Who We Are

CNPE is a member organization. While our primary service area is Metro Louisville and Southern Indiana, we welcome members and participants from anywhere. We were created expressly to help nonprofits achieve their missions more effectively and with excellence – from getting started through strategic planning and resource development. CNPE envisions a just and equitable community that supports and emboldens nonprofits to ensure everyone has the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

Love

We serve, support, challenge, engage, and sacrifice as an expression of care and concern for one another and in the creation of a just, equitable community. Love is the very foundation of all we do.

Learning

We nurture a culture of inquiry, curiosity, and study to deepen the reach and impact of knowledge, skills, and innovation.

Equity

We lift up the voices of the sector and connect historically marginalized organizations and people to resources that enable them to grow and thrive.

Courage

We encourage one another to think differently, to make space for creativity and innovation, and to support the freedom to fail.

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence was established in 1999 by community leaders including our Founding CEO Kevin Connelly and major funders, including the Donors Forum of Kentuckiana, Metro United Way, and the city of Louisville.

It was clear that nonprofits in Greater Louisville were missing a central point to access information, best practices, professional development, and hands-on consultation aimed at helping nonprofits reach their potential. Just over two decades later, we are recognized as the go-to resource for the area’s nonprofit community.

Our membership stands at more than 500 organizations and individuals, and we serve over 1,000 nonprofit professionals and volunteers in the community. Our weekly newsletter goes out to 6,000 readers.

How We Are Funded

We are funded 60% by contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals. We earn the rest of our income from membership fees, sponsorships, events, and consulting services.

Individual, foundation, and corporate support enables us to offer best-in-class professional development, programming, thought leadership, and convenings at affordable rates.

We are deeply grateful for the continuing support of our funders. Go to Support Nonprofits to become one of them. It’s a tangible, practical way you can help our entire sector.

Contact Das Rooprai, CEO, to explore how you can be a funding partner or sponsor for CNPE.