Learn about upcoming programs available through Harvard Kennedy School.
Level Up with the Nonprofit Leadership Executive Certificate
The Nonprofit Leadership Certificate at Harvard Kennedy School will help you get to the next level as a leader in your organization. This certificate is designed for professionals working in nonprofit and non-governmental organizations, as well as community leaders seeking to enhance their impact.
Enhance your skills in:
- Program/project delivery and assessment
- Organizing for social change
- Improving outcomes through excellence in leadership
Alumni with Executive Certificates in Nonprofit Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education include executive/deputy directors, presidents, development directors, community organizers, and CFOs.
Executive Certificate Requirements
To earn your Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, you must finish three programs within six years. At least two must be from the list of core programs below. Programs may be a mix of online or on-campus. You will need to apply for each program separately and complete them at your own pace within six years. You will receive a $500 discount on your final program.
Core Programs
Create your own learning experience by completing a minimum of 2 programs from the core programs below. You may complete your third program by choosing one from the list below, or by taking any application-based Executive Education programs (except Investment Decisions and Behavioral Finance). Please note: Registration-based Executive Education programs do not count towards the Executive Certificate.
- Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation (formerly Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations)
- Leadership for Social Impact
- Leadership, Organizing and Action
- Leading Successful Programs: Using Evidence to Assess Effectiveness
- Nonprofit Financial Stewardship
- Nonprofit Management and Leadership: Strategies for Organizational Success
- Public Narrative: Leadership, Storytelling, and Action
Additional Programs that Qualify for the Executive Certificate
If you have completed one of the below programs in the past six years, you can earn an Executive Certificate by completing two additional programs. At least one of those two must be from the list of core programs listed above.
- A Course in Exponential Fundraising
- Creating Public Value
- Evidence for Equity
- Leading Nonviolent Movements for Social Progress
- Mobilizing Your Nonprofit Board
- Moral Leadership in an Imperfect World
- Strategic Frameworks for Nonprofit Organizations
- Strategic Fundraising for Nonprofit Leaders
- Transforming Service Delivery for the 21st Century (formerly Delivering Public Services: Efficiency, Equity, and Quality)
Upcoming Programs
Leading Successful Programs: Using Evidence to Assess Effectiveness
Leading Successful Programs: Using Evidence to Assess Effectiveness
Challenges leaders to rethink their programs' goals and reassess how they gather, evaluate, and use data to determine their effectiveness Learn more.
Upcoming Sessions
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Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation
Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation
Challenges leaders of nonprofit organizations to think about new strategies for creating and sustaining high organizational performance.
Upcoming Sessions
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Still Have Questions?
What is the benefit of earning an Executive Certificate?
Your Harvard Kennedy School Executive Certificate is a significant enhancement to your résumé that recognizes your successful completion of multiple executive programs within a particular concentration area. It also makes you part of a global community of accomplished professionals committed to continuous learning and becoming more effective leaders.
What are the requirements to qualify for an Executive Certificate?
To qualify for the Executive Certificate, you must complete three programs within six years. At least two of your matriculated programs must be core programs listed within your chosen concentration. The third may be any HKS Executive Education program of your choosing. Each program has its own program director, program fee, and admission requirements; you will need to successfully submit a new application for each program.
How do I apply for an Executive Certificate?
There is no application required to receive an Executive Certificate. Once you have been admitted to your third eligible program, you will be able to indicate in our system which Executive Certificate you wish to receive at the conclusion of the program.
What is the discount for the third program?
You will receive a $500 discount on your third program.
Can I use Tuition Assistance towards the programs in my concentration area?
If you are awarded tuition assistance, it may be applied towards a program within the concentration area. Please note, however, that HKS Executive Education has a limited amount of tuition assistance available, and most programs require a separate application for tuition assistance once you have been admitted. Please contact the Program Director for your program directly for more details.
Can I use Tuition Assistance and the Executive Certificate discount on my 3rd program?
No, offers cannot be combined.
Do other Harvard University classes/programs qualify towards my HKS Executive Certificate?
No, only programs taken through HKS Executive Education qualify towards your Executive Certificate.
Can I use one program toward two Executive Certificates? Can I earn multiple Executive Certificates in one concentration area?
No, each program can only be applied towards one Executive Certificate, and you may only earn one certificate per concentration area.
Can I earn an Executive Certificate in more than one concentration area?
Yes, you can earn multiple Executive Certificates by completing three unique programs in more than one concentration area.
Is there a limit to how many programs or certificates I can complete in a year?
To get the most out of the Harvard Kennedy School experience, we strongly recommend a short break between earning an Executive Certificate and attending your next program. The lessons learned at HKS take time to fully take root and applying them in real-world scenarios only strengthens their value. Further, due to high demand, HKS strives to ensure that there is space available to as many first-time participants as possible. Applicants who apply to more than four programs in one year will receive a more stringent level of review.
Will registration-based programs qualify for an Executive Certificate?
No, registration-based programs, such as Generative AI: How to Use It and Why It Matters, are not eligible toward an Executive Certificate. However, participants who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion to recognize your achievement.
How do I reference my Executive Certificate on my résumé /CV or LinkedIn profile?
Here is the language you should include:
Awarded an Executive Certificate in {Concentration Area} for completion of [Insert Program Name] Program, [Insert Program Month/Year], [Insert Program Name] Program, [Insert Program Month/Year], [Insert Program Name] Program, [Insert Program Month/Year], John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education.
Where can I find more information about the Executive Certificate, including eligible programs, program fees, and application deadlines?
Explore Our Executive Education Programs