Applications now open – apply before July 10 to reserve your spot!
Missed our May 28 Info Session?
Watch the recording to hear from program graduates and get a full overview of the program.
MWNN’s Nonprofit Management Certificate Program is an intensive 12 week, hybrid, tuition-based program designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to effectively manage and lead mission-driven organizations. This is a practitioner-taught course that includes lectures, interactive group work and panel discussions. MWNN is committed to strengthening and diversifying the leadership of our region. We welcome applicants who reflect the rich diversity of our communities, including aspiring and emerging leaders, mid-level nonprofit professionals, and individuals seeking to transition into the nonprofit sector.
General Information for 2025
Thank you for your interest in applying for the Certificate in Nonprofit Management for Practitioners course.
| May 1 | Applications open |
| July 10 | Our applicant review will begin and we will continue to accept submissions as program capacity allows. |
| August 1 | Applicants will be notified (on or before via email) |
| August 31 | Tuition is due |
| September 12 | First class |
EXPERT INSTRUCTION: You will learn from 20+ local nonprofit and community leaders. They bring both deep expertise and lived experience in the nonprofit sector. Participants gain practical, real-world insights into nonprofit management.
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM: Sessions cover Nonprofit Fundamentals, Managing Organizations and People, Diversity and Equity, Finances, Fundraising, Communication, Marketing, Data, Evaluation, and more. The course syllabus is available upon request.
WHO SHOULD APPLY: This course is designed for individuals who are interested in furthering their knowledge and skills as leaders in the nonprofit sector. The program is ideal for emerging leaders, mid-level managers, career changers, and individuals with diverse backgrounds seeking to grow their impact in the sector.
PREREQUISITES: Ideally participants should hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education but we take into account work and life experience as part of the review process.
ACCESSIBLE FORMAT: Twelve classes: eight virtual sessions via Zoom and four in-person sessions. All course materials available through a shared Google Drive. In-person sessions are held at the Open Spirit Conference Center at 39 Edwards St., Framingham, MA 01701.
2025 TUITION: $1,925 | Scholarship support may be available for qualified candidates.
FALL DATES: Program meets on Fridays. Virtual sessions go from approximately 8:30am to 12:30pm and the in-person classes are from 9am to 1pm. Fall 2025 classes start Friday, September 12 and conclude Friday, December 5.
APPLY SOON—Class size limited to 30 participants. A cohort size that’s big enough to build your network, small enough for personalized support and guidance. The first session will be held on September 12 and the last session will be on December 5.
We’d love to tell you more. Please reach out to our MWNN staff with questions or to discuss how the program aligns with your professional goals. Contact us at [email protected] or call 508-377-3998.
Program Details
2025 Schedule Will Include
Twelve (12) half-days of interactive online and in-person training including instructor-led discussion on practical applications, panel discussions, independent work, and project group work. The confirmed 2025 dates for the twelve (12) sessions will be updated soon.
2025 Session Schedule
Please note, the 2025 schedule of presentations is still being finalized. The dates below are confirmed, but the topics may shift. 9/12, 10/3, 11/7, and 12/5 are in-person sessions and the rest are via zoom.
| Sept 12 | Welcome and Leadership Fundamentals (in-person) |
| Sept 19 | Legal Fundamentals and Volunteer Fundamentals |
| Sept 26 | Mission, Vision and Strategic Planning |
| Oct 3 | Creating Equitable and Inclusive Organizations (in-person) |
| Oct 10 | Governance Fundamentals and Leadership Roles |
| Oct 17 | Community Engagement, Program Development and Mediation |
| Oct 24 | Data and Evaluation |
| Oct 31 | Marketing and Communications |
| Nov 7 | Nonprofit Budget and Finance (in-person) |
| Nov 14 | Fundraising and Development |
| Nov 21 | Self Management and Leadership |
| Dec 5 | Final Project Presentation and Graduation (in-person) |
Syllabus available upon request.
Tuition
2025 tuition for the Certificate in Nonprofit Management for Practitioners is $1,925.00. We are keeping our 2024 tuition rate with no increase this year in an effort to keep the program accessible and affordable for nonprofit professionals.
Partial or full scholarships may be available for qualified candidates. The course consists of twelve (12) sessions and forty-five (45) classroom hours. Full and partial scholarships will be prioritized for applicants from underrepresented communities and from small nonprofits (generally evaluated by budget and staff size).
2025 scholarship availability will be based on the final applicant pool and this year’s overall funding. Please reach out to us at [email protected] if you have questions.
Applications for the 2025 certificate course will open May 1, 2025 and are requested by Monday, July 1, 2025.
Our applicant review will begin on 7/10 and we will continue to accept submissions as program capacity allows. Please note, we encourage you to submit as soon as possible if you are requesting scholarship consideration as we will allocate scholarships in our initial review.
The class will be capped at 30 participants. Applicants will be notified by or on August 1, 2025.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to discuss your interest in the program.
If you have any difficulty accessing the application, please contact [email protected]
Course Information
Session Schedule
Tuition
Application
Who Should Attend
MWNN is committed to supporting the professional development of next-generation leaders and is particularly interested in providing pathways for emerging leaders of color, mid-level nonprofit managers, and those who are seeking to change careers and enter the nonprofit sector. Instructors are practitioners in the field who bring lived experience as well as expertise. Syllabus is available upon request.
Sponsorship
Please consider supporting the MetroWest Nonprofit Network Certificate Sponsorship program. MWNN is committed to encouraging applications from those whose identities and lived experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Your contribution will make it possible for MWNN to offer full and partial sponsorships to candidates who may experience tuition as a barrier to participation. Thank you!
Program Graduates
2024
2023
2022
2021
Class of 2024
Damon Araujo, Executive Director, I Believe Academy
Fania Da Silva, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Advocate, MAPS
Alice Deassis, Founder/CEO, Seed of Love
Daniel Deleon, Opportunity Manager, South Middlesex Opportunity Council
Glen Ducharme, Director of Program Partnerships, The Possible Zone
Marilia Freire, Family Support Specialist, Family Promise MetroWest
Michael Gleason, Director of Finance & Operations, Cape and Island Veterans Outreach
Kellynette Gomez, Board Member, Our Deaf Survivors Center, Inc.
Eunice Howard, Executive Director, CSONE Corp.
Liz Kaprielian, Co-Founders, Friends of Waushakum Beach
Dylan Lazerow, Executive Director, Wealth Distribution Center
Kathy Mills, RFK Alliance
Anna Mae O’Shea Brooke, Community Advocate/Youth Leader/Philanthropic Thought Leader
Wendy Perez, Community Engagement Leader, Voices of the Community
Jody Pongratz, Executive Director, Dedham School of Music
Samuel Streisand, Assistant Director of Transportation, MinuteMan Arc
Adam Tierney-Eliot, Parish Minister, The Eliot Church
Betsy Woodman, Executive Director, Wings of Comfort
Victoria Yordt, Founder/Executive Director, Artservatory
Class of 2023
Marissa Carty, Mental Health Collaborative, Program Development & Marketing Manager
Catherine Maloy, Founder and Executive Director, Cocotree Kids
Jennifer E. Ollington, MetroWest Legal Services, Deputy Director
Alana Mahoney, Consultant for the Massachusetts Animal Coalition
Lily Pearl, OUT MetroWest, Program and Education Manager
Alyndra Baham Canty, SPARK Kindness, Co-Leader MetroWest AntiBullying Coalition
Rebecca Slisz, Network for Social Justice, Program Co-Chair
Michele Adams, Executive Director, Performing Arts Center of MetroWest
Avigail Deking, SEIU Education and Support Fund, Operations Assistant
Monica Alexandra Nino, Resident Services Coordinator
Sandra Montesino, Daniel’s Table, Inc., Executive Director
Carlos Vivar Wong, Job & Financial Clinic Director, Watch CDC
Cecilia Reyes Alarcon, Asst Director of International Programs, Framingham State University
James B. Tresner, Bethany Hill Place, Executive Director
Jessalyn Dutra, Resident Service Manager, Pelham Learning Center
Kelly Drescher Johnson, Veterinary Chaplaincy Services, Founder/Executive Director
Elizabeth Nolan Greer, SPARK Kindness
Verona Pointdujour, Wayside youth & Family Network, Program Director
Laurie Engdahl, Art For All, Inc.
Regina Wolf Fritz, Better Day Adult Social Day Program Inc., Executive Director
Lizzy O’Connor, South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC), Manager of Institutional Giving
Doreen Kwakumey, CEO and Founder, Wings of Healing, Inc.
Sophia Bishop-Rice, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries
Paula Spies, Manager, Annual Fund Giving & Development Operations, Epiphany School
Esther Rogers, Jane Doe Inc.
Sarah Kirby, Turning Point Recovery Center, Volunteer
Samantha Storey, Special Needs Advocacy Network
Class of 2022
Crizzaly Avila, South Middlesex Opportunity Council
Scott Berman, Think Give
Dara Berry, Open Spirit: A Place of Hope, Health & Harmony
Sharon Bryant, Foster Care Essentials
Kimberly Cochran, Minute Man Arc.
Emily Coelho, Mass Chapter of The TEARS Foundation
Ryan Hand, Crossroads Continuum
Paola Justiniano, Wayside Youth and Family Support Network
Amy leone, Chris’ Corner Recovery Resource Center
Amanda Luft, Advocates
Rachele Manning, Recycle Health
Patricia McCarthy, The Learning Center for the Deaf
Cynthia Moore, Special Needs Advocacy Network
Bruna Moraes Leite, Wayside Youth and Family Support Network
Glory Mukendi, Victory Women of Vision
Brianna Owen, Rise Above Foundation
Brianna Polanco, WATCH CDC
Whitney Retallic, OUT MetroWest
Nathalya Samaniego Mendieta, Discovering Hidden Gems
Genilce Santa, MetroWest Care Connection
Al Spittler, First UU Church/DBA Creative Community Childcare
Jessica Stagg, Advocates
Rachel Vingsness, Natick Service Council
Susan Ferrero, Early Childhood Alliance of Framingham
Class of 2021
Tamang Bishnu, Women Thriving
Cathleen Dinsmore, Hopkinton Freedom Team
Christian Espana, A Place to Turn
Christopher Chagnon, Minute Man Arc for Human Services
Daniela Thermora, Wayside Equity Center
Francesca Cerutti-Harris, Independent Association of Framingham State University
Jannelle Codianni, ATAC: Downtown Arts & Music
Jessica Apsler, Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc.
Jordy Melendez, Nativity School of Worcester
Kathryn Roy, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Kevin Lopez, Hoops and Homework
Kimberly Charles, Discovering Hidden Gems
Laura Mattei, Sudbury Valley Trustees
Leah Parker-Moldover, SPARK Kindness
Margie Rosario, Voices of the Community
Meghan Burke, MassHire
Raquel Riberti-Bill, ProGente Connections
Shantae Holmes, Multicultural Books Initiative
Sonia Shah, Sudbury Foundation
Stephanie Di Dio, Family Promise of Natick
Tina Powderly, Franklin Food Pantry
Jennifer Wiles, HEARTplay Program
Learn More
To learn more about the program, please reach out or email with any questions.