not sharing personal information that is shared in program meetings. ii. In our interactions with each other and our communities, we practice the humility of not-knowing that is required to listen and discover. iii. Be aware of different cultural and characterological ways of communicating, and invite others’ voices. Respect theological differences: the river of Christian orthodoxy is wide, and while the streams of that river are distinct, they are not inherently better or worse. Even if you can’t respect the belief, treat the person with respect. iiii. We value both thoughts and feelings as valuable pieces of information that inform one another, and inform our learning and discerning together. iv. Be in the here and now (not mentally somewhere or some time else), with the people who are sharing their time and stories with you. Eliminate any distractions possible.
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All program content, recordings, and materials are the intellectual property of The Seattle School and may not be presented, distributed, or replicated. The Seattle School retains the copyright for all recorded content. Some print materials (PDFs, worksheets, journal prompts, etc.) will be licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike. Those materials will be available for download on our website, and may be used as long as the following conditions are met: (1) attribute to the Center for Transforming Engagement even if remixed/modified; (2) do not use for commercial (paid) purposes; and (3) anything you make that remixes or builds upon this material, you must also distribute under Creative Commons. More information on this license is available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
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(scroll down and click agree) Full attendance and participation during all sessions are expected to complete the program. Please consider the schedule closely to ensure you will be able to participate in the virtual meetings, and block off your calendar to ensure your attendance. Should you have an emergency (illness, situations out of your control) that will impact your participation please email transforming@theseattleschool.edu Time commitment: Two hours one day per month for 8 months, dates to be determined by majority of registrants' availability and adjusted as needed during the first group meeting. Your feedback is immensely valuable! As an essential component of your participation in this program, we ask that you provide us with your honest, candid, and timely feedback in program surveys and conversations, and consider providing reviews or testimonials of the program for promotional use. 2. Code of Conduct The Center for Transforming Engagement strives for intentionality in the ways we relate to one another - how we as a team relate to each other, how we relate to participants, and how we hope participants will relate to us and one another. To that end, we hold cultural norms about the ways we interact with one another. Your participation in this program is contingent on your agreement to abide by these cultural norms. Confidentiality. For growth to happen, we all need to be able to share about the deeper challenges we face. To provide that atmosphere of openness and support, you commit to not sharing personal information that is shared in program meetings. Curiosity. In our interactions with each other and our communities, we practice the humility of not-knowing that is required to listen and discover. Respect differences. Be aware of different cultural and characterological ways of communicating, and invite others’ voices. Respect theological differences: the river of Christian orthodoxy is wide, and while the streams of that river are distinct, they are not inherently better or worse. Even if you can’t respect the belief, treat the person with respect. You are invited to be a whole person, with both thoughts and feelings. We value both thoughts and feelings as valuable pieces of information that inform one another, and inform our learning and discerning together. Presence. Be in the here and now (not mentally somewhere or some time else), with the people who are sharing their time and stories with you. Eliminate any distractions possible. 3. Fair Use Policy All program content, recordings, and materials are the intellectual property of The Seattle School and may not be presented, distributed, or replicated. The Seattle School retains the copyright for all recorded content. Some print materials (PDFs, worksheets, journal prompts, etc.) will be licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike. Those materials will be available for download on our website, and may be used as long as the following conditions are met: (1) attribute to the Center for Transforming Engagement even if remixed/modified; (2) do not use for commercial (paid) purposes; and (3) anything you make that remixes or builds upon this material, you must also distribute under Creative Commons. More information on this license is available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
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Lina Thompson is the lead Pastor at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church. Her primary vocation and call is the formation of leaders who love and serve their city and seek its peace.
Lina Thompson is the lead Pastor at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church. Her primary vocation and call is the formation of leaders who love and serve their city and seek its peace.
Silas Sham is the Lead Pastor of Bethany Community Church Northeast in Seattle and holds a Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics, Church, and Culture from Portland Seminary. His research explores how food can form and reflect theological imagination. He created Theology on a Plate, a gamified discipleship experience that brings people around the table to taste, tell, and practice the story of God. His work has been published through the Society of Biblical Literature and in various theological and ministry journals, and he believes the best theology is lived, savored, and shared in community to nourish all of creation.
Silas Sham is the Lead Pastor of Bethany Community Church Northeast in Seattle and holds a Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics, Church, and Culture from Portland Seminary. His research explores how food can form and reflect theological imagination. He created Theology on a Plate, a gamified discipleship experience that brings people around the table to taste, tell, and practice the story of God. His work has been published through the Society of Biblical Literature and in various theological and ministry journals, and he believes the best theology is lived, savored, and shared in community to nourish all of creation.
Rev. Danielle Merseles is the current Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Seattle. After an unexpected yes to volunteering in youth ministry back in 2011, Danielle eventually enrolled in seminary at Seattle Pacific, did a unit of chaplaincy at Harborview, and became ordained in the PC(USA). She loves regularly teaching and learning from people younger than her and has been called to Bethany for nearly 10 years now. She is a New Jersey native, Tulane University School of Architecture graduate, hobby potter, loves being auntie/godmother to her friends small people, and has called Seattle home since 2007.
Rev. Danielle Merseles is the current Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Seattle. After an unexpected yes to volunteering in youth ministry back in 2011, Danielle eventually enrolled in seminary at Seattle Pacific, did a unit of chaplaincy at Harborview, and became ordained in the PC(USA). She loves regularly teaching and learning from people younger than her and has been called to Bethany for nearly 10 years now. She is a New Jersey native, Tulane University School of Architecture graduate, hobby potter, loves being auntie/godmother to her friends small people, and has called Seattle home since 2007.
Jessica became disabled as a young adult and has worked for accessibility and inclusion specifically in third places for over 20 years. Coming to the Episcopal Church after experiencing religious trauma from “faith healing,” Jessica feels called to break down barriers, both physical as well as spiritual by addressing the harmful theologies and behaviors that have shown disabled people that “we are not welcome as the Beloved People God created us to be.” She is blogger, speaker, and consultant for Bridge Disability Ministries.
Jessica became disabled as a young adult and has worked for accessibility and inclusion specifically in third places for over 20 years. Coming to the Episcopal Church after experiencing religious trauma from “faith healing,” Jessica feels called to break down barriers, both physical as well as spiritual by addressing the harmful theologies and behaviors that have shown disabled people that “we are not welcome as the Beloved People God created us to be.” She is blogger, speaker, and consultant for Bridge Disability Ministries.
The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky, and served as the President of the Academy of Homiletics in 2024. An ordained Lutheran minister (ELCA) for nearly twenty-five years, Leah earned both her MDiv and PhD degrees from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary). She has pastored congregations in suburban, urban, and rural contexts. She is the author of seven books, including Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025), and Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).
The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky, and served as the President of the Academy of Homiletics in 2024. An ordained Lutheran minister (ELCA) for nearly twenty-five years, Leah earned both her MDiv and PhD degrees from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary). She has pastored congregations in suburban, urban, and rural contexts. She is the author of seven books, including Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025), and Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).
The Rev. Natalie "Nat" Johnson serves as Priest in Charge at St Peter's, a diverse and multi-ethnic Episcopal parish in Seattle WA. Over the last five years, Rev. Nat has served on the Diocese of Olympia's Commission on Ministry, walking with individuals sensing a call to ordained ministry. They also currently serve as Affiliated Faculty at Church Divinity School of the Pacific where they teach Liturgical Theology to seminarians preparing for the priesthood in the Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Natalie "Nat" Johnson serves as Priest in Charge at St Peter's, a diverse and multi-ethnic Episcopal parish in Seattle WA. Over the last five years, Rev. Nat has served on the Diocese of Olympia's Commission on Ministry, walking with individuals sensing a call to ordained ministry. They also currently serve as Affiliated Faculty at Church Divinity School of the Pacific where they teach Liturgical Theology to seminarians preparing for the priesthood in the Episcopal Church.
Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow is a 3rd Generation Filipino/Chinese American and an active speaker, writer, and coachsultant. His writing, teaching, and speaking have taken him to Australia, The Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, and across the United States as he addresses topics of faith, leadership, activism, culture, race, and technology. Author of six books, most recently, In Defense of Kindness: Why It Matters, How It Changes Our Lives, and How It Can Save the World (Chalice Press, 2021) Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith (Broadleaf Books, 2024). Bruce also has a broad online video and audio presence but writes and podcasts through his Newsletter & Podcast, The Amalgamation. Bruce has been an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1995 and has pastored seven congregations throughout California. In 2008, he was elected Moderator of the Presbyterian Church USA, the youngest and first Asian American to hold the denomination’s highest elected office. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, works with Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center to lead delegations to Palestine, is a Senior Consultant and Coach with Convergence, is a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, and is the Church Relations and Development Officer at Zephyr Point Conference Center. Bruce and his wife, Robin, have three adult children, two senior pups, too many houseplants, and a thriving empty-nester life in San Jose, CA.
Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow is a 3rd Generation Filipino/Chinese American and an active speaker, writer, and coachsultant. His writing, teaching, and speaking have taken him to Australia, The Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, and across the United States as he addresses topics of faith, leadership, activism, culture, race, and technology. Author of six books, most recently, In Defense of Kindness: Why It Matters, How It Changes Our Lives, and How It Can Save the World (Chalice Press, 2021) Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith (Broadleaf Books, 2024). Bruce also has a broad online video and audio presence but writes and podcasts through his Newsletter & Podcast, The Amalgamation. Bruce has been an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1995 and has pastored seven congregations throughout California. In 2008, he was elected Moderator of the Presbyterian Church USA, the youngest and first Asian American to hold the denomination’s highest elected office. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, works with Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center to lead delegations to Palestine, is a Senior Consultant and Coach with Convergence, is a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, and is the Church Relations and Development Officer at Zephyr Point Conference Center. Bruce and his wife, Robin, have three adult children, two senior pups, too many houseplants, and a thriving empty-nester life in San Jose, CA.