The Program on Nonprofit Leadership and Strategic Networks' academic focus is to develop education, communication and engaged scholarship tools specifically tailored to the adult learners currently working in or considering careers in the Connecticut and U.S. nonprofit sectors. Programs currently under consideration include:

Education

• Career transition programs designed to aid and guide mid-career corporate professionals and retirees seeking to enter the field of nonprofit organization management.
  
  
• Undergraduate degree completion program in nonprofit leadership tailored to the needs of current employees of the nonprofit sector, especially individuals reflective of their communities, seeking to move into the leadership roles within their organizations or other parts of the nonprofit sector.
  
  
• Graduate credit and noncredit certificate programs in key areas of study and practice within the nonprofit sector, such as fundraising and philanthropic planning, governance, human resources, finance, law and nonprofit organizational leadership.
  
  
• Retreats designed for executive directors, emerging leaders, board leaders and other key members of the nonprofit community and its partners.
  
  
• Cross-culture online learning programs matching Connecticut nonprofit managers with NGO learning partners in Africa, Asia and Western Europe.

• Executive Listservs to facilitate the sharing of information and experience within the Connecticut nonprofit sector, and strengthening the infrastructure of the Connecticut nonprofit sector.
  
  
• Continuation of Conferences of Connecticut nonprofit professionals, government officials, philanthropists, corporate executives, volunteers and other concerned Connecticut citizens to discuss key issues facing the Connecticut nonprofit sector and civil society within our state. Examples of such conferences would be our highly successful State of the Connecticut Nonprofit Sector Symposiums, done in partnership with the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits and the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.

Engaged Scholarship

• Bringing together Connecticut nonprofit practitioners and faculty of the University of Connecticut to discuss, discover and implement undergraduate and graduate research that strengthens the nonprofit sector, benefits the citizens of the state of Connecticut and supports the academic plan and research goals of the University of Connecticut.