Since 2002, the Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Initiative (formerly the Center for Nonprofit Leadership) has been working to provide training, consulting and information resources to Kentucky’s nonprofit community. Finding a new home in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture in 2004 has opened many new avenues for the initiative.“A significant focus of our land grant mission through Cooperative Extension involves providing research-based educational opportunities to the people of Kentucky,” said Larry Turner, associate dean and director for Extension in the UK College of Agriculture. ”The Nonprofit Initiative allows us to provide additional quality educational experiences to a growing audience of nonprofit professionals and board and council members across the state, which strengthens community members’ leadership abilities and helps us fulfill our mission.”As a way to reach out to the nonprofit community, the Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Initiative will host a Nonprofit Leadership Forum Sept. 17 in Lexington at the Griffin Gate Marriott Hotel. The Nonprofit Leadership Forum will provide nonprofit executives and volunteers a unique opportunity to network with peers, attend workshops presented by local, regional and national experts in the field of nonprofit management and visit with vendors and exhibitors who provide services especially designed for nonprofit organizations. This second annual forum is the only statewide event of its kind in Kentucky.“The 2004 forum will provide 16 informative sessions designed to meet a wide range of interests and experience levels,” said Danielle Clore, director of the Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Initiative. “There is a board governance track designed for executive directors and board members. Other sessions are appropriate for executive directors, board members, other volunteers and any number of other nonprofit staff members. “A pre-conference workshop on Sept. 16 will help nonprofit leaders further develop their leadership and communication skills with staff, peers, board members and donors.Turner said that the number of nonprofit organizations has increased in recent years in Kentucky and nationwide.“Nonprofit organizations have increased in response to the need for additional services and decreased funding. Our effort supports community initiatives that combat many of the ‘Kentucky Uglies’ UK President Lee Todd has identified, such as low literacy rates, poor health and other social issues,” Turner said. “Often professional staff and board members of such organizations are seeking training to function more effectively.”Turner believes the initiative helps pull together significant expertise at the state level through the Cooperative Extension Service to address this issue, and matches that expertise with this need at the local level.“The result should be enhanced local community leadership,” he said. “Stronger nonprofit organizations at the local level can help marshal resources to address problems.”Clore is confident the initiative’s new home in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Community and Leadership Development will allow the program to better partner with county Extension offices and other University resources to provide more support to nonprofit organizations throughout the Commonwealth.“It is also a goal of the initiative to work more closely with other campus units and local, regional and national experts to ensure that the best resources are available to Kentucky’s nonprofit community,” she said. “The initiative also plans a future certification program for nonprofit professionals.”The Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Initiative’s Web site at http://www.kynonprofits.org has many resources including job listings, upcoming events, information about the initiative and important contact information.For more information about the Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Initiative or to register for the 2004 Nonprofit Leadership Forum, contact the office at (859) 257-2542, visit the Web site, or send and e-mail to emailus@kynonprofits.org. The deadline for the forum’s discounted early registration fee is Sept. 10.