The Center for Nonprofit Management & Leadership is dedicated to creating a community of ideas, resources, and support devoted to strengthening the capacity and sustainability of the social sector in Wichita Falls and the surrounding communities. The Center accomplishes this goal through research, education, and engagement with a commitment to sharing best practices, innovation, and excellence.

The Center was established at Midwestern State University in January 2019. The Center is pending recognition as a member of the Nonprofit Academic Center Council (NACC) since 2025. Both the director and manager are certified as Standards for Excellence licensed consultants and Board Source Nonprofit Board Consultants.

Standards for Excellence^®   Licensed Consultant

The Standards for Excellence^® originated as a special initiative of Maryland Nonprofits in 1998 and has since expanded into a national program to help nonprofit organizations achieve the highest benchmarks of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations. The program is offered by twelve state, regional, and national affiliate organizations and is supported by 150 Licensed Consultants and over 200 volunteers with professional experience in nonprofit governance and administration. Since its inception, the program has accredited or recognized over 200 individual nonprofit organizations that completed a rigorous application and review process to demonstrate adherence to the Standards for Excellence^®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.

In 2008, BoardSource named the Standards for Excellence code as “one of the most important milestones in the field of nonprofit governance in the last 20 years.” The Institute’s program has been cited as exemplary at hearings and roundtables before the US Senate Committee on Finance and the American Society of Association Executives.

Both our staff have their Standards for Excellence licenses in nonprofit consulting.

Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) and Advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional (ACNP)

The CNP credential is the only nationally recognized credential in nonprofit management that provides learning and real-world experience. The credential is endorsed and managed by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. The certification is based on established competencies required for the success of nonprofit managers and leaders. To earn the credential, requirements must be met in the following categories: volunteer service, professional experience, nonprofit knowledge and skills, leadership development, and education. This credential is offered to our nonprofit management minor students through the Center and the nonprofit management minor program.

Nonprofit Academic Centers Council

The Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC) is an international membership association comprised of academic centers or programs at accredited colleges and universities focused on the study of nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations, volunteer action, and/or philanthropy. NACC was established in 1991 and was the first group dedicated to the promotion and networking of centers and academic programs that provide research and education in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. General membership is awarded to programs with an academic affiliation that demonstrate a focus on at least two of the three program areas (education, research, and community). The Center for Nonprofit Management Leadership became a member of NACC in 2025.