Center for Nonprofit Excellence and Social Innovation

We engage, stimulate and transform nonprofit organizations by recognizing and supporting promising and innovative practices for greater community impact.

CNESI has worked with over 75 individuals, groups, and initiatives in the past 3 years.  Many are immigrant-led organizations who want to make a difference for their communities.  CNESI clients share their feedback about our services:

"CNESI is still supporting our emerging organization tremendously!"

"Very helpful direction and advice"

"I feel that it is a wonderful addition to our ever-growing community."

"The CNESI rep (Jeannette) has been helpful and clear.  When giving us info we didn't necessarily like she shares with kindness and generosity.  She has always been for our work, oh so patient!"

"Very professional and efficient"

"I was struggling before I came to CNESI."

Our vision is: A vibrant, effective and innovative nonprofit sector enhancing the well-being of the Greater St. Cloud (MN) area.

Our Definition of Innovation is “A novel solution to a social problem that is more effective, efficient, sustainable, or just than existing solutions and for which the value created accrues primarily to society as a whole rather than private individuals.”

Our Strategies:

1. Support and assist emerging nonprofits with specific services as they develop solutions to address community issues. Services include fiscal sponsorship, consultation, connections, referrals, and resources.
2. Convene and engage business and nonprofit organizations to promote innovative practices that lead to greater efficiencies and use of scarce nonprofit resources.  Methods include the Innovation Awards, the annual Innovation Summit, and Innovation Roundtables.

To learn more about the organizations we've helped in their early development, check out:

Central MN Sustainability Project http://www.sustainmn.org/

Midwest Oromo Communities http://midwestoromo.org/