Community Education to Offer New Nonprofit Leadership Series
The full series begins in January 2026
Community Education at Parkland College will offer a new Nonprofit Leadership series in partnership with United Way of Champaign County and Community Foundation of East Central Illinois (CFECI), beginning in October 2025.
New leadership is much needed in the nonprofit space to increase the excellence and capacity to serve those in need. This new course series targets emerging leaders, new board members, and anyone curious about working in nonprofits to gain the knowledge needed to be successful in the industry through focused professional development.
Courses will address technical skills unique to nonprofit work and feature instruction from local experts and mentorship from community-minded business leaders. Emphasizing high-quality instruction and in-class application, the series ensures that each session is immediately relevant and impactful.
The series launches with Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership, a dynamic 3-hour course led by Sue Grey, CEO of United Way of Champaign County. This session offers a comprehensive view of the leadership skills needed in today’s nonprofit environment and serves as a preview of the full series.
"This series will be something for our current leaders of nonprofits, but also for the future leadership," officials from United Way stated. "The ability to provide professional development that helps enable the nonprofit community to have a program dedicated to their growth is long overdue!"
After completing the introduction course, participants can take the next step with the full series beginning in January 2026. This will include instruction in strategic planning, financial standards, mission development, and stakeholder engagement.
Participants will also be matched with a local business or nonprofit leader to complete a capstone project reflecting the realities and rewards of nonprofit leadership. This guided experience supports both skill development and career growth. Electives in leadership, operations, technology, and communication will be offered online and in-person, meeting emerging challenges in the nonprofit world.
CFECI is dedicated to strengthening communities by connecting donors to local needs. Through strategic grantmaking, philanthropic partnerships, and nonprofit support initiatives like the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, CFECI works to improve quality of life across east central Illinois.
"We know that strong nonprofits make strong communities. That’s why we’re so excited about Parkland’s new nonprofit management certificate—it’s a meaningful step toward building the next generation of nonprofit leaders right here in east central Illinois," officials from CFECI stated. "This program is a huge win for our local nonprofit sector. It equips current and future leaders with practical tools to better serve our communities."
Participants who complete the introduction course, the core curriculum modules, the capstone project, and mentoring will receive a Certificate of Completion.
Learn more about the series at parkland.augusoft.net.