Porges Nonprofit Excellence Initiative
Investing in innovative leaders & nonprofits to meet the challenges of our time.
About the Porges Nonprofit Excellence Initiative (PNEI)
The Porges Nonprofit Excellence Initiative is rooted in the values of its namesake: father and son Norm and Evan Porges. Those values include entrepreneurial thinking, curious and expansive leadership, never settling for status quo, and abiding generosity.
Evan and Norm Porges evolved their giving to become more strategic with the establishment of the Porges Family Foundation in 2014 with the administrative support of Stanislaus Community Foundation. In the decade since the founding of the Porges Family Foundation the family has been recognized as philanthropic exemplars, singular in their love for the region and for their support of nonprofit innovation, entrepreneurism, and the arts.
LEADERSHIP & TRANSITION
Applications will open on Monday, March 3, 2025.
Interested in learning more about this program, and others, offered by the Porges Nonprofit Excellence Initiative? Join us for an informational webinar on Friday, February 28 at 12:00 p.m.. Register: bit.ly/3Cj6CWB.
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A transformative two- month sabbatical program to support nonprofit leaders in their leadership journey. This will serve as an opportunity to refresh and re-energize leaders to better engage within their nonprofit and the community they serve.
Participation is limited to up to three organizations a year.
Awardees will participate in an orientation providing guidance and resources for a well-planned sabbatical.
1:1 organizational coaching to navigate the Nonprofit sabbatical leave.
Pre- and post- assessment survey
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A succession planning program for nonprofit organizations, their executive directors and board of directors to help prepare for the future. Each organization will learn about the essential elements of succession planning, resulting in developing an emergency and departure-defined succession plan.
Specialized training sessions
1:1 executive coaching, specialized consulting on navigating healthy succession planning.
Each organization will learn about the essential elements of succession planning, resulting in developing an emergency and departure-defined succession plan.
Participation is limited to up to four organizations a year.
Pre- and post-assessment survey
NEXT LEVEL LEADERS
Applications will open on Monday, March 3, 2025.
Next Level Leaders is a leadership program designed to strengthen nonprofit leaders and their organizations through in-depth group and individual learning opportunities. It was created with emerging and mid-level managers in Stanislaus County in mind.
Interested in learning more about this program, and others, offered by the Porges Nonprofit Excellence Initiative? Join us for an informational webinar on Friday, February 28 at 12:00 p.m.. Register: bit.ly/3Cj6CWB.
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Coaching opportunity for emerging nonprofit managers
Managers will participate in professional coach matching assessment
Managers will receive 1:1 Individualized professional coaching sessions
Retreat for program participants
Retreat for up to 10 mid-level managers
Designed to inspire, challenge, and help leaders unlock their greatest leadership potential.
Providing resources, tools, and peer-learning opportunities.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT & SPECIALIZED TRAINING
Applications will open on Monday, March 3, 2025.
Interested in learning more about this program, and others, offered by the Porges Nonprofit Excellence Initiative? Join us for an informational webinar on Friday, February 28 at 12:00 p.m.. Register: bit.ly/3Cj6CWB.
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Our nonprofit accelerator program is designed to help organizations strengthen their capacity and drive sustainable impact. In 2025, the focus will be on Fundraising and Fund Development. This comprehensive program includes:
Group Learning Sessions
One-on-One Organizational Support
Online Learning Modules
Key Topics Covered
Fundamentals of Fundraising
The Donor Lifecycle
The Board’s Role in Fundraising
Developing Effective Strategies
Crafting and Communicating a Compelling Case for Support
Mastering “The Ask”
Designed to help you build the skills and strategies your organization needs to thrive! Applications open on March 3. Programming is slated for September - October 2025.
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Storytelling is a great way to educate, inspire, and engage people. Impactful stories are strategically conceived, creatively executed, and attached to measurable outcomes.
In this in-person four-hour workshop, guided by Luis Ortega with Storytellers for Change, participants will be introduced to a robust framework for how to narrate and illustrate impact effectively. Participants will understand how to develop compelling narratives for their specific audiences, craft an effective story arc, and the importance of ethical and asset-based storytelling.
Content, Objectives, + Benefits
A Storytelling Framework: Equip participants with a flexible and impactful storytelling framework to adapt to multiple contexts beyond the workshop.
Understanding Story Arcs: Offer participants a clear outline to understand, identify, and craft compelling story arcs.
Community Building: Engage in various storytelling activities.
Ethical & Asset-Based Storytelling: Discuss essential principles to engage in storytelling with integrity.
Practical Application: Through interactive exercises, participants will practice applying storytelling techniques directly to their projects, leading to tangible outcomes.
Participants will also receive a Storyteller Toolkit, which includes worksheets and detailed descriptions of all the concepts covered.
The workshop is scheduled for October 2025 and can accommodate a large number of participants. Registration is required and will open in August.