Leadership Development Programs
The following is an alphabetical listing of active leadership development programs in Minnesota and nationwide. This guide includes leadership-building programs offered by university systems and nonprofit organizations to grow your leadership skills and strengthen your organization and Minnesota’s nonprofit sector.
Leadership Trainings
MCN offers a variety of services and trainings to expand the leadership of the nonprofit sector, strengthening individual nonprofits and the communities they serve, including: Social Leader Roundtables, Emerging Leaders Networking Lunches, an annual leadership conference, board training sessions and additional leadership tools, trainings and conferences.
Minnesota-based Programs
Amherst Wilder Foundation
Neighborhood Leadership Program
St. Paul, MN
Neighborhood Leadership Programs develop the skills of existing and emerging community leaders. By participating in these programs, participants enhance their ability to act on important community issues. The annual six month Neighborhood Leadership Program (NLP) is an in-depth program bringing together 30 diverse leaders from across the community in bi-monthly sessions to develop leadership skills and promote effective action.
Augsburg University
Seeing Things Whole
Minneapolis, MN
Seeing Things Whole cultivates whole leaders and thriving organizations to positively impact the common good. You have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the world and to empower those around you to do the same.
Blandin Foundation
Leadership Programs
Grand Rapids, MN
The Foundation’s leadership programs are designed to serve the Foundation’s mission of strengthening rural Minnesota communities. The programs, which assist rural leaders in building on their community’s assets, include the Blandin Community Leadership Program and Partners-in-Leadership Program.
Bush Foundation
Leadership Fellows Program
St. Paul, MN
The Bush Leadership Fellows Program supports accomplished, motivated individuals who are eager to prepare themselves for greater leadership opportunities and to create positive change in their communities.
Hamline University
School of Business
St. Paul, MN
Hamline’s Master in Nonprofit Management degree is dedicated to preparing professionals to meet the complex fiscal and operational challenges that are unique to nonprofits. The curriculum combines the theories of nonprofit management with best practices. Students learn skills that help practitioners define goals, adhere to mission, and respond to demands of their multiple stakeholders.
MACC Alliance of Connected Communities
Leadership Development
Minneapolis, MN
MACC develops leadership opportunities in the context of people’s day to day work. They establish work groups and affinity groups of staff with similar jobs. These groups undertake projects at the request of MACC’s board or create their own agendas and projects. Note: Participants must be employed by a MACC member agency.
Metropolitan State University
Masters of Public and Nonprofit Administration
Minneapolis, MN
This program equips leaders and managers at all levels of government and nonprofits with the skills and understanding necessary to build and improve our communities. It is available in three formats: in regular classroom-based courses, in web-enhanced courses where students meet every other week and do online work in between classes, and online-only.
Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN
This nine-month program is designed for leaders who seek a deeper understanding of issues affecting the region; ways their organizations can directly impact community issues; and ways to expand their leadership abilities and use those skills in a volunteer capacity.
Minnesota State University
Mankato Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program
Mankato, MN
The Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program is an 18-credit undergraduate certificate that draws from the fields of sociology; urban studies; recreation, parks and leisure; and social work to provide an exciting program that will change the way you look at the community and enhance your professional opportunities in the nonprofit sector.
Propel Nonprofits
Leaders Circles Program
Minneapolis, MN
Leaders Circles® groups are based on an internationally known process called action-learning. Each circle is composed of five to seven nonprofit leaders. Groups are confidential, supportive, and focused on learning and action. A trained, experienced facilitator works with each group.
St. Paul College
Business Program
St. Paul, MN
Building on a rich history of offering unique business programs, the College recently launched a new specialty in business management. It awards Associate in Science degrees in business management, with separate focuses on entrepreneurship, human resources, and international business.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Organizational Leadership, M.A.
Minneapolis, MN
This online degree is designed to help students become adaptable, ethical, and tech-savvy leaders who can affect real and lasting change in an organization. Students will learn how to master organizational challenges, manage conflict, and develop those around them. They will also lay a future foundation for future leadership success in an ever-shifting business environment.
Shannon Leadership Institute
The Shannon Program
St. Paul, MN
Through a structured and supportive environment, the Shannon Institute challenges participants to define the purpose of their work, clarify the core values they want their life and work to exemplify, and develop strategies to increase their effectiveness, commitment, energy and satisfaction.
University of Minnesota – Duluth
Masters in Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL)
Duluth, MN
The MAPL program is an applied degree, designed for persons with interest in having an impact on and changing public policy through positions as local community leaders, government relations specialists, advocates, inter-governmental relations, lobbyists, elected and appointed officials. Round-trip transportation from the Twin Cities is provided for each class weekend.
University of Minnesota
Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Minneapolis, MN
Humphrey School offers graduate degrees in public policy; urban and regional planning; an MS in science, technology and environmental policy; and a mid-career MPA. Humphrey students have extracurricular learning opportunities, including with the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center. In addition, Policy Fellows participate in monthly seminars and attend Policy Forum conferences, read briefing papers and journal articles, take a study trip, and complete a group project.
University of Minnesota
Humphrey School – Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center
Minneapolis, MN
The purpose of the Center is to enhance the leadership of nonprofits, philanthropy, and the public sector to work together to advance the common good. The Center brings together core strengths of the Humphrey School. It builds on the 20-year record of the former Reflective Leadership Center to support high-quality, well-trained, and experienced leaders who understand how to work collaboratively for change and for the public good.
University of St. Thomas
Mini MBA for Nonprofit Organizations
Minneapolis, MN
The Mini MBA for Nonprofit Organizations is a topical survey of the nonprofit world and develops some important leadership competencies for the field. You’ll get to learn alongside peers who are working in the nonprofit field, and you can connect with our faculty who have unique vantage points into the social sector.
YWCA Mankato
Elizabeth Kearney Women's Leadership Program
Mankato, MN
The Elizabeth Kearney Women's Leadership Program examines, defines, and redefines leadership both personally and professionally for women. This program works with women in the Greater Mankato area to build a strong and collaborative network of powerful leaders and increase the number of women in local corporate, business and other leadership roles.