Edison State Center for Leadership Development Offers Community Leadership Academy

Edison State Community College’s Center for Leadership Development will offer the Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership 1.0 beginning in January 2026. This is a series of workshops designed to develop more effective executive directors, board members, staff, and volunteers of nonprofit organizations. Course topics include communication, strategic planning, budgeting, board engagement, assessment, operations, and more.

The Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership 1.0 includes five monthly sessions beginning in January and ending in May. Sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Piqua Campus and include a light breakfast and lunch. These sessions include:

Session 1, January 21, Building a High-Performing Nonprofit Organization: Strong leadership, an engaged board of directors, dedicated staff, and volunteers who are personally committed to the vision and mission of the organization are clear indicators of a high-performing, healthy nonprofit organization. This session provides the foundation for “building” this high-performing, healthy, successful nonprofit organization.

Session 2, February 18, Tools for High-Performing Nonprofit Organizations: This session provides an overview of essential tools utilized for assessment, operations, communication, financial health, and building strategic partnerships.

Session 3, March 18, Planning for Passion and Purpose: Proactive planning is essential for organizational growth and success. This session focuses on the components of strategic planning to unify teams around a shared vision to propel organizations forward. For long-term health and resilience, this process must include diversifying revenue to build stability and creating risk-mitigation strategies to navigate unexpected challenges.

Session 4, April 15, The Work of the Board in the Community: Investing in board development is a powerful way to ensure an organization’s mission is fulfilled. This session delves into best practices for boards, including fostering community engagement, strengthening governance, and understanding expectations and legal responsibilities. Participants will explore how the board and staff can jointly communicate the organization’s impact to garner support and awareness from key stakeholders.

Session 5, May 20, Mosaic of Community Leadership Conference: Each May, this one-day conference brings together nonprofit representatives, including Academy participants and alumni, for specialized education and networking, with breakout sessions led by nonprofit professionals.

Due to the variability of winter weather and in preparation for a potential campus closure, the Center for Leadership Development reserves a snow date for the following business day for each session. For instance, if the campus closes on January 21, the Academy will meet on January 22 instead, so participants should plan accordingly.

At no extra cost, successful participants can receive one college credit for Edison State’s course, BUS 299S: Nonprofit Leadership.

Registration for the Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership 1.0 costs $299. Learn more and register at www.edisonohio.edu/paulgdukeacl.