Certificate in Nonprofit Management

Enhance your management skills and explore new techniques to effectively lead your organization.

Are you an Alaska nonprofit or tribal leader? Do you want to enhance your management skills and explore new techniques to effectively lead your organization? The Foraker Certificate in Nonprofit Management features courses focused on issues facing Alaska nonprofits and provides access to a network of fellow professionals.

Applications are now open!
The deadline to apply is June 12

Why take Certificate?

Intensive: The Certificate program is only four months long. We’ve created a curriculum that will deliver results similar to longer, more expensive programs.

Practical skills: Instead of relying on textbooks and lectures, we focus on real-life, Alaska-relevant examples and the experiences of your fellow class members to guide your work.

Peer network. The Certificate experience includes a mix of small and large group interactions, which translates into an instant statewide network of nonprofit colleagues who share similar struggles and victories and who will provide resources and referrals for you throughout your career.

Who is Certificate for?

Certificate is for nonprofit professionals across the state – no matter whether you’re leading a large organization or a small one, or if you have been in the field for decades or only a year, this program is designed to meet you where you are in your career. Our courses are designed to be immediately applicable to your workplace. Those who are currently in leadership roles and who have the ability to influence positive change within the organization will find the program most valuable.

When and where are classes held?

The program will be held in-person at the Foraker office in Anchorage. 

The next cohort will take place in fall of 2026 (see dates below). All classes start at 9:00 am and ends 5:00 pm, with a 45 minute lunch break. 

What is the cost for the Certificate program?

Every effort is made to keep costs to a minimum. 

The fee is $3,000, or $2,500 for Foraker Partners.

Are discounts or scholarships available?

A limited number of tuition discounts and travel scholarships are available. Please indicate your interest in the application.

The Mat-Su Health Foundation offers scholarships each year to Mat-Su nonprofit leaders to attend Certificate. For more information go to www.healthymatsu.org.
Atwood Foundation grantees are also eligible for discounts. 

Other scholarships may be available. Check with your employer and local resources.

When is the next Certificate program?

2026 Cohort Dates:

Day Date Course
1 Aug 31 Fundamentals of the Nonprofit Sector
2
morning
afternoon
Sept 1 Professional/Personal Development
Strategic Direction
3 Sept 2 Strategic Direction
4 Sept 30 Budget and Finance
5 Oct 1 Budget and Finance
6
morning
afternoon
Oct 2 Business Planning
Evaluation
7 Oct 26 Board Development
8 Oct 27 Board Development
9 Oct 28 Organizational Development
10 Nov 16 Public Policy
11 Nov 17 Human Resources
12 Nov 18 Volunteer Engagement
13 Dec 2 Marketing and Communication
14 Dec 3 Fundraising
15 Dec 4 Fundraising

What happens after I complete the courses?

At the end of the program, we issue official Certificates to participants who attended each day. If you are absent from class, you will need to make-up the class the following year to receive your Certificate.

How do I apply?

The application period is open. Apply here. The deadline to apply is June 12. 

Space is limited. Our goal is to select a cohort of nonprofit leaders that represents the diversity of nonprofit missions, leadership experience, and geography of the state. This is a competitive process, and we encourage you to engage fully in the application process.

Questions? For more information on the Certificate program, contact us or call 907-743-1200.