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Our Mission, Vision, Values

Why Do We Exist

Our communities are facing serious social and economic challenges.  As the nonprofit sector races to keep pace, young professionals are often left behind without the resources and training to reach their full potential for impact. If young talent is left uncultivated, the Boston nonprofit sector as a whole suffers. YNPN Boston was created to fill this gap by providing professional development training, resources, and networking opportunities for young nonprofit professionals to learn, grow, and connect.

Our Mission

Our goal is to develop a stronger, higher impact nonprofit community in Boston by engaging young talent and their organizations in professional development and human capital management practices.

Our Vision

One day, Boston’s nonprofit community (where individuals and organizations are working together) will have a continuous pipeline of diverse, highly engaged individuals who help to realize the sector’s full potential for impact.

Competency Model for Emerging Nonprofit Leaders

By being a safe space to build competencies and community, YNPN Boston aims to advance the careers of young nonprofit professionals, be a voice for their needs within the sector, and build a skilled, connected, and diverse talent pipeline.

Core Competencies: Skills/knowledge that are essential for emerging leaders in any professional field.

Nonprofit Competency: Skills/knowledge that are essential for a nonprofit professional

  • Difficult Conversations – Giving and receiving feedback, negotiation, resolving conflict
  • Interviewing – Interviewing for jobs, and conducting job interviews
  • Public Speaking/Presenting – Speaking professionally and persuasively 
  • Relationship Building – Networking, collaboration, teamwork 
  • Writing – Writing professionally and persuasively
  • Career Planning/Mapping – Identifying career goals and steps necessary to achieve those goals
  • Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Personal commitment to the values of equity, diversity & inclusion
  • Personal Branding – Presenting yourself online and offline, unique skills, strengths, and values
  • Self-Awareness – Capacity for reflection and a clear perception of your strengths, weaknesses, etc.
  • Self-Care – Work/life balance, physical and emotional wellness
  • Self-Management – Time management, organization, accountability, etc.
  • Influencing Without Authority – Persuading others that do not report to you, managing up
  • Managing People & Projects – Supervision, delegation, organization, decision-making, performance management
  • Meeting Planning & Facilitation – Agenda building, guiding the group, capturing action items
  • Mentorship – Finding and engaging with a mentor, mentoring others
  • Motivating & Supporting Others – Providing encouragement to others
  • Strategic Thinking – The ability to imagine what could be and how to make it happen
  • Budget Management – Understanding, developing, and monitoring budgets
  • Data Management & Analysis – Understanding the value of data, ability to analyze and interpret data
  • Social Media – Using social media platforms for professional purposes
  • Computer Skills – Ability to use text documents, spreadsheets, slides, email, internet browsers, etc. in a professional capacity
  • Advocacy – Action for or against a cause or on behalf of others; guidelines for nonprofit advocacy
  • Fundraising – Identification, solicitation, tracking and stewardship of charitable funds that sustain an organization
  • Governance & Board Relations – Role of nonprofit boards and how to effectively work with members
  • Program Management – Planning, implementing, and evaluating programs
  • Volunteer Management – Recruiting, training, overseeing and acknowledging volunteers
  • Working in a Socially Just Way – Building organizational culture that puts values of equity, diversity, and inclusion into practice, and supports the sustainability of a nonprofit career (living wage, work/life balance, etc.)