Check out what's happening at the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy!
Director's Address
Dr. William Brown, CNP Director
This year we celebrated five years at the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy. Thank you to all our partners, contributors, and program participants. We are doing what we set out to do – serving more diverse and varied students and communities through all three strategic priorities: Education, Capacity Building, and Research. We contribute to the work of hundreds of individuals and organizations so they can have a positive impact on their communities. This summer, we are engaged in a strategic planning process to ensure continued success. We are developing priorities for the next five years to ensure continued growth and impact. Enjoy a review of highlights from the last six months and as always please reach out and connect via social media or stop by the office in College Station!
Spring Recap
Nonprofit BRIDGE Conference
In February, the Center hosted its inaugural Nonprofit BRIDGE Conference in College Station, TX. The conference brought together over one hundred professionals representing nonprofit and for-profit organizations, local and city governments, and academic institutions. The Nonprofit BRIDGE Conference featured a robust schedule of activities designed to Build Relationships, Innovate, Discover, and Get Engaged. We are so grateful to everyone who attended the conference this past year and look forward to seeing you at future BRIDGE Conferences.
In the spring, the Center continued its Continuing & Professional Education certificates, offering Nonprofit Leadership, Fundraising Leadership, and Social Justice Leadership. These three certificates allowed thirteen learners to gain a new credential, increase their professional development, and advance their careers! In addition, the Center collaborated with a valuable partner, the OneStar Foundation, to offer a customized certificate to recent AmeriCorps Alumni called the Nonprofit Career Development Certificate. The Nonprofit Career Development Certificate was completed by sixty-one young nonprofit professionals in the spring of 2024! This certificate will relaunch in Spring 2025; stay tuned to learn more!
We are so proud of all the graduates of our Spring 2024 Cohort. Scroll down to the Upcoming Events section to learn more and enroll in our Fall 2024 certificates!
Spring 2024 Webinars
March: March's webinar, Partnership Principles for University and Nonprofit Collaboration, discussed how to effectively utilize cross-sector collaborations. Specifically, how to engage multiple stakeholders in solution-based processes by building trust, measuring success, and understanding individual responsibilities. Led by Dr. Kenny Taylor and Dr. Robbie Robichau, the webinar provided research-based reasons for adopting cross-sector partnerships, which included addressing complex challenges and providing an opportunity for scaling and sustainability.
April: April's webinar titled, Millennial Philanthropy – Engaging the Next Generation of Volunteers & Donors, was led byDr. Angela Seaworth, ACFRE, and provided an opportunity for multiple stakeholders to better understand the Millennial generation in terms of their philanthropic interests. Dr. Holly Hull Miori, CFRE, shared vital information from her latest book, Millennial Philanthropy: Next Generation Fund Development for Professionals and Nonprofits. Dr. Miori's book explains how the Millennial generation can be a source of people, power, and philanthropy if nonprofit organizations know how to reach and value them.
We are excited to have three more webinars this fall, covering unique nonprofit topics. Scroll down to the Upcoming Events section to learn more and register!
The Center recently hosted a Bush Board Fellows takeover on our Instagram page to spotlight the program and highlight the incredible contributions of these Bush School students to the organizations they serve. This year, we were honored to welcome twenty-six students and match them with eighteen amazing nonprofit hosts. Watch the recap video on Instagram by clicking the button below.
Sharon K. Allen began her journey in the nonprofit sector by serving as the Philanthropic Chair of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. Through hard work and dedication, Sharon’s undergraduate fundraising experiences propelled her toward a fulfilling and inspiring career. Sharon was drawn to the Bush School because of the school's mission. Additionally, President George H. W. Bush attended the Bush School often when Sharon was a student. He visited with students while fly fishing in the pond and shared his experiences in guest lectures. Since graduating from the Bush School in 2004, Sharon has served in many roles but is now the Senior Director of Principal Gifts at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Read more about Sharon by clicking the button below!
We are thrilled to share that the Nonprofit Management program at The Bush School of Government and Public Service has climbed multiple spots in the U.S. News and World Report rankings to take the 21st spot! We are proud to now be the #1 ranked Nonprofit Management program in the state of Texas! If you're interested in exploring our top-ranking program and furthering your nonprofit management education, we have the resources and expertise to help you advance your career. Click the button below to learn more and enroll in the Nonprofit Management program at The Bush School!
Dr. William Brown, CNP Director, and Dr. Wynn Rosser, President and CEO of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation and CNP Advisory Board Member, published a thought-provoking paper in The Foundation Review, titled A Framework for Creating Systems Change. The paper draws on extensive systems change and performance management literature to offer valuable insights and perspectives on contemporary frameworks in systems change and the role of grant-making foundations. If you're interested in exploring this topic further, click the button below to read the entire paper.
The Center has hired a summer intern! Yovanka Gonzalez '25 will be helping us with various marketing, research, and operational efforts. Yovanka completed her first semester as a Bush School graduate student in the spring, studying Nonprofit management, and will be a second-year Bush School student in the fall. She is on the leadership team for AFP and is dedicated to growing the nonprofit sector. We are very excited to have her this summer!
Goodbyes
Dr. Deborah Kerr, a distinguished figure in the field of nonprofit management, has made significant contributions to the Bush School and CNP since she first arrived in 1999. Dr. Kerr has deeply impacted many students, faculty, and staff during her time here, fostering a culture of excellence and dedication. Her passion and expertise have inspired others, earning her the respect and admiration of colleagues, students, and nonprofit professionals alike. We express our deepest gratitude and wish her the very best in retirement! She will be missed!
Joshua Carley '24 worked as the Nonprofit Academic Center's Council (NACC) Student Coordinator for the last two years. Carley chiefly coordinated NACC's honor society, Nu Lambda Mu, and supported NACC's renewed presence on LinkedIn. In their tenure with the Center, Carley was a considerable asset for CNP and NACC by serving the mission and always lending a helping hand. We will miss Carley and wish them well in their future career in Boston, Massachusetts.
Maddie Luster '24 worked as CNP's Student Program Coordinator for Spring 2024 and Fall 2023. Maddie was a critical part of the Bush Board Fellows Program and planned multiple events and lunch and learns to provide networking and collaboration between Bush School nonprofit students. Maddie also helped coordinate CNP events and student activities to help support nonprofit students. We look forward to hearing about her accomplishments in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Emilee Matheson '25 worked as CNP's Student Event Coordinator, helping with the Nonprofit BRIDGE Conference and social media and marketing. Emilee's contributions to the BRIDGE team were integral, as she played a key role in creating digital and print assets for the event and assisted in event coordination. Emilee will be an incoming second-year Bush School graduate student studying International Affairs. We look forward to hearing about her summer travels and internship experience.
Upcoming Events
Leadership in Board Service - in Houston!
📆 When: October 8, 2024 | 1:00-4:00 p.m. CST
📍Location: United Way Community Resource Center, 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, Texas
This professional development training is led by Dr. Will Brown and Dr. Angela Seaworth, ACFRE. Attendees will gain an in-depth review of Board member roles, responsibilities, and best practices of high-performing Boards.
We hope you have a safe and fun summer season! Thank you for your continued support of the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy!
Gig' Em!
The Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy (CNP) supports a vibrant nonprofit and philanthropic sector in Texas and beyond, through high quality research, professional outreach, and engaged learning. We provide a variety of services and programs for current, future and past nonprofit professionals. Our programs range from custom capacity building and board training to continuing education certificates. Contact us to let us know how we can best support your organization.
.png?upscale=true&width=1200&upscale=true&name=Summer%202024%20Newsletter%20graphic%20(5).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=396&upscale=true&name=Untitled%20design%20(15).png)
%20(3).png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Newsletter%20Webinar%20recap%20graphic%20(1024%20x%20300%20px)%20(3).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=800&upscale=true&name=Nonprofit%20Rankings%20Post%20%20(Instagram%20Post).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=520&upscale=true&name=LBS%20Spring%202024%20Graphic-%20general%20(2).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=520&upscale=true&name=Spring%202024%20v1%20(2).png)
-1.png?upscale=true&width=560&upscale=true&name=Newsletter%20Webinar%20upcoing%20%20graphic%20(1024%20x%20300%20px)-1.png)
