When WashU Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) launched its Nonprofit Management Certificate in partnership with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the goal was straightforward: give nonprofit professionals practical leadership training they could immediately bring back to the organizations serving the region.
Now, as the program celebrates its third graduating cohort, that impact is becoming increasingly visible across St. Louis.
Since the program began, CAPS has served 44 nonprofit professionals representing 36 organizations across the region.
This year’s graduating cohort included 18 participants from organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, Kids In The Middle, Covenant House Missouri, Deaconess Faith Community Nurse Ministries, The Oasis Institute, Annie Malone Children and Family Services, Affinia Healthcare, United4Children, Unleashing Potential, Lincoln County Council on Aging, DOORWAYS, St. Louis Area Foodbank, Inc., Marygrove and Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri.
The program’s continued growth has also led to continued collaboration for future course offerings to benefit members of the regional nonprofit sector.
For CAPS Dean Sean Armstrong, the program reflects a broader regional commitment to strengthening the nonprofit sector from within.
“As a pillar of Chancellor Andrew Martin’s In St. Louis, For St. Louis initiative, CAPS is proud to partner with the United Way of Greater St. Louis and connect with local nonprofits who are integral threads in the fabric and service of our region,” Armstrong said during the cohort’s graduation celebration.
That regional focus has remained central to the program from the beginning. Unlike many traditional academic programs, the certificate was designed specifically for working nonprofit professionals—many of whom entered the field through passion for a mission rather than formal management training.
Participants move through coursework focused on nonprofit governance, strategic planning, financial sustainability, organizational leadership, and management practices, while building relationships with peers facing similar challenges across the St. Louis nonprofit community.
For Eboni Buckels, Director of Alumni Mentoring at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, one of the program’s most meaningful lessons was the reminder that leadership does not happen in isolation.
“The biggest thing I learned is that help is only one ask away,” Buckels said during the graduation ceremony. “In a world that teaches us to figure everything out on our own and to use ChatGPT and other AI, this program really reminded me that growth only begins in community.”
She connected that sense of collaboration directly to the St. Louis nonprofit landscape.
“St. Louis is a city built on connection, resilience and continuously showing up for one another,” she said. “Together we have the solutions for St. Louis.”
Other participants emphasized the program’s practical and operational value.
Philece Horton, Director of School Age and Youth Services at Unleashing Potential, said the coursework strengthened her understanding of how mission, leadership, and financial sustainability must work together for organizations to succeed long term.
“One of the biggest lessons I’m taking with me is the importance of aligning mission with strategy, especially when it comes to financial sustainability,” Horton said. “I’ve learned that it’s not enough to secure funding—we have to understand how those plans actually support our work.”
She also highlighted the program’s emphasis on communication, accountability, and people-centered leadership.
“Inclusive communication is not just a value—it’s a practice,” Horton said. “It’s about creating space for everyone’s voice, building systems that support growth, and making sure people feel heard and valued.”
That practical focus is part of what led CAPS and United Way to expand the partnership beyond the original certificate model.
Darlene Martin, Director of Operations and Network Support Initiatives at the United Way of Greater St. Louis, said the continued collaboration reflects the ongoing need for strong nonprofit leadership throughout the region.
“We are proud to sponsor participants such as these in partnership with WashU because the work to serve, the work to lead, and the work to build better, stronger, more inclusive communities has only just begun,” Martin said.
“At United Way, we seek to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good,” she added. “Tonight, it is plain to see the care present in our St. Louis community and the power of coming together in community.”
For participants looking to continue their education, CAPS also offers a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management, providing a pathway for professionals seeking deeper study in nonprofit leadership, strategy, fundraising, and organizational management.