The Center For Nonprofit Excellence
Who We Are
The Center For Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) of the Community Foundation of Collier County held its grand opening in November of 1998. It was established to provide technical assistance and training for the benefit of nonprofit organizations in Collier County.
The CNE helps nonprofits become more effective business and fulfill their nonprofit missions. Well-managed nonprofit organizations make the most of donor gifts by delivering programs with the greatest impact. These nonprofits contribute to the community by enriching our lives and playing a key role in meeting local needs.
The CNE offers a host of learning opportunities: management and governance training; customized board development; training for staff and volunteers; and consulting on strategic planning and governance issues to help nonprofits enhance their performance.
Services include:
- Seminars and training in nonprofit management and governance – topics include board leadership, fund raising, public and media relations, strategic planning, human resources and financial management.
- Custom retreats are provided on contract basis to individual organizations upon request. The most common topics include board member roles and responsibilities, vision and mission development and strategic planning.
- Free consultation is available by phone or in person. Nonprofit board members or staff may call for information about any aspect of nonprofit management.
Customized Trainings & Consultations
Trainings
The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) can tailor training to your board's needs, at a time and place that suits you. Let CNE help you plan custom training or facilitate discussions for your next board retreat. Call Mary Ellen Barrett at (239) 649-5000.
General Board Governance topics include:
- Embracing the concept of stewardship
- Understanding your legal footing
- Ten key responsibilities of all boards
- The board's fund raising commitment
- Board/Staff responsibility clarification
- Making committees work for you
- The importance of the nominating function
- The board's role in evaluation
"Strategic Thinking" topics for your nonprofit organization, such as:
- Who are our customers?
- What do they consider value?
- How will our customers change in the next 3-5 years?
- What are our organizational strengths & weaknesses?
- Is our mission relevant for tomorrow's needs?
- What are our results and how do we monitor them?
Consultations
The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) is available for free telephone or in-person consultations of up to two hours. Come to us for information and referral on issues of nonprofit management and governance.
Revising your bylaws? Dealing with board conflict? Struggling with board member recruitment? Need advice on running meetings? Time for executive director performance review? Need some tools for managing your volunteer program? Board/staff issues? Looking for strategic planning models?
If you have questions about starting, running or governing a nonprofit organization, call the CNE first!
Mary Ellen Barrett mbarrett@cfcollier.org (239) 649-5000