Compassionate Leadership Certification Training for East End Nonprofits
This program is made possible through a generous grant from the
Reba Judith Sandler Foundation
Nonprofit organizations located in the Towns of East Hampton, Shelter Island, and Southampton, NY are eligible to apply. See additional eligibility information in the section “Who is eligible” below
It’s time to become the compassionate leader you know you were born to be! Join a remarkable peer group of your nonprofit colleagues and compassionate change-makers from the East End to explore the principles and practices that will transform your leadership and your life.
What will I gain by joining this Compassionate Leadership Certification Training for East End Nonprofits?
Our research-backed program will equip you with empowering tools and evidence-based practices to lead with compassion, courage, and confidence. The shift happens from the inside out. Our proven curriculum begins with a focus on the inner self, moves into the realm of relationships and organizational compassion, and then extends outward to systems change.
You will grow to:
Increase awareness of self, others, and your surroundings
Befriend your nervous system – overcome stress and burnout
Create cultures of safety, connection, and belonging
Build high-performing teams that are accountable and engaged
Navigate difficult conversations and give feedback skillfully
Apply courageous compassion to impact systems change
Expand organizational compassion utilizing the power of social architecture
“This course was an incredibly enriching experience. I especially enjoyed the deep connection we cultivated as a group which created a safe space for us to share our individual experiences and unique perspectives and challenges. It was a transformative eight weeks that left me feeling inspired and ready to lead with compassion, both personally and professionally.”
– Nonprofit Executive
What will this compassionate leadership training experience look like?
We’ll gather in community to create a culture of compassionate learning and growth. We begin by laying the foundation with scientific data and evidence-based leadership principles. Together, we integrate and embody these concepts with reinforcing practices, collaboration in small group breakouts, and through supportive conversation with the larger cohort community.
“The course provided an intentional mid-week break from our normal routines to gather, ground, learn, and cultivate compassion. I would recommend this course for anyone who is interested in learning the overarching theories and benefits of compassionate leadership, and who also wants to gain practical tools to implement compassionate practices within their lives and workplaces.”
– Senior Program Associate
Path for the Learning Journey
Tentative Course Schedule
In-person Opening Retreat: March 19 – 9:30am - 12:30pm
Location TBD. Lunch will be provided following.
Online Session 1: April 2 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
Online Session 2: April 9 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
Online Session 3: April 16 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
Online Session 4: April 30 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
In-person Closing Retreat: – May 7 - 9:30am - 12:30pm
Location TBD. Lunch will be provided following
The participant experience includes:
Full coverage of the research-backed Compassionate Leadership Certification curriculum, facilitated by Center for Compassionate Leadership co-founders Laura Berland and Evan Harrel
Peer breakout groups for deeper exploration, connection, and skill-building
Customized practices, exercises, and reflections
Lifelong access to program materials and recordings of online sessions
“What I did experience was powerful on several levels; I felt deeply cared for by faculty and concluded each exploration feeling more informed with a sense of connection and inspiration.”
– Healthcare Executive Coach and Facilitator
Why me, and why now?
In this challenging and uncertain world, it often feels as if we are forced to choose between our own personal well-being, the protection of others, and the deliverance of peak leadership performance. Just like you, we’ve experienced this tug of war between precious internal resources and the weight of leadership responsibilities for the well-being of colleagues, families, communities, and organizations. We’ve created a transformational experience to help you align and strengthen your internal and external capacities to not only meet these challenges, but to thrive and flourish in the times ahead.
We all have so many questions. What are the steps? Can you prescribe the formula for the best outcome? As a community we’ll explore the possibilities, learn best practices, hone our skills, and support our shared intentions. While it’s true that each of our unique experiences and circumstances inform what works for us in the moment, together we will cultivate the wisdom and courage required to choose and act wisely, and contemplate the following questions related to compassionate leadership. Do you share some of these curiosities that are frequently raised by compassionate leaders?
How do I operationalize compassion to build high performing teams in my nonprofit? Over half of the curriculum focuses on specific ways to bring more compassion into an organization, whether it is a large company or a solo practice.
Can I use compassion and still hold people accountable? Yes! We’ll show you how.
How can I use compassion to create a culture of belonging? Belonging is at the heart of living and leading compassionately. Together we learn how to expand our circle of belonging to include everyone.
Can I be compassionate and still have difficult conversations? Yes! Not only that, but compassionate leadership can help you have difficult conversations with more ease.
Can compassion help me strengthen my resilience, and avoid or reduce burnout? Yes! This course will help you deepen your inner compassion, understand the difference between compassion and empathy, and respect the limits of compassion. All of this will strengthen your resilience and help you avoid burnout.
Who is eligible to attend this program?
Nonprofit organizations located in the Towns of East Hampton, Shelter Island, and Southampton, who operate with paid staff are eligible to apply to send up to two team members to the program. The training is limited to thirty participants. Organizations who would like to send more than two individuals are welcome to place additional staff on the waiting list. If the capacity has not been reached by ten days before the opening retreat, participants will be added from the waiting list.
“I’m grateful for feelings of preparedness around tragedies and how my organization can respond and lead with compassion.”
– NGO Chief-of-Staff
The evidence for compassionate leadership is clear.
Our training shares the evidence-based benefits that demonstrate the power of leading with compassion. This program offers an efficient and effective opportunity to integrate the tools and principles needed to be an impactful, compassionate leader.
The evidence-based benefits of compassionate leadership offer proven outcomes:
Stronger Individual and Organizational Resilience
Improved Financial Performance
Accelerated Learning and Agility
Clarity of Mission, Purpose and Values
Improved Employee Engagement and Retention
Richer Creativity and Innovation
More Effective Collaboration
Improved Service Quality
“The Compassionate Leadership program supports you and gives you ideas on the whys, what, and hows to assist our workplaces to be compassionate, purposeful, and psychologically safe for all employees. I recommend this training to anyone seeking to transform their workplace for the greater good of all.”
– Mental Health Counselor and Leadership Executive
The evidence for our program’s effectiveness is clear, too.
In 2023, the program was independently reviewed by world-class educational evaluators at Claremont Graduate University. They found that participants showed statistically significant increases in:
Self-compassion
Compassion for others
Compassion at work
Resilience
90% of alumni said that they would recommend the course to their friends and colleagues. 70% of alumni interviewed said that they had seen changes in their organization as a result of this compassionate leadership training.
With this solid, independent verification of the program’s effectiveness, you can be assured of the benefits you’ll achieve for yourself and your nonprofit by enrolling in our Compassionate Leadership Certification Training.
“I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is looking to understand how compassionate leadership can be cultivated. This course offered an island of pause, reflection and learning. It was a weekly meeting I was sure never to miss!”
– Graduate Business School Professor
We are passionate about the quality of your experience.
Meaningful interpersonal connections create the foundation of your growth experience in our programs. Our class size is limited to ensure high-quality attention, engagement, and participation across our close-knit peer community. You will also have ample access to faculty to address your specific needs and concerns along the way. These peer and faculty networks serve as a new home base to support your own compassionate leadership journey.
The opening and closing retreats give us all a chance to build relationships with similarly situated nonprofit leaders on the East End of Long Island - relationships that will yield benefits long after the completion of the training. The sessions are tailored to the specific needs and questions of this cohort, as they arise in real time. Together we tackle the issues, challenges, and opportunities that are emerging in the field.
“The future is community. How do we build a community of care to take care of each other? This group is the seed for the future.”
– Executive Leadership Coach
How have other compassionate leaders transformed their lives since completing this training?
Compassionate Leadership Certification Training alumni around the world report that the program delivers a transformational experience for their growth and development within their internal landscape, in relationship to others, and the organizational impact they are making to the greater whole. Our courageous alumni now lead with compassion first – in their own lives, with their teams, and across their organizations. Alumni evaluations consistently rate the overall program experience as excellent, and 9 out of 10 would recommend the course to a friend or colleague.
“Life is dynamic and therefore every action of leading in life is dynamic. There is nothing more important, and nothing that will change relationships, systems and self so much than honing the skills of leadership so that they are dynamic and adaptive. This course did just that – it worked with the awareness that our leadership is dynamic in an ever changing globally connected world. And it brought together ways to be comfortable when leading compassionately, to be clear when leading kindly, to be perceptive when leading in challenges, to be true to self when leading for change.
– University Assistant Principal of Global Health
Think Globally, Act Locally
Join the Community of Compassionate Leadership Training Alumni From Around the World
Following completion of the training, you will be joining the 500+ leaders from 50 countries who have already been through our training programs. We gather monthly with alumni to stand together for change and to stay inspired and resourced. The work is hard, and we need each other to keep our commitment strong. Our alumni community will be a unique and powerful resource to ensure success on your compassionate leadership journey.
Over the years, we’ve certified leaders from JP Morgan Chase, Cap Gemini, the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Stanford University, University of Notre Dame, University of Edinburgh, Wharton School of Business, Portland Public Schools, Kaiser Permanente, and Sallie Mae, to name but a few.
“The training on Compassionate Leadership is a great opportunity to self-audit, share challenges and opportunities with fellow colleagues in similar circumstances, and start a new journey with optimism.”
– NGO Country Director
A look inside the transformational learning journey module by module.
Our research backed Compassionate Leadership curriculum fosters personal and leadership development from the inside out. The learning journey and curriculum are enhanced by connecting and supporting each other in a powerful peer community during the six-week program and beyond.
Opening Retreat
Igniting Our Community for Impact
Stepping into the Journey Together
Come together as a community with your colleagues and learn about compassionate leadership fundamentals from everyday practices to systems-changing force.
The Case for Compassion and Leadership
Science, Organizational Evidence, and Model for Integration
Gain an understanding of the science of compassion, the evidence supporting the power of compassion in organizations, and the challenges to compassionate leadership.
The Role of the Leader
Courageously Bringing Systems Change
Learn how to apply courageous compassion and take action to change systems from the inside out.
Online Session 1
Anchoring Our Leadership with Inner Strength
Inner Work of Compassionate Leadership:
Awareness, Self-Compassion, and Vulnerability
Deepen your ability to lead from a grounded, anchored place supported by awareness, self-compassion, and resilience.
Online Session 2
Building a Culture of Compassion
Psychological Safety, Mindset, and Resilience
Learn how to create a culture of compassion through evidence-based organizational leadership principles and skills.
Online Session 3
Fostering Belonging in Organizations
Inclusion for Everyone: Othering, Bias, and Belonging
Explore new perspectives and tools to foster a culture of belonging in organizations for everyone.
Online Session 4
Communication as a Transformational Tool
Compassionate Communication and Feedback
Develop the skills to have difficult conversations and share meaningful feedback with colleagues.
Closing Retreat
Bringing Compassion Into Our Organizations and the World
Integrating Compassion and Leadership for the Benefit of All
Chart your personal path and commit to integrate compassion into your daily life and leadership for the benefit of all.
“This training gave me the personal and professional tools to believe in the possibility of transformational change, and then to dare take the first steps.”
– University Administrator
Compassionate Leadership Certification Training Tuition
Participation in this course for East End nonprofit leaders has been made possible through a generous grant from the Reba Judith Sandler Foundation. All costs for participation have been covered by this grant and there is no participant fee.
Please click the button below to apply. You will find a short application, which ensures that you will be well-served by the course experience and well-supported in contributing to this robust compassionate community.
“I could not have taken the Compassionate Leadership Certification Training at a better time. I walked away from the course with skills that are beneficial to my personal and professional life. Not only did I learn a great deal from the presenters, I gained a wealth of knowledge from the other participants. I received tangible leadership skills that I will be able to incorporate into my department and overall organization.”
– University Director
“A safe place to feel what you feel and not be judged.”
– Planning Specialist
“The course gave me a sense of security that you can speak about compassion openly and make it something tangible.”
– Anonymous
About the Center for Compassionate Leadership
The nonprofit Center for Compassionate Leadership convenes and supports a global community of transformational leaders dedicated to building a new world of connection, safety, belonging, equity, and justice. Together we are courageously pioneering solutions to the great challenges of our time through the lens of compassion, love, and flourishing.
This exceptional Compassionate Leadership Certification Training is based on decades of leadership experience and wisdom practice, coupled with emerging neuroscientific and organizational evidence to validate our embodied knowing. Hundreds of alumni that have been through the journey are positively impacting the world in remarkable ways.
Our Certification Programs are one pillar of the Center’s efforts to spread compassion throughout the world. We also run customized in-person and online compassionate leadership training for a broad range of institutions, including The Carter Center, BP, Cornell University, Task Force for Global Health, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, and the Tanzanian National Institute of Medical Research.
The momentum of our individual and collective action is how we change ourselves, organizations, systems, and the larger whole. Never underestimate even the smallest act of compassion – its ripples are a powerful and essential contribution to the larger river of all life.
Lead Faculty
Laura Berland
Laura Berland, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Compassionate Leadership, serves as Lead Faculty for the Center’s public certification programs, customized training for organizations, and the Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training program. At the Center for Compassionate Leadership, she has developed a new model for these turbulent times that melds evidence-based principles of modern leadership and the latest scientific research with the wisdom of contemplative practices.
She has been a weaver of transformative organizations and experiences, as a serial media and tech entrepreneur, Fortune 500 executive, transformational facilitator, nonprofit board member, meditation educator, yoga therapist, and executive advisor. She is an E-RYT500 (accredited educator) from Yoga Alliance, and C-IAYT (certified yoga therapist) from International Association of Yoga Therapists. Laura is an alumna of Cornell University and New York University.
Evan Harrel
Evan Harrel, co-founder of the Center for Compassionate Leadership, serves as Faculty Director and Curriculum Development Lead for the Center’s public certification programs, customized training for organizations, and the Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training program. He directs the Center’s thought leadership efforts and the integration of scientific and business research into the work of the Center.
Previously, he worked for fifteen years in the nonprofit field, including as an executive director and as a consultant and board member to several nonprofits. Evan has taught about compassion to both nonprofit organizations and for-profit corporate boards.
Prior to beginning work in the nonprofit sector, Evan was an investment manager for over twenty years where he managed a thirty-billion-dollar equity mutual fund. He was awarded a Master of Business Administration degree, with distinction, from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Princeton University.
“The Compassionate Leadership Certification Program is a great opportunity to do self-audit, share challenges and opportunities with fellow colleagues in pretty much similar circumstances and start a new journey with lot of optimism.”
– Global Executive
If you are ready to lead with compassion, come join us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the format of the Compassionate Leadership Certification Training for East End Nonprofits?
This format of our certification curriculum, specially structured for nonprofit leaders on the East End is a six session learning journey, consisting of two in-person retreats of 3 hours each, and four online sessions of 1.5 hours each.
In-person Opening Retreat: March 19 – 9:30am - 12:30pm
Location TBD. Lunch will be provided following.
Online Session 1: April 2 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
Online Session 2: April 9 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
Online Session 3: April 16 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
Online Session 4: April 30 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
In-person Closing Retreat: – May 7 - 9:30am - 12:30pm
Location TBD. Lunch will be provided following
Each session includes live discussion and training with a focus on experiential learning through practices and exercises, as well as small group breakouts with your peers.
All course materials and additional resources will be posted online and available for lifelong access. You are encouraged to attend as many live sessions as possible, and online session recordings will be available in case you miss a live online session.
How many hours of work are required to complete the certification? Is there homework?
There are two retreats of 3 hours and six online sessions of 1.5 hours each, for a total of 12 hours of group class time. There is no formal homework; however there will be reflection questions that you may contemplate on your own and additional reading should you choose to go deeper.
Will I have access to lead faculty?
Yes. Each session is designed with opportunities to engage in dialogue around participant questions.
What technology is required to access the course?
Online sessions will be conducted on the Zoom platform. You will need a free subscription to Zoom to connect to the course. Zoom may be accessed through computers, tablets, or any mobile phone. If you need further information on Zoom, please visit www.zoom.us to sign up for free.
How does the program address Trauma-Informed leadership?
There are few people or organizations that have not been faced with trauma, loss, or suffering. This is especially true and more urgent in the wake of the pandemic. Yet many leaders are reluctant to address these challenges with individuals, with teams, and with their organization. We prepare leaders to be trauma-informed by courageously utilizing the lens of compassion, bringing a heightened level of awareness, care, and concern to every encounter.
Trauma-informed leaders create conditions of safety and support, where everyone can acknowledge, heal, and grow from the most difficult circumstances. You will find that trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive best practices are woven throughout our compassionate leadership training.
Will I receive a certificate upon completing this program?
Yes, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Center for Compassionate Leadership. Certificates will be delivered electronically, so that they can be shared on LinkedIn or other digital channels.
Do I have life-long access to the course material?
Yes, you will be able to access the materials and recordings at any time in the future.
What are the fees for the program?
There is no tuition charge for participants in this program which has been made possible through a generous grant from the Reba Judith Sandler Foundation. There are no additional fees.
Still curious or have additional program questions?
We'd love to hear from you. Email us at cfclprograms@gmail.com.
“Applying self compassion to leadership, effective communication and greater awareness are invaluable and will help build kinder, better more appropriate structures.”
– Global NGO Executive