We Build Community

CNE envisions equitable, thriving, and just communities powered by healthy nonprofits and to achieve that vision, we serve as a champion, learning partner, and advisor to Virginia nonprofits. We invite you to join us in investing in our collective futures.

Vision

Equitable, thriving, and just communities powered by healthy nonprofits.

Mission

We are a champion, learning partner, and advisor for Virginia nonprofits.

Values

We are centered and guided by our values of courage, equity, collaboration, and excellence.

Latest News & Our Blog

CNE Board Member Spotlight: Dr. Nathan Walton

As a nonprofit executive, academic, and pastor, Dr. Nathan Walton has devoted his career to equipping and mobilizing organizations for social transformation. That career has included serving as Executive Director of a community development nonprofit that specialized in youth development, as well as over a decade of pastoral ministry. Walton currently serves as Co-Lead Pastor of East End Fellowship in Richmond, Virginia.

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CNE Board Member Spotlight: Marta Keane

Marta Keane has spent her career helping others thrive, first as a speech-language pathologist and audiologist and later as a nonprofit leader. She began at the Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center, where she supported patients from toddlers to seniors—teaching sign language to a preschooler who had survived a stroke, and helping a young man with a brain injury communicate through Morse code.

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7 Actionable Principles Stories Feat. The Fountain Fund

Erika Viccellio, who joined as Executive Director early in the Fund’s journey, brought a passion for turning equity from a value into a structure, not just what the Fund did, but how it did it.

“We’ve been asking ourselves,” she said, “what am I willing to give up so that others have opportunity?”

From rethinking traditional top-down leadership to prioritizing lived experience in every facet of the organization, the Fountain Fund didn’t just aim to help formerly incarcerated individuals; they invited them to lead.

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Upcoming Trainings & Events

Leaders of Color Circle Application 2025/2026

October 10, 2025 12:00 pm – October 10, 2025 12:00 pm
1701-A Allied Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903

The Leaders of Color Circle is designed specifically for and by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders working in the local nonprofit sector. Centered on BIPOC peer support and shared wisdom, the Circle aims to create a space where BIPOC leaders can ask and offer support around self-care strategies, nonprofit core competencies, and […]

Leaders of Color Collective: Transitions & Resiliency in Leadership Journeys

October 14, 2025 5:00 pm – October 14, 2025 7:00 pm
Zoom

The Leaders of Color Collective is a program designed specifically for and by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) working in the social impact sector. Join CNE for Transitions & Resiliency in Leadership Journeys on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 5pm. Leadership journeys are marked by seasons of transition – promotions, new roles, organizational […]

Meeting the Moment: A Collaborative Day of Learning for Nonprofit Resilience

October 16, 2025 9:15 am – October 16, 2025 4:15 pm
Jefferson Madison Regional Library – Central Library (201 E. Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902)

This fall, CNE’s Day of Learning, Meeting the Moment, brings together nonprofit staff, board members, and community partners for a full day of connection, reflection, and skill-building. Meeting the Moment invites participants to think boldly about resilience, leadership, and collaboration in times of change, blending interactive workshops with peer-to-peer learning and facilitated discussion. The day will feature four […]

Treasurers Discussion Group- October 2025

October 28, 2025 9:00 am – October 28, 2025 10:00 am
Hybrid, Zoom & 1701-A Allied Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Are you currently serving or interested in serving as a treasurer on a nonprofit board? Would you like to connect with others in similar roles to share insights, learn best practices, and discuss the unique challenges of nonprofit financial leadership? This discussion group is designed to support individuals serving as nonprofit board treasurers or those […]

Marketing and Communications Discussion Group – October 2025

October 30, 2025 9:00 am – October 30, 2025 10:00 am
Zoom

Are you a marketing or communications professional looking to connect and learn from your peers in other organizations?  CNE’s Marketing & Communications Discussion Group provides an opportunity for folks working in communications to share challenges, swap stories, and get industry updates. Each session will focus on a different topic and include guest speakers when possible.  […]

QuickBooks 101: Set Up and Start Tracking Your Nonprofit Finances

November 6, 2025 9:00 am – November 6, 2025 11:00 am
Zoom

QuickBooks can make running your nonprofit easier – once you know how to use it. In this hands-on session, you'll learn how to get started in QuickBooks and set up system to track your income, expenses, and invoices the right way from the beginning. You'll learn: How to navigate QuickBooks and choose the right version […]

Case Studies in Planned Giving

December 9, 2025 9:00 am – December 9, 2025 11:00 am
1701-A Allied Street, Charlotteville, VA 22903

How do you get your key donors and or board members to make a Legacy commitment to your organization? Planned Giving guru, Russell James, says, "The best way to start that planned giving conversation is to say to a donor, 'Your situation reminds of a case I recently worked on.'' The problem is many non-profit […]

Leaders of Color Collective: Implicit Bias & Strategic Leadership

January 13, 2026 5:00 pm – January 13, 2026 7:00 pm
Zoom

The Leaders of Color Collective is a program designed specifically for and by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) working in the social impact sector. Join CNE for the next session in our Leaders of Color Collective, Implicit Bias & Strategic Leadership on Tuesday, January, 13 2026 at 5pm. Bias often operates invisibly, but […]

Leaders of Color Collective: The Future of Leadership

April 14, 2026 5:00 pm – April 14, 2026 7:00 pm
Zoom

The Leaders of Color Collective is a program designed specifically for and by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) working in the social impact sector. Join CNE for the spring session in our Leaders of Color Collective, The Future of Leadership: Collaborative & Collective Models. The next era of leadership emphasizes collaboration, shared power, […]