Category: Press Release

Center for Nonprofit Excellence Announces Inaugural Day of Learning

Posted on October 27, 2025 by - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Tiffany Wilson
Center for Nonprofit Excellence
twilson@thecne.org

Center for Nonprofit Excellence Announces Inaugural Day of Learning

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

Charlottesville, VA – Monday, October 6th, 2025 — The Center for Nonprofit Excellence – Virginia (CNE) will host its inaugural Day of Learning on Thursday, October 16, from 9:15 am to 4:15 pm at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Central Branch in Historic Downtown Charlottesville.

Designed as Virginia’s premier nonprofit learning opportunity, the Day of Learning will convene nonprofit staff, board members, philanthropic partners, and community leaders for a full day of workshops, facilitated discussions, and peer-to-peer learning. Participants will explore strategies for resilience, leadership, and collaboration in response to a rapidly changing environment.

“Nonprofit organizations are at the forefront of addressing community needs, yet they continue to face unprecedented challenges,” said Dr. Mariane Asad Doyle, Executive Director, CNE. “The Day of Learning will provide nonprofit leaders with tools, insights, and partnerships that strengthen their capacity to create meaningful and lasting impact.”

Featured Sessions Include:

  • Community Engagement That Matters: Building Authentic Relationships for Greater Impact
    Presented by Sly Mata, UVA Community Engagement
    Guidance on cultivating trust-based relationships that strengthen programs and enhance impact.
  • Collaboration Over Competition: Breaking Out of Scarcity Thinking to Build Stronger Partnerships
    Presented by Frank Dukes, UVA Institute for Engagement & Negotiation
    Tools for fostering trust and building partnerships that advance shared vision and collective impact.
  • Scenario Thinking for Nonprofit Boards: Preparing for the Unknown with Strategic Foresight
    Presented by Staci Barfield, Armstrong McGuire
    Approaches to help boards anticipate change and make agile, mission-driven decisions.
  • Purpose-Driven Governance: Reimagining Board Leadership for Mission and Impact
    Presented by CNE
    A reexamination of board leadership to prioritize mission advancement and long-term community outcomes.

Additional Program Features

Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a dine-around lunch break on Charlottesville’s historic Downtown Mall, with participating restaurants offering special Day of Learning discounts. Complimentary parking validation will be provided for the Market Street Parking Garage.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Thank you, Wells Fargo, our presenting sponsor for the Day of Learning.

 

Thank you, TechDynamism, Woodard Properties, Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, TowneBank, and UVA’s Division of Community Engagement & Equal Opportunity, for sponsoring this event.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Day of Learning. Interested organizations may contact Tiffany Wilson at twilson@thecne.org.

 

The inaugural Day of Learning represents a significant step in advancing nonprofit excellence across the Commonwealth. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared learning, the event seeks to equip nonprofit professionals and partners with the knowledge and resources necessary to meet the moment and strengthen community resilience.

Registration is open at thecne.org/events/meeting-the-moment-a-collaborative-day-of-learning-for-nonprofit-resilience

Center for Nonprofit Excellence’s Dr. Mariane Asad Doyle to Moderate the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Community Event

Posted on October 27, 2025 by - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Waverly Davis, Director of Advancement and Communications

Center for Nonprofit Excellence

wdavis@thecne.org

 

Center for Nonprofit Excellence’s Dr. Mariane Asad Doyle to Moderate the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Community Event

(Charlottesville, Virginia – February 19, 2025) – The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) is pleased to announce that its Executive Director, Dr. Mariane Asad Doyle, has been appointed Board Vice Chair of the Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee.

The Chamber’s Public Policy Committee serves as a legislative and regulatory think tank, providing guidance to the Chamber Board of Directors, as well as its many roundtables and councils, to shape the organization’s advocacy efforts. The committee also reviews legislative actions and, when necessary, makes recommendations to the Chamber Board.

“The Chamber plays a vital role in strengthening our business community, and I am honored to serve the business community as Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Public Policy Committee. Nonprofits are small businesses and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a voice for more than 2,000 nonprofits that play a critical role in the economy in the greater Charlottesville region” said Dr. Mariane Asad Doyle, Executive Director of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

In addition to this leadership role, Dr. Doyle will moderate the Chamber’s fourth annual State of the Community event on February 21st at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) in Charlottesville. This event will feature executive leaders from the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County who will share insights on the region’s business climate as well as business and research leaders speaking to the power of relationship-building and the impact of shifting demographics on the business and nonprofit communities.

Featured Speakers:

  • Sam Sanders, Jr. – City Manager, City of Charlottesville
  • Jeff Richardson – County Executive, Albemarle County
  • Antwon Brinson – CEO, Culinary Concepts AB
  • Hamilton Lombard – Estimates Program Manager, Weldon Cooper Center

The event will take place at PVCC’s Bolick Center from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Admission, which includes breakfast, is $45 for Chamber members and $60 for non-members. Event registration is now open at www.CvilleChamber.com

Center for Nonprofit Excellence Hosts Member Appreciation Event: “Relax, Connect and Celebrate”

Posted on October 27, 2025 by - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Center for Nonprofit Excellence Hosts Member Appreciation Event: “Relax, Connect and Celebrate”

Charlottesville, VA – March 20, 2025 – The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) is delighted to announce a special evening dedicated to appreciating its members, fostering community connections, and celebrating the impactful work of local nonprofits.

Event Details:

  • Title: CNE Member Appreciation: Relax, Connect and Celebrate
  • Date: Monday, April 7, 2025
  • Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Location: Level 10, 323 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902

This exclusive event offers CNE members an opportunity to unwind, network, and enjoy an evening of appreciation. Attendees will experience Charlottesville’s stunning views from Level 10, indulge in delicious offerings by Harvest Moon Catering, and connect with fellow nonprofit professionals. Complimentary onsite garage parking is available, with the entrance on Garrett Street.

Thanks to the generous support of Level 10 and Harvest Moon Catering, this event is free for CNE members.

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence is committed to strengthening nonprofits to realize the potential of our communities. This event underscores CNE’s dedication to fostering collaboration, learning, and growth within the nonprofit sector.

About the Center for Nonprofit Excellence:

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (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.

Contact: Center for Nonprofit Excellence

Phone: 434.244.3330

Email: btullman@thecne.org

Website: thecne.org

CNE Announces Dr. Mariane Asad Doyle as New Executive Director

Posted on January 31, 2024 by - Press Release

Charlottesville, Va. – Today, Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) announced Dr. Mariane Asad Doyle as its new executive director. Dr. Asad Doyle will assume responsibility on February 1 and succeed Cristine Nardi who served as executive director for 15 years.

“We are deeply excited about Mariane joining CNE,” said Nathan Walton, CNE Board Chair. “She brings a wide array of passions and skills related to relationship building, community-based programming, and organizational management, but also has specific expertise in the roles of equity and advocacy in nonprofit practice. Mariane embodies a unique balance of conviction and humility that I am convinced will benefit not only CNE, but communities throughout Virginia.”

Asad Doyle most recently served as Chief Culture Officer at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, where she leveraged more than two decades of experience as a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in nonprofits, public education, and human resources. She previously served in leadership roles with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the William S. Hart Union High School District, and as a lecturer in educational leadership and policy studies at California State University, Northridge.

Additionally, she currently serves on the board of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce as chair of the public policy committee, is a member of the budget committee for the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, and is a long-range planning advisory committee member for Albemarle County Public Schools.

As executive director, Asad Doyle will lead the strategic planning, operational management and advocacy efforts of CNE to strengthen partnerships, build nonprofit capacity, and address structural inequities in the social impact sector.

“I am deeply honored to uphold the remarkable legacy of CNE and long-time executive director, Cristine Nardi, who served as the guiding force in steering the organization from its infancy to the impactful powerhouse it is today,” said Asad Doyle. “I am enthusiastic about propelling us into the future, championing nonprofits to thrive as sustainable organizations that play a pivotal role in serving the community and humanity at large.”

Asad Doyle attained a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Higher Education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She lives with an incredibly supportive husband of nearly 20 years, two wonderful children, and what she describes as “the best dog in the world.”

There are more than 35,000 nonprofit organizations in Virginia, representing a quarter of the public service workforce. Since 2005, CNE has been a primary resource for the nonprofit sector by providing training, leadership development, consulting and technical support, and data, research, and convening to help nonprofit organizations and their leaders grow and thrive.

###

About CNE

Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) is a member-driven, community resource for strengthening nonprofits and building a healthy, thriving social impact sector. CNE partners with more than 900 nonprofits and funders statewide to provide leadership development, training and consulting, and data, research, and convening so we can all live in a more equitable, thriving, and just Virginia.

Nominations Now Open for the Second Round of the CNE Philanthropy Champions Program

Posted on January 10, 2024 by - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2024

Contact: Amel Gorani, agorani@thecne.org, 434.951.9041

 

Nominations Now Open for the Second Round of the CNE Philanthropy Champions Program 

 

Charlottesville, Va. – The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) has launched the second round of the Philanthropy Champions program. The program seeks to spotlight the generous giving and important contributions of community members, not least those from marginalized and underrepresented groups whose philanthropy is often overlooked due to the narrow focus within traditional philanthropy on donors of major gifts. The program is part of CNE’s ongoing efforts to promote a more expansive and inclusive understanding of philanthropy by shining a light on some of the myriad ways that ordinary people engage in philanthropic activities. In doing so we recognize the diversity of ways in which people contribute by giving their time, treasure, talent, ties, and testimony.

“We are delighted to be launching the second round of the Philanthropy Champions program,” said Amel Gorani, CNE Deputy Director – Strategy, Equity, & Impact. “The program has been received with enthusiastic interest and support within CNE and our wider network, and has already made significant achievements in its inaugural year. It has bolstered our efforts to transform people’s understanding and perceptions of what philanthropy is and who philanthropists are. The program has made significant contributions to advancing our mission of building community. We cannot wait to celebrate the second cohort of Philanthropy Champions.”

CNE is looking to honor philanthropists (in the broad sense of the word) in the Charlottesville region who are not already widely recognized and celebrated for their professional and paid work, but individuals and groups who make a significant contribution within their community by extending themselves and sharing their talents, skills, and compassion in the ways that make a big difference. These are community volunteers and advocates, grandparents, youth leaders, teachers, workers, and other unrecognized philanthropists who are a bastion of support for others, but rarely get formal recognition for their efforts.

Last year, CNE recognized 18 Philanthropy Champions from across the Charlottesville region who were nominated by community members for their philanthropic engagements. The 2023 Philanthropy Champions’ areas of work included food security, housing justice, student activism, health, services to immigrant communities, the arts, women empowerment, and combating sexual violence. The champions represented a wide range of philanthropic practices by community leaders from varied backgrounds, generations, and all walks of life whose contributions have made an important contribution to the welfare of our community.

The 2024 Philanthropy Champions will be recognized at CNE’s annual Philanthropy Day celebration which will be held on March 27 at the Wool Factory in Charlottesville. Each champion will receive a CNE Philanthropy Champion certificate, a monetary award, a one-year CNE membership, and will be featured on CNE social media and website.

Individuals and groups in the Charlottesville region are eligible to be nominated. To nominate a Philanthropy Champion, go to thecne.org/philanthropy-champions.

Nominations can be submitted through January 26, 2024.

For more information, contact Amel Gorani at agorani@thecne.org or (434) 951-9041.

###

About CNE

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) is a member-driven, community resource for strengthening nonprofits and building a healthy, thriving social impact sector. CNE partners with more than 900 nonprofits and funders statewide to provide leadership development, training and consulting, and data, research, and convening so we can all live in a more equitable, thriving, and just Virginia.

Announcing CNE’s 2023 Philanthropy Champions

Posted on January 9, 2023 by - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT
Terrel White
Director | Advancement
twhite@thecne.org | 434-951-9047

 

CNE TO RECOGNIZE DIVERSE GROUP OF PHILANTHROPY CHAMPIONS AT SRPING 2023 PHILANTHROPY DAY SUMMIT

March 29 event to honor impactful and creative forms of community building in our region

Philanthropy Champions from Charlottesville and surrounding areas will be recognized and celebrated for their impactful giving and diverse forms of community building as part of The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) Philanthropy Day Summit on March 29, 2023, beginning at 9 am at the Wool Factory  https://www.thecne.org/pday2023/

The Philanthropy Champions program aims to celebrate, spotlight, and advance diverse forms of philanthropy. This recognition is part of CNE’s ongoing efforts to promote a more expansive and inclusive understanding of philanthropy that recognizes the profound generosity within our communities, not least the giving of underrepresented groups who are seldom recognized in mainstream philanthropy.

This is the first time that CNE is hosting a Philanthropy Champions celebration to honor and spotlight the wide range of philanthropic practices in our community. In doing so we recognize the diverse ways in which people contribute by giving of their time, treasure, talent, ties, and testimony.  CNE initiated this project through a nomination process with guidance from individuals in the community to expand definitions and understandings of philanthropy.

“We are honored to celebrate and promote these champions whose philanthropic giving is so crucial in building and supporting their communities,” said Amel Gorani, CNE Deputy Director – Strategy, Equity, & Impact.  “It is particularly timely for us to host the Philanthropy Champions recognition this year as the theme for the Spring 2023 Philanthropy Day Summit is Reimagining Philanthropy for a Healthier Democracy. At a time when much attention is paid to divisiveness, these individuals are working every day to make connections and strengthen our social fabric.”

The Philanthropy Champions listed below will be recognized at the Spring 2023 Philanthropy Day Summit and will be featured throughout the coming year in more detail.  In addition to a $500 award, each champion will be offered free one-year access to CNE special services and benefits and ongoing customized support to connect the champions to potential resources to support their work. The recognition of the Champions is being made possible by generous financial support from the United Way of Greater Charlottesville and an anonymous donor from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.

Rosa Hudson For her role and contributions as a community organizer with the Monticello Area Community Action Agency and as the first Housing Counselor at Piedmont Housing Alliance.
Dolly Joseph, Pat Seay & Kerney Eubanks For their work in providing fresh produce, material support, and community space for the Ridge St neighborhood and beyond.
Rosa Key For fighting food insecurity as a member of Cultivate Charlottesville’s advocate team.
Lois Castle For helping run the clothing closet at her local Catholic church in Stuarts Draft.
Charles Lewis For his work on In My Humble Opinion, a radio program that builds community and has been created with dedication to empowerment.
Omwira Nkere For his support for refugee communities including through volunteer-interpretation and extensive efforts to support refugees in need.
Jaronda Miller-Bryant For her exceptional support of college students, her commitment to health and wellness in the Black community, her contributions to the Black Empowerment Coalition, and for being a general mentor to young Black women.

 
Charlottesville High School Black Student Union For their advocacy for healthier and financially accessible school lunches, and a community of unity and equity for all identities
Bass Wolf For his allyship and contributions to combating sexual violence, and his role in promoting liberation and social justice.
Rocio Zamora and Jose Luis Hernandez- Sin Barreras’ Driver Privilege Card Team, For their years-long advocacy to extend driving privileges to immigrants that may not have yet qualified for a standard license.
Dr. Max Luna – UVA Latino Health Initiative For founding the Latino Health Initiative at the University of Virginia that has contributed significantly to improve health outcomes within the Latino community.
Zafar Khan For his instrumental role in supporting resettlement and food security for Afghan refugees in Charlottesville.
Beverly Adams For her community service and advocacy for diverse groups throughout the community, through the Black Empowerment Coalition, the Women’s Initiative, the Links, and the Deltas, among other organizations.
Zeba Rizvi For her leading role within the Islamic Center of Central Virginia, her extensive inclusion efforts, and formation of many new programs, including afterschool Islamic education program.
Gloria Beard For her efforts to provide holiday gift bags for senior citizens in Charlottesville, for her community engagement with the City Council and local media, offering her ideas as a long-time resident of the city.