The Center for Nonprofit Excellence strengthens
Southern Colorado’s nonprofit sector through
leadership and resource development,
advocacy and collaboration.

Our Mission and History

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence believes nonprofits are essential to a better quality of life for those in our community. Every day, we strengthen Southern Colorado’s nonprofit sector, because nonprofit organizations can only excel when they successfully achieve their missions. We connect people and organizations with the resources they need, we act as a voice for the nonprofit sector, and we promote best practices for nonprofit organizations to follow. 

For over twenty years, the Center for Nonprofit Excellence has been serving the Pikes Peak nonprofit community in order to help nonprofits excel. We provide educational workshops and networking opportunities, community events, valuable resources and collaborative programs to strengthen the nonprofit sector. CNE is here to provide sector leadership, community solutions, and capacity building to help nonprofits excel. 

CNE has been serving Southern Colorado’s nonprofits since 1991 and was previously known as the Chamber Nonprofit Partnership. Originally part of the Chamber of Commerce, the Center later become an affiliate of Pikes Peak United Way for ten years. In April 2014, the Center for Nonprofit Excellence moved into its current location in downtown Colorado Springs. This move allowed CNE to grow its capacity in services and staff, provide a space for nonprofits to gather, and to be located centrally downtown servicing the many nonprofits here. Founding board members include Thayer Tutt and Brenda Smith, who formed the organization to address leadership needs of nonprofits due to governance structures. CNE remains true to the original mission to promote, support, and strengthen the nonprofit sector, but has increased programming to meet demand and truly transform the sector and create lasting impact.