Nonprofit Program

 The New Directions Nonprofit Program was created for senior executives and professionals interested in staff leadership, board of directors, or pro bono opportunities with large or small nonprofit organizations in Boston and beyond.

New Directions holds intensive, interactive workshops that feature guests speakers, as well as first person accounts by former clients who have transitioned to nonprofit jobs or board seats.  These workshops are informal and lively with free-ranging, candid dialogue among speakers and clients.

This program walks participants through the following:

  • Sizes and types of nonprofits
  • Impact of nonprofits on the economy, locally and nationally
  • Current employment trends in the nonprofit sector
  • Nonprofit compensation
  • The importance of personal motivation/core values
  • Nonprofit management and decision-making styles
  • Nonprofit governance issues, includes Sarbanes-Oxley
  • Unique roles of nonprofit leaders and officers, including fundraising, managing volunteers and interfacing with multiple constituencies
  • Resources to assist exploration in this sector 
     

A significant number of New Directions clients have made successful transitions to leadership, board and pro bono roles in a wide variety of nonprofits with different missions: environmental, human rights, global public health, economic development in the U.S. and overseas, job training for low-income adults, arts and culture, poverty, religion, education and much more.
     
 

What Clients Have to Say

"When my company was sold, I was looking for another high-paying job with a public company.  After the Enron and Arthur Andersen scandals, federal legislation added new accounting regulations, increasing the demands on financial officers at public companies.  The challenge of taking my broader financial background and applying it to the nonprofit world was very appealing.  In hindsight, my year at New Directions was the best year of my life.  It helped me clarify my priorities and I met some wonderful people."

-- Former CFO at a utility, energy and transportation company who became COO of a major Boston-based nonprofit.

"The year I turned 55, I decided I wanted to harness the skills I'd developed as a financial sector business leader on a second career in public service.  With invaluable coaching at New Directions, plus my own sense of mission, I was fortunate to be appointed head of a statewide agency devoted to improving the quality of life of the state of Maine.  This gave me the privilege and rare opportunity to achieve my goal."

-- Previous President/CEO of a major financial services company, now President/CEO of a major community foundation.