Building on Elizabethtown College’s mission to “educate for service” and a 28-year legacy of developing the region’s business leaders and their companies, The High Center for Nonprofits is committed to strengthening and advancing the knowledge, networks and skills of the region’s nonprofit changemakers.
The High Center Model
The three pillars of the High Center’s model are Awareness, Education and Application.
Awareness
As a High Center member, you and your team have access to resources including our Best Practice and Succession Planning surveys, which provide insights and foster conversations to understand where your organization is today and what actions are critical to position it for a sustainable future.
Education
Embedded in one of the region’s exceptional liberal arts colleges, The High Center is committed to member learning and engagement on critical trends and topics. Members are invited to attend leadership speaker events offered throughout the year from the nation’s top thinkers and authors, as well as the Evolution Leadership Conference in October and the signature High Center Business Forum event held in March at the Lancaster Marriott and Convention Center. For continuous learning, the member section of our website contains recordings of all the featured speakers, white papers and case studies.
Application
The High Center Peer Groups are where you put your learning and development into action, as well as gain immeasurable value from learning with others in a confidential and safe environment. For over two decades, The High Center has facilitated executive peer groups for the region’s CEOs and Key Executives. With more than 200 members participating each year, The High Center team is dedicated to this transformational learning model for those who value feedback and are willing to share their experiences and knowledge.
Nonprofit Member Benefits
Best Practice Survey
The Best Practice Survey gathers insights from CEOs and leadership team members around critical areas such as governance, strategic planning, performance management and leadership development. Results from the team are compiled and a summary report is reviewed with the team in a two-hour session that is designed to foster conversations, identify areas of alignment and priority areas for follow up. A summary of priority areas is also provided.
Succession Planning Survey
The Succession Planning or Exit Survey is designed to ensure you are prepared to move on from your organization and that your organization could sustain itself if you moved on. This survey is comprehensive and explores readiness from different aspects including financial, emotional and business readiness. Results are reviewed with the CEO in a one-hour session and a summary report of recommended next steps is provided.
Peer Groups
The High Center peer groups are the most crucial accountability component of membership at the Center. Groups of 8-10 peers gather six times a year for a half-day facilitated meeting to discuss financial information, process issues, and build personal awareness in a completely confidential environment.
Leadership Speaker Series
In addition to our Leadership Speaker Series events throughout the year, The High Center Forum brings top national speakers to the Lancaster Marriott and Convention Center each year. Membership includes two tickets per company to the High Center Business Forum.
High Talks & High Notes
High Talks are a collection of videos from many of our speakers from the past several years and High Notes are fact based and research written articles pertaining to topics on family and privately-held business’s best practices. These are available in the Member section of our website for you and your team members.
Business Relationships
Our events and peer groups provide an excellent opportunity to network with the region’s top executives at events and build business relationships with local and regional leaders. Our peer group members are paired with others in “buddy appointments” to foster relationships outside of group meetings.
Salary.com
Employee compensation is a critical component of talent retention, The High Center can provide you with detailed salary data for specific roles in a specific market and based on the size of your organization for a small one-time fee. These reports can help you quickly and accurately price jobs and analyze your compensation pay practices.
Continuing Education Discount
Members receive a 20% discount on classes through the Elizabethtown College (SGPS) School of Graduate and Professional Studies. Courses include a Family Business and Entrepreneurship certificate program, which can be credited toward a full Masters degree in Business Administration or Strategic Leadership. They also have The Edge program, which includes micro-credential courses, all of which can be taken online.
Expert Advice
Facilitators of our peer groups include both High Center staff and other senior level individuals from the community who are selected based on their expertise in their respective industries as well as their ability to create interactive dialogue with participants. Additionally, local experts join our peer groups during the year to share best practices to provide insights around topics such as budgeting, developing key performance indicators, hiring and retention, and operational enhancements.
Contact the Nonprofit Center
Interested in joining or learning more about the Nonprofit Center? Contact us through the form below.