Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Berkshire Taconic to Sponsor Local Nonprofit for Program at Harvard Business School

January 19, 2011

SHEFFIELD, MA—Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation invites executive directors of nonprofit organizations in the Berkshire Taconic region to apply for a scholarship to attend a six-day intensive training program at the Harvard Business School in Boston. Under Berkshire Taconic’s sponsorship, a selected director will attend “Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management,” a program designed to strengthen the capacity of nonprofit directors to lead their organizations effectively. The program will take place July 17–23, 2011. Tuesday, March 1, 2011 is the deadline for applications.

Berkshire Taconic began developing the sponsorship in 2008 after Jennifer Dowley, president of the foundation, attended the program herself. Berkshire Taconic has sponsored area nonprofit CEOs—Martin Ping of Hawthorne Valley Association, Gary Schiro of Hudson Valley Opera House, Anne Nemetz Carlson of Child Care of the Berkshires and Jeffrey Rovitz of Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties —to attend this week-long program over the last two summers.

Martin Ping said, “The strategic perspectives in Nonprofit Management at HBS exceeded my high expectations by a wide margin. Every aspect of the week was world class and I consider myself extremely privileged to have been able to take part.”

“I’ve been working professionally in the nonprofit world for some 26 years now and no workshop, class or experience has been half as valuable as my time spent at the SPNM Program at the business school,” said 2010 attendee Gary Schiro.

The selected participant will attend the program along with 140 other nonprofit leaders, using the case–study method of learning. The program encompasses several themes, such as formulating strategy in complex environments, exploring market sensitivity, achieving internal alignment with strategic vision and leading change. The program is part of the Harvard Business School’s Social Enterprise Initiative, which helps leaders in all sectors apply management skills to create social value. The School is providing a full scholarship, valued at $4,900.

Application forms and program brochures for the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program are available online.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a chief executive officer responsible for direction, mission, focus, policies and major programs. The organization must have a budget of at least $500,000 and a minimum of three employees. The nonprofit may be in any field (e.g., health, education, culture, environment, social services) but must provide services in the area served by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation: Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT.

Berkshire Taconic’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence will review applications and nominate candidates who best fit the program’s criteria. Harvard Business School will make the final selection and the candidate will be notified by May 6, 2011, for participation in the July program.

Harvard Business School’s Social Enterprise Initiative, which Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management is a part of, focuses on an integrated approach to social enterprise-related teaching, research and activities. The initiative engages with leaders to generate and disseminate practicable resources, tools and knowledge with the ultimate goal of bettering society.

Berkshire Taconic’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence offers services and resources to help the staff, board and volunteers of nonprofits think strategically, govern effectively and operate efficiently. It provides seminars in nonprofit management, the Nonprofit Learning Program and research databases. This sponsorship extends Berkshire Taconic’s support for the leaders of nonprofits in the region.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY, acting as an agent for positive change in the region. Since 1987, Berkshire Taconic has managed a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships for programs in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goals and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.

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