The Cristine Nardi Fund at CNE

For more than 15 years, Cristine Nardi has brought boundless dedication, intellect, and service-inspired leadership to her role as Executive Director of Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Her collaborative spirit has guided CNE’s evolution in measurable impact, professionalism, and a vision that is both bold and courageous: equitable, thriving, and just communities powered by healthy nonprofits. Under her direction, every day the CNE team works to realize this vision through mission-driven programs as a champion, learning partner, and advisor for Virginia nonprofits.  

With the same strategic foresight and thoughtfulness demonstrated throughout her tenure, Cristine announced in June 2023 that she would be departing CNE to clear a path for the next generation of leaders to helm the organization. Cristine’s contributions to CNE are far too numerous to list, yet perhaps most notable is her achievement in building an enormously talented team, which possesses the expertise, professionalism, and diversity of thought and experience, to lead CNE in responding to the needs – current and future – of Virginia’s social impact sector. 

To honor Cristine as a champion of the sector and CNE, we are pleased to announce the creation of the Cristine Nardi Fund at CNE. The Fund will enable CNE to both meet its mission and advance future priorities, particularly in areas that align closely with Cristine’s passion and leadership. 

Reflecting CNE’s four core values – courage, equity, collaboration, and excellence – fund dollars will be invested in strengthening nonprofits in Charlottesville and statewide by expanding capacity-building services, including building a statewide advocacy network to strengthen the sector’s ability to be a catalyst for equitable, thriving, and just communities.

We hope you will consider supporting the Fund and join in honoring Cristine’s years of service to strengthen the social impact sector.  There is no better way to demonstrate shared appreciation to her than by ensuring CNE’s sustained and deepened impact.  Indeed, your generous donation to the Cristine Nardi Fund at CNE is an investment in the next chapter of CNE’s vital work building community across the Commonwealth.

With sincere thanks, 

2024 CNE Board of Directors

Nathan Walton, Chair
Warren Buford
Lorelei Costa Morrow
Shirley Davis-Carter
Kaki Dimock
Nicole Hawker
Christine Jacobs
Marta Keane
Rahul Keshap
Ingmar Leliveld
Craig Lindqvist
Marcia Marsh
Sarah Mullen
Justin Reid
Jean Runyon