Please note:

Financial support is available to eligible applicants in the form of a leadership education grant and leadership travel grant. Apply online at ecegrants.on.ca.

To effectively participate in this program, students must have reliable Internet access and a device that meets these requirements.

About the program

The Senior Leadership and Management in the Not-for-Profit Sector certificate program is designed for current and emerging leaders in Not-for-Profit Organizations. This part-time program offers flexibility to those working full-time, delivering engaging and timely courses that will help you lead through change, understand and explore emerging trends and impact, and direct strategic and operational planning with an emphasis on financial and human resource management.

Whether you are an executive director, a senior manager or a manager interested in transitioning into the sector, you'll learn valuable insights that will help shape your leadership style and give you the tools to influence positive change, innovation and strategy into your organization.

Program information

All courses must be completed within 5 years of acceptance into the program.

Admission requirements

  • A two- or three-year diploma or a degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of three (3 ) years of related work experience in the not-for-profit sector
  • Applicants not meeting the post-secondary education requirements but who have a minimum of five (5) years of related work and/or volunteer experience in the not-for-profit sector will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Applicants must provide a letter of support from their not-for-profit employer or the agency in which they volunteer.
  • Preference will be given to applicants currently serving in a senior leadership role within a not-for-profit sector.

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Note re: admission requirements

  • Applicants possessing degrees/diplomas from institutions where the language of instruction was not English will be required to provide test scores as evidence of their English language proficiency. Test scores, if required, would be a minimum of TOEFL iBT 88; IELTS 6.5 with no bands less than 6.0; CAEL 70 with no sub-test band scores less than 60; PTE Academic 58; Conestoga English Language Test (CELT) Band 6; or equivalent scores in other recognized standard tests of English.
  • Conestoga offers a language program for students whose English language skills are below the standard required for admission but all other admission criteria have been met. Students will be eligible for admission to the graduate certificate program after completion of level 4 of the General Arts and Science - English Language Studies (ELS) program with an overall grade average of 80% and no grade less than 75%. Placement in the ELS program is determined by scores on an in-house English language test or TOEFL or IELTS.

Admission procedures

  • Submit a completed Conestoga College Program Application Form.
  • Submit proof of Admission Requirements. Review Apply to a Program to learn how.
  • Upload your current resume and a letter of support indicating your work in the not-for-profit sector (as indicated above) to your application form.
  • Final selection is made following an assessment of the admission requirements.

Graduate opportunities

Graduates may find enhanced employment opportunities in various community organizations and agencies within the not-for-profit sector.

For more details on related occupations, job market information and career opportunities, see the Government of Canada website: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

Program outcomes

  • Recommend strategies to address trends and issues in the non-profit sector that capitalize on growth opportunities and mitigate risks.
  • Facilitate the development of an organizational vision, mission and governance structure, which meets community needs and leverages community assets.
  • Analyze various approaches to strategy development to design and implement a process for strategic and operational planning that supports the organization's goals.
  • Propose solutions to improve management of the organization's human, financial and community resources.
  • Construct a framework that supports and encourages the creation and maintenance of an ethical, accountable and engaged workplace.
  • Examine personal, societal and organizational biases, beliefs, and assumptions to increase self and system awareness.

Program related resources

Continuing Education
Upcoming registrations

Mark your calendar with our registration dates, so you can plan your future.

Spring registration: Opens March 11, 2024
Fall registration: Opens July 22, 2024