Overview

The Program for Nonprofit Excellence (PNE) helps nonprofits identify and address their greatest organizational development needs to increase their role and impact in the community.

This nationally recognized capacity building program was launched in January 2003 following six months of intensive research. The Alliance interviewed national leaders and surveyed local nonprofits and funders as it designed the program. Nine organizations were chosen for the pilot class; seven of those graduated from the three-year program in February 2006. Two classes are currently participating in the program, and a new class will begin work in January 2009.

Applicants must meet eligibility criteria. Most importantly, they must demonstrate a critical role in meeting the greatest needs of the community and readiness and willingness among key staff and board members to commit to the long-term work of capacity building.  

Key program components include:

• a competitive application process, including a written proposal and an interview with the PNE Selection Committee.  
• an organizational assessment to establish a common understanding among key staff and board members about the history, status, and future of the organization.
• organizational development consulting to help organizations understand where and how to begin change while staying on mission and building the capacity to learn and grow.
• a training series is led by leaders in the nonprofit capacity building movement.
• a peer learning model that enlists nonprofit leaders in thinking creatively, addressing challenges and concerns, generating new perspectives, and sharing support and encouragement.
• development of an organizational portfolio with a complete description of organizational processes, procedures, and documentation for key operations.

The majority of program expenses are subsidized by the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence.   Participating organizations contribute a match determined on a sliding scale according to budget size.

Independent evaluator Carl Sussman, author of Making Change: How to Build Adaptive Capacity, assessed PNE's effectiveness in building organizational capacity. He determined that PNE enabled organizations to address a variety of issues critical to their effective operation and sustainability. Sussman highlighted the multi-year commitment, assessment-based approach, intensive consulting assistance, reliance on best practices and strategic advice from nationally recognized leaders, and use of complementary strategies, as keys to its success. Many of those he interviewed stated that PNE led to real organizational change, while other consulting engagements merely resulted in reports and recommendations that were rarely implemented.

For more information on PNE, contact info@npexcellence.org.