Nonprofit Management Program Offers Training to Young Leaders

Duke's Nonprofit Management program has become a hub for youth leadership development around the world.  Closer to home, a partnership with DukeEngage enables it to reach out specifically to Duke undergraduates. 

Next week, about 75 DukeEngage students will take part in a customized version of the eight-day Intensive Track program, learning the essentials of grant writing and getting an introduction to nonprofit organizations.

Nancy Love, director of the Nonprofit Management program, says she hopes this introduction will add to students' skills and credentials and maybe broaden students' career horizons. "There are now so many companies that are nonprofits," Love said.

The program provides a rigorous grounding in the establishment, operation and continuation of a successful nonprofit with a focus on grant writing. "It really helps them to know the do's and don'ts of grant writing," Love said.

Many of the participating DukeEngage students are serving this summer with U.S. organizations where they anticipate writing grants or working with grant information as part of their service, says Elaine Madison, associate director for programs at DukeEngage and director of the Duke University Community Service Center.

"They know their service is about capacity building and are excited for the opportunity to gain information they think will give them a better chance to have a positive or tangible impact," Madison said. 

Students see the sessions on grant writing as technically useful and practical, Madison said, noting that an attendee last year wrote of finding the session to be "very practical and detailed" and "effective in providing the general background regarding the grant writing process and what to expect."

DukeEngage collaborates with community partners worldwide to help address an identified challenge or need. Approximately 40 DukeEngage "independent project" students also work collaboratively with nonprofits and NGOs each summer to help address issues of community concern. 

The collaboration with DukeEngage is just one part of the Nonprofit Management program's effort to cultivate young leaders. The Victory Institute, with funding from the LTR Lewis Cloverdale Foundation, is the latest group to offer scholarships to the Nonprofit Management program for leadership development. The LGBT Movement Leaders Fellowship will sponsor up to four executive directors in the first year to attend the Duke program. The first class of fellows will begin this June in Raleigh.