News

Multnomah County's Department of Human Services, under the leadership of Director Patricia K. Pate, donated $8,000 to the Institute for Nonprofit Management to help sustain and further develop nonprofit education programs at Portland State University.

Housed in Portland State's Mark O. Hatfield School of Government, the Institute for Nonprofit Management (INPM) provides education and training in leadership for nonprofit organizations. The funds were provided to aid the INPM's effort to explore long term sustainable funding for nonprofit management education programs such as the Leadership Fellows Program.

"Given the contracting we do for health and human services, it's in the County's best interest to support the Institute in its public service education," said Pate. "I can't think of a better way to serve the public than by helping these educational units that are training our leaders. The County hires from and contracts with nonprofit organizations and it is in the public's interest that these organizations have the best trained leaders the community has to offer."

"Public tax dollars provide the County with monies for programs to serve those in need," said Erna Gelles, assistant director of the INPM and assistant professor of Public Administration. "The County contracts with nonprofit organizations to deliver these services...Their shared work allow us to live in a safe, healthy community. When these organizations do their work well, we all benefit."

One essential INPM program benefiting from the donation, the Leadership Fellows Program (LFP), was established six years ago by and for people of color who work in nonprofit organizations serving diverse populations. In this program, the INPM works with the community to identify talented rising leaders in nonprofit organizations through a region-wide nomination and application process. The selected leaders are then engaged in an intensive leadership development program that focuses on areas ranging form budgeting and strategic planning to ethics and conflict resolution. The LFP is based on a set of beliefs that leadership is not so much about developing individuals as it is about strengthening communities with leaders who are both knowledgeable and committed to serving diverse ethnic populations.

About INPM
This Institute has established itself as the Northwest's premier educational center for research, study and continuing professional education of nonprofit sector leaders. The Institute offers a comprehensive certificate program in nonprofit management and graduate-level classes in nonprofit leadership.

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Source: Sharon Hasenjaeger (503-725-8221)
Institute for Nonprofit Management

For Immediate Release (#05-118)