Organizations are navigating intense change, uncertainty, and disruption. As a middle manager, you are the essential stabilizer, keeping your organization focused while navigating constant change and uncertainty. You’re the one translating vision into action, managing competing priorities, and supporting your team through disruption–all while trying to maintain your own resilience.
You deserve support designed specifically for you.
The Management Essentials program addresses the exact challenges managers face daily, and is based on real-world experience leading through today’s disruptions, the pandemic, and the 2008 financial crisis. It’s full of practical, tested solutions from leaders who’ve been where you are.
You Will Learn To…
- Manage up, down, and around simultaneously
- Master time management, prioritization, and delegation in high-pressure environments
- Navigate change and its impacts on you, your teams, and the people you serve
- Build lasting resilience for whatever comes next
Why Management Essentials?
77% of managers receive no training support, while 75% experience high levels of burnout.
- Be among the 23% who get the support they need
- Develop skills that set you apart as a leader
- Build a netowrk of peers who become your lifelong professional allies
- Care for yourself while caring for your team
Exclusive Media Sponsor:
Program Details
- Who: Middle managers in TNPA member organizations and companies, and extended network participants
- When: January – September 2026, with a 45-minute kick-off in November 2025
- Where: Virtual Sessions
- Cost: Special pricing for this pilot year – with limited spaces available.
*This program is SOLD OUT*
-
Nonprofit Members: $429 – SOLD OUTCorporate Members: $729Nonprofit Non-Members: $479 – SOLD OUTCorporate Non-Members: $829
- Enrollment: CLOSED
The Management Essentials Modules
Participation includes all five modules:
Module 1: Priority Setting: Yours, Mine, & Ours
Module 2: Do’s & Don’ts of Effective Delegation
Module 3: Managing Change with Less Pain
Module 4: The Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback
Module 5: The Power of Productive Conflict
Each Module Includes
- Introduction video with learning outcomes
- 2 Learning Snacks!
- 90-minute Workshop (Live & Virtual)
- Time for Homework & Practice
- Share & Solve (Live & Virtual)
Time Commitments
Plan to spend 3-4 hours per month focused on developing your management skills.
Nonprofit Organization Cohort
- Workshop on Wednesdays 1:30-3:00 pm ET (Jan 14, Mar 11, Apr 29, June 24, Aug 12)
- Share & Solve on Wednesdays 1:30-2:30 pm ET (Feb 11, Apr 1, May 27, July 15, Sept 9)
Company & Agency Cohort
- Workshop on Thursdays 1:30-3:00 pm ET (Jan 15, Mar 12, Apr 30, June 25, Aug 13)
- Share & Solve on Wednesdays 1:30-2:30 pm ET (Feb 12, Apr 2, May 28, July 16, Sept 10)
This program is designed for mid-level managers, particularly those who’ve been promoted into management roles but haven’t yet had much formal training on how to manage others. Managers from fundraising and development, policy, operations, or program teams who are experts in their disciplines, but may not have management expertise, are ideal participants.
We strongly encourage participants to attend all live sessions to get the most benefit from the program. And, we realize that participants may have an unavoidable conflict or two. Most live sessions will be recorded and available to all participants online through the end of 2026.
Yes! Training like this is most effective when a team of managers participates together. We welcome your participants and look forward to working together.
Yes, the Jennifer Bielat Memorial Scholarship Fund is available based on need. Please contact Abby Graf at AGraf@TNPA.org for more information.
This is a pilot program. We will make a final decision about offering it again in 2027 by June 2026.
We are now opening the final days of registration to non-members of TNPA, with different pricing for members and non-members.
If your organization or company is a member of TNPA but doesn’t show up when you register, please get in touch with membership@tnpa.org.
Click here for more information about TNPA membership.
The answer depends on timing:
Before January 1, you choose to get a refund minus $50 processing or replace the registration with a new participant.
Before February 28, you may substitute in a new participant.
After March 1, the slot is forfeited, and no refund will be given.
Enrollment transfer and cancellation policies: Enrollment in Management Essentials constitutes intent to participate for the full nine-month program and is a commitment to the experience for fellow members. Enrollment is non-transferrable. No refunds will be issued after the final date of the current enrollment period.
Cancellations emailed to The Nonprofit Alliance 30 business days or more before the start of the event will be eligible for full refunds minus a $50.00 processing fee.
No refunds will be issued 29 days before the first day of the event.
Substitution of enrollments is permitted up until two weeks before the event with written consent. Any substitution must be of the same type (Member for Member, Nonprofit for Nonprofit, Commercial for Commercial). The individual submitting the substitution request is responsible for all financial obligations.
TNPA DEI Accountabilities: As part of our organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, TNPA strives to hold ourselves accountable for putting our principles into practice. We apply this same accountability to those who create and/or present content on our behalf:
- Be inclusive. Create content that can resonate with an array of listeners and readers.
- Speak to diversity. Recognize that members of an audience or cohort have various lived experiences.
- Recognize that systemic inequities and discrimination exist. Do your best to acknowledge how we can mitigate against them.
- Be mindful of explicit and implicit bias. Review content through the lens of varied identities.
TNPA Code of Conduct: The Nonprofit Alliance exists to foster the development and growth of nonprofit organizations and to protect the donors, members, partners, and volunteers that support them. At all educational offerings and conferences, we commit to fostering an environment free from physical, emotional, and psychological harm. We will not tolerate harassment, discrimination, and intimidation of any form. All individuals must exhibit professionalism, must demonstrate respect for others, must act with civility, and must refrain from inappropriate and unwelcomed physical contact, sexual references and aggressive advances. Anyone who experiences or witnesses a violation to these standards, should immediately contact TNPA CEO Shannon McCracken. Anyone found in violation of the TNPA Code of Conduct by any means may receive a warning, have membership suspended, enrollment fees forfeited, or experience escalation to legal authorities.
