Leadership Development Library
These resources are offered for informational purposes only. The National Council of Nonprofits recommends consulting a lawyer or accountant who has expertise in accounting rules for charitable not-for-profits so that you can be confident that your charitable not-for-profit is in compliance with all legal requirements. And, when your organization is looking for trusted information about financial management practices, good governance, and accountability, don’t overlook the resources that membership in your state association of not-for-profits can provide.
Resources
Click on a topic to reveal relevant guides, templates, articles, and websites.
2020 Board Bible for Nonprofits
Board Governance and Best Practice Checklist
Board Self-Evaluation Questionnaire
Boardsource Glossary of Nonprofit Governance
Executive Director Annual Evaluation Template
Nonprofit Board Committees, Charges, and Responsibilities
The Four Ws and an H of Board Self-Assessment
Websites
BoardSource
Provides nonprofit board resources with an extensive range of tools, trainings, and research to enhance board leadership.
Accounting Policies and Procedures Sample Manual (doc)
Characteristics of Financially Healthy Nonprofits
Executive Directors Guide to Financial Leadership
Finding Your Nonprofit’s Funding Strategy
Indicators of Financial Crisis
Nonprofit Finances Strengths Self Assessment
Nonprofit Financial Management Self-Assessment Tool
The Ultimate Guide to Diversifying Your Funding Streams
True Program Costs. Program Budgets and Allocations
Websites
Nonprofit Finance Fund
Various webinars, tools, and resources on nonprofit budgeting and strategic approaches to financial stability.
Guidebook – Building and Intentional & DEI-Informed Strategic Plan
Guidebook – The DEI Committee Blueprint
Reimagining Capacity Building. Navigating Culture, Systems, Power
Websites
Collective Impact Forum
The Forum provides resources, hosts learning events, and offers coaching that can help advance collective impact work.
BOD Fundraising Communications Toolkit
Relational Fundraising Playbook
Understanding and Evaluating Your Fundraising Strategy
WWYD: A Good Board That Won’t Fundraise
Websites
Consumers Guide to Low Cost Fundraising Software
Community Centric Fundraising
Resources and tools to engage nonprofits to re-evaluate current fundraising practices and explore practices that reduce harm and further social justice.
Top Donor Engagement Strategies for Nonprofits
Double the Donation: Donor Development
Getting Attention: 10 Donor Enagement Strategies to Transform Your Outreach
Introduction to Employee Benefits
Legal Focus: Employee Handbook vs Procedure Manual
The Essential Nonprofit Employee Handbook Template
Workplace Accommodation Toolkit
Websites
Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
Tools and information on compliance in HR-related matters.
NYS Department of Labor Sexual Harassment Prevention
NYS specific Sexual Harassment Prevention & response model policies, model complaint forms, training requirements, and online training video that is available in multiple languages.
Check Your Workplace: Futures Without Violence
Workplace Harassment prevention using a culture change approach. Includes resources and workplace evaluation tool.
Workplace Respond: Futures Without Violence
Clearing house with resources on preventing and responding to both domestic violence and sexual violence in the workplace environment. Includes resources for employers, staff, and general education about the issues.
Cornell University: Domestic Violence in the Workplace Model Policy & Toolkit
Resources and tools for understanding the impacts of Domestic Violence on the safety, health, and productivity of our workplaces. Includes templates for policies, education, and HR or Leadership responses.
Building Leaderful Organizations: Succession Planning for Nonprofits
Departure Defined Executive Leader Transition Toolkit
Guide to Executive Director Onboarding
Interim Executive Directors: The Power in the Middle
Nonprofit Guide: Executive Director Search
Overview of Succession Planning
Reimagining Leadership Transitions
Strategic Leadership Development Planning
The Long Goodbye: Examining Extended Leadership Exits
Websites
Never Waste a Good Crisis: Why, When, & How to Hire an Interim Executive Director
Coping with the Death of a Client
How Leaders Can Build Psychological Safety at Work
Organizational Culture Survey Questions
Psychologically Safe Leader Self Assessment
Small Actions, Big Impact: Transparency & Communication
Summary of Trauma-Informed Organizational Assessments
Supporting Clients Through Grief
The 14 Attributes of a Thriving Nonprofit
Trauma-Informed Organizational Change Manual
Alternatives to Starting a New Nonprofit
Explore Strategic Partnerships: Starting a Nonprofit
Fiscal Sponsorship Relationship Basics
How to Start a Nonprofit Organization
IRS Tax Exempt Status for Your Organization 2025
Legal Steps to Forming a 501c3 in the U.S
NNFS Guidelines for Comprehensive Fiscal Sponsorship
NYS Attorney General’s Office: Forming and Incorporating a Nonprofit
AI Convergence & the New Leadership Frontier
Equity Guide for Nonprofit Technology
Human-Centered, Tech-Led: What Leaders Must Refuse to Surrender in AI Adoption
Nonprofit Technology Policy Workbook
Responsible AI Adoption in Philanthropy
Trust: The Invisible Infrastructure of AI Transformation
Websites
TechSoup
Free membership program providing access to discounted software programs for nonprofits. Additional services available for fee based memberships.
10 Best Payroll Software for Nonprofits 2026
Comparison resource of 10 of the most commonly used payroll software programs.
Note: This is compiled by Paylocity, a for profit payroll system. HSC is providing this link as a resource NOT recommendation of any program.
There and Back Again: A Journey to Cybersecurity Frameworks, Fundamentals, and Foundations.
Technology infrastructure webinar.