The Academy is built upon Arizona State University's established Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certificate program.
Nonprofit Management Institute
2027 Best Practices NGO Leadership Academy
9 months
to earn this certificate online
7 courses
on key topics
20 leaders
in each program cohort
Best Practices NGO Leadership Academy
Program overview
The Best Practices NGO Leadership Academy is a nine-month nonprofit executive education program designed to strengthen the leadership, management and long-term sustainability of civil society organizations.
The Academy is built upon Arizona State University's established Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certificate program and will be delivered through a partnership between ASU's Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation and Turkish Philanthropy Funds, supported by the Tashman Fund at TPF. Turkish Philanthropy Funds brings a deep knowledge of civil society in Türkiye and a commitment to strengthening nonprofit capacity in the area, as well as a vast NGO network.
During the inaugural year, the pilot cohort will focus on NGO leadership from Türkiye, and will expand to include other countries in following years.
By bringing together nonprofit leaders from across Türkiye, the Academy creates a unique learning environment where participants can exchange perspectives, share best practices and build relationships across communities. By combining executive education, peer learning and practical application, the program equips leaders to lead effective, sustainable and innovative organizations.
Program objectives
The Academy seeks to:
- Strengthen executive leadership within NGO/nonprofit organizations
- Improve governance and organizational effectiveness
- Build financial sustainability and fundraising capacity
- Foster innovation and entrepreneurial thinking
- Strengthen public trust, advocacy, and community engagement
- Encourage a cross-cultural exchange and shared problem-solving among nonprofit leaders from different communities
- Create a network of NGO/nonprofit leaders committed to advancing social impact
Required courses
NMI 203: Financial Management for Executives
NMI 205: Nonprofit Executive Leadership
NMI 210: Public Trust and Influence
NMI 211: Strategic Governance and the CEO
NMI 221: Social Entrepreneurship, Innovation and New Business Models
NMI 226: Advanced Resource Development
NMI 260: Nonprofit Executive Leadership Capstone
Format, schedule and cost
This program is limited to 20 (gender-balanced) cohort members annually. The Academy will intentionally bring together nonprofit leaders from different regions to create a rich peer-learning environment and allow for an exchange of best practices, collaborative problem solving, and networking and partnership building. The inaugural cohort will focus on NGO leaders from Türkiye and will expand to other countries in later years.
Participants who successfully complete all program requirements will receive a certificate jointly issued by Arizona State University and Turkish Philanthropy Funds.
The program will combine live online sessions led by an esteemed instructional team, interactive discussions, practical assignments, organizational projects and a capstone presentation.
Eligibility and selection
Applicants must have:
- 7-10 years sector experience
- Current leadership responsibility (team or budget)
- Commitment to complete the 9-month journey
- Board chair (or Executive Director) endorsement and two references
In addition to the above criteria, applicants will also be evaluated according to a rubric demonstrating mission clarity, leadership potential, equity lens, and geographic and thematic diversity.
The admissions committee will consist of representatives from Turkish Philanthropy Funds and the ASU Lodestar Center.
2027 course schedule
January - September 2027. Dates and times TBA.
Learners will be expected to complete pre- and post-assessments to demonstrate what they've learned.
- NMI 205: Nonprofit Executive Leadership
- During this course, you will be introduced to current models of leadership and core leadership competencies.
- NMI 226: Advanced Resource Development
- This course delves into annual funds, major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving, grants and special events.
- NMI 211: Strategic Board Governance and the CEO
- This course explores the components inherent in creating and maintaining a governing body that promotes a healthy and successful nonprofit organization.
- NMI 221: Social Entrepreneurship, Innovation and New Business Models
- In this course, you will assess your organization’s readiness for social entrepreneurship.
- NMI 210: Public Trust and Influence
- This course will discuss the role nonprofits play in influencing public policy, leading social movements, building coalitions and organizing issue campaigns.
- NMI 203: Financial Management for Executives
- This session integrates financial management into executive decision making and addresses the struggle to match mission with financial resources.
- NMI 260: Nonprofit Executive Leadership Capstone
Program cost and scholarships
Scholarships are available through the Tashman Fund at Turkish Philanthropy Funds.
The true cost of participation is $3,630 per participant. Scholarships are based on the annual operating budget of the NGO/nonprofit. Participant contributions will be made directly to a TPF partner organization in Türkiye.
| NGO/Nonprofit annual budget | Organizational contribution after scholarship* | % of actual cost | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $250,000 | $250 | 7% | 93% |
| $250,000-$1M | $500 | 14% | 86% |
| $1M-$5M | $1,000 | 28% | 72% |
| $5M-$10M | $1,500 | 41% | 59% |
| Over $10M | $2,000 | 55% | 45% |
*Cost after scholarship from Turkish Philanthropy Funds.
In partnership with
The Best Practices NGO Leadership Academy is presented in partnership with Turkish Philanthropy Funds, supported by the Tashman Fund at TPF.
The Best Practices NGO Leadership Academy is a leadership development program for nonprofit professionals in Türkiye, presented in partnership by Arizona State University’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation and Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF), with support from the Haldun Tashman Fund at TPF.
The Academy combines nonprofit management education, peer learning, practical application and leadership development to help participants strengthen both their individual leadership capacity and the organizations they serve.
The Academy is designed for nonprofit professionals in Türkiye who are currently in leadership roles and are ready to deepen their management and leadership capabilities. Strong candidates will typically have:
- Approximately 7–10 years of experience in the nonprofit or civil society sector
- Current responsibility for managing a team, program, budget, or organizational function
- A demonstrated commitment to the nonprofit sector
- The ability to participate fully throughout the program
- Support from their organization’s Executive Director, Board Chair, or other senior leadership
- Sufficient English proficiency to participate in program activities
No. Applicants do not need to hold the title of executive director. The Academy is intended for professionals who have meaningful leadership responsibility within their organizations and demonstrate the potential to take on greater leadership roles in the future.
Yes. The inaugural cohort of the Academy is focused on nonprofit and civil society leaders working in Türkiye.
Applications open on September 15, 2026, and the application deadline is November 2, 2026.
The Academy begins with a kickoff session on January 13, 2027, and concludes with capstone presentations and closing on June 2, 2027.
The Academy includes 12 regular learning sessions followed by one capstone session. The capstone gives participants an opportunity to present their work, share what they have learned and demonstrate how they plan to apply that learning within their organizations.
Participants will explore core areas of nonprofit leadership and management through ASU Lodestar Center’s nonprofit education curriculum and additional leadership development experiences. The program is designed to strengthen practical capabilities in areas such as organizational leadership, strategy, governance, financial management, fundraising, communications and organizational sustainability.
Just as importantly, participants will learn from one another and apply what they are learning to real challenges facing their organizations.
The Academy is designed as a cohort-based learning experience rather than a series of standalone courses. Participants will move through the program together, creating opportunities for sustained peer learning, reflection, collaboration and practical application.
The goal is not simply to introduce new tools and practices, but to help participants determine how those approaches can be adapted and applied within the realities of their own organizations and communities.
Participants are expected to attend the full series of scheduled sessions from January through June, participate actively in discussions and peer learning, and complete assignments and applied work associated with the program. Because the Academy is cohort-based, consistent participation throughout the program is an important part of the experience.
Program instruction will primarily be conducted in English. Applicants should have sufficient English proficiency to participate actively in sessions, discussions and program assignments.
Applications will be reviewed through a structured selection process. Reviewers will consider factors including:
- Relevant professional and leadership experience
- Current level of leadership responsibility
- Leadership potential
- The applicant’s ability to contribute to and learn from the cohort
- The clarity and relevance of the organizational challenge the applicant hopes to address
- Commitment to completing the full Academy experience
The selection process will also consider cohort complementarity, with the goal of bringing together participants whose experiences and perspectives can strengthen one another’s learning.
Yes. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate support from their organization’s leadership and provide two references as part of the application process. Because participants will be applying their learning within their organizations, organizational support for the participant’s involvement is an important part of the program.
Yes. The Academy uses a cost-sharing model tied to the participating organization’s annual budget so that organizations contribute at a level appropriate to their size and resources. Detailed contribution levels will be provided as part of the application information.
The Academy is designed to remain accessible to qualified leaders from organizations with different levels of resources. Financial assistance may be available based on organizational need and program guidelines.
The inaugural cohort is expected to include approximately 20 nonprofit leaders from Türkiye. Keeping the cohort intentionally small will support meaningful interaction among participants, instructors and nonprofit experts.
Yes. Participants who successfully complete the program requirements will receive a certificate recognizing their completion of the Best Practices NGO Leadership Academy. Additional information about completion requirements and certificate distribution will be shared during onboarding.
The Academy is intended to build a community of nonprofit leaders who continue learning from one another beyond the formal program. Participants will leave with practical leadership and management tools, a stronger professional network and approaches they can apply within their organizations and across Türkiye’s civil society ecosystem.
Flexible online learning
The ASU Lodestar Center's Nonprofit Management Institute offers courses in an interactive online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.
Program contact information
If you have questions related to this program, please complete an interest form and a program manager will get in touch with you directly.