Imagine for a moment that you’ve just been hired or promoted into a management role. It will be your first time ever managing others or managing a large-scale program. You suddenly find yourself responsible for leading and guiding a team to help advance your nonprofit’s mission.
While you likely feel excited, hopeful, and maybe even a little nervous, there’s something else you’re probably feeling: unprepared.
Why? Research shows that the majority of new managers receive no managerial training, many times being promoted because they were strong individual contributors. A lack of formal manager training is costly for organizations, leading to declines in employee satisfaction, higher rates of stress and anxiety, and employees choosing to leave the organization.
Addressing the Gap in Manager Training & Preparedness
The Nonprofit Leadership Center’s Certificate in Leadership program exists to fill the significant gap in management transition for nonprofits. This unique, 10-week learning experience brings together nonprofit leaders who are new to managing people or programs (three years of experience or less) to develop the qualities and skills necessary to lead with authenticity and impact.
Today, we’re thrilled to introduce our Certificate in Leadership spring Class of 2025. Participants were nominated to apply by community and organization leaders, and their applications were reviewed as part of a rigorous selection process.
Meet the Certificate in Leadership Spring Class of 2025
We are pleased to introduce the 18 nonprofit leaders who will be strengthening their skills and our communities this spring in the Certificate in Leadership program:
Allison Welter, Director of Education, United Way Suncoast
Angelita Montes, Manager of Grants & Contracts, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay
Anna Langley, Director of Governance & Executive Affairs, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida
Annemarie Humble, Lead Inventory Data Analysis, Feeding Tampa Bay
Chrystal Mijares, Director Corporate Philanthropy, United Way Suncoast
Daphne Miles, Director of School Programs, Ryan Nece Foundation
Daya Batts, Advocacy Coordinator, ECHO of Brandon
Deniesha Griffin, Program Coordinator, Pinellas PAL
Ja’Lezza Clark, Manager, Financial Stability, United Way Suncoast
Jaxmin Ramirez, Human Resources Manager, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside
Jeannice Cardoza, Senior Companion Program Coordinator — Hillsborough, Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc.
Jillian Painter, High Awards Manager, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida
Joshua Bean, Impact Manager, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg
Keisha Snead, Academic Director, Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation
Nicole Moschen, Senior Manager of Donor Services, United Way Suncoast
Sameer Merchant, Director of IT, Gulf Coast JFCS
Wendy Driggers, Director of Customer Care and Placement Team, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida
Zakiya White, Academic Supervisor, A Kid’s Place
Skilled & Confident Leaders, Proven Impact
Certificate in Leadership graduates report measurable increases in skills that are critical for long-term success and impact:
- After the program, 100% of participants agree they can respond authentically to the changes and challenges facing today’s nonprofit leaders, up from 59% before the program began.
- Participants’ ability to understand themselves and manage their organizational responsibilities increased from 88% to 100% from the beginning to the end of the program.
- 100% of participants agree they understood their leadership style and could develop a plan to enhance their skills after the program, up from 77% before the program began.
Learn more about the Certificate in Leadership and how you can join an upcoming cohort of the program.
