International Executive Master
Since 1998 first intake
LEAD! Leadership, Strategic Management
& Talent Development
for the Third Sector
Building the civil society leaders for the future.
Designed and managed in collaboration with:
Director of the Master: Marco Crescenzi
Founder and Coordinator of Leaders4Future – The Network of Third Sector Leaders, Member of the National Council of WWF , Founder and President of Social Change School, Promoter of the LeadingTogether – Women Leadership Programme 2025–2030, Founder of Space T – Talent Intelligence & Acquisition Lab
+2000 students trained worlwide
90% employment within 1 year
Start
December 2025
Duration
9 months
Enrolments
to December 2025
Language
English
Blended
Formula
Discounts
Available
Quick overview and Eligibility for the Master
- From December 2025 to September 2026. Begins in December 2025
- 1st Warm-up Meeting on September 13th, 2025
- 400 hours of eLearning + 9 full immersion weekend workshops (6 of them are mandatory) in Rome, Milan, Madrid
- All Inclusive Formula
Who is eligible for the Master?
- Professionals and consultants in the Third Sector
- Board members, executives, and foundation representatives
- Professional coming for the profit sector- for a life change
About the Master
This Master’s program is designed to shape a new class of middle managers and leaders in the European nonprofit sector—modern, competent, and ready to face today’s challenges.Born from the commitment of sector professionals—members of the LEADER4FUTURE network—this program offers direct learning from those who are making an impact every day, through real-life cases and immersive teaching.
Since introducing the concept of nonprofit management in Italy back in 1997, through the first Master’s programs and the book “Il Manager del Non Profit”, we’ve helped shape a generation of change-makers. Today, the need for highly skilled professionals is stronger than ever.
Backed by the experience of Social Change School, a solid network of partners, and a strong focus on practical content and career support, this Master is the ideal path for a career boost or a meaningful shift from the for-profit world.
Because we believe—and have always believed—that only well-managed organizations can generate lasting, structured, and meaningful social impact.
Since 1997, training those managers has been our mission.
Master’s Key Features
- A program co-designed with leading sector managers
- Project work and practical exercises to immediately apply what you’ve learned and tackle real-world cases
- Faculty of top nonprofit leaders and managers
- Case studies and testimonials from key players in the Italian and Spanish nonprofit sectors
- Blended learning: 7 full-immersion in-person sessions, hands-on activities, and networking lunches with faculty
- Executive Master with International Certification
- Personalized career coaching support, culminating in a Professional Development Plan
- Aptitude tests on strengths and stress management
Join the Social Change Community, the world’s largest network of nonprofit professionals with over 2,000 alumni and growing.
ATTEND CLASSES ON-SITE OR REMOTELY
In-person workshops
The Master’s program is designed to be compatible with professional commitments.
You can attend weekend sessions in-person at our Rome (Via degli Etruschi 7), or via live streaming if you’re unable to travel.
All sessions will also be recorded for later viewing.
E-learning, since 1998
Social Change School pioneered e-learning in the nonprofit sector back in 1998, enabling the training of a new generation of leaders.
Thanks to our e-learning platform, you’ll have access to a wide range of materials, online exercises, and exams for each subject area.
Didactic Areas
Every AREA include: Workshop, Webcast, Webinar, Podcast, Case Studies, Practical Exercise, Area Exams (60 items multiple choice to be delivered on line).
To get the Final Certification you’ll have to:
- Attend all the 4 mandatory areas
- Chose at least 2 out of 5 not mandatory areas
- Have passed the Areas’ Exams
- Have delivered your Project Work
You can choose up to 7 Areas out of 9.
AREA 1 (mandatory)
REINVENTING THE THIRD SECTOR AND THE NGOS 2025-2030. TRENDS, CHALLENGES AND SUSTAINABILITY.
What will be the main challenges to face and how to innovate our organizations? The voice of the General Directors of the NGOs, Foundations, Associations and Social Enterprises.
AREA 2 (mandatory)
STRATEGIC PLANNING, THEORY OF CHANGE, KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, RESULT CHAIN AND IMPACT EVALUATION.
How to go from Vision to Social Impact Results?
AREA 3 (mandatory)
ECONOMICAL AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CONTROL- HARD SKILLS.
How Forecasting and Managing the budget of your organization, your area, your office?
AREA 4 (mandatory)
PEOPLE & TALENT MANAGEMENT-SOFT SKILLS.
Talent intelligence & Acquisition, Performance Development, Organizational well-being, HR Management.
How to (really) manage and at the best our people between performance and well-being?
AREA 5 (not mandatory)
LEADERSHIP MASTER CLASS
Shared Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Situational Leadership, Transactional Leadership.
How to be a (really) good leader for the civil society?
Presentation of the SCS Programme LEADING TOGETHER 2025-2030: Survey “Women Leadership: Enabling and Hindering Factors for Female Leadership and Management in the Third Sector in Italy and Spain”.
AREA 6 (not mandatory)
COMMUNICATION, CAMPAIGNING, LOBBYING & ADVOCACY.
Stakeholder Engagement, working with corporate and institutional decision makers. Case studies and testimonies of protagonists
How to have a (real) impact?
AREA 7 (not mandatory)
PARTNERSHIP AND FUNDRASING WITH COMPANIES AND FOUNDATIONS. DEALING WITH PHILANTROPY.
How to engage stakeholders and partners on our mission?
AREA 8 (not mandatory)
MAKING PROJECT AND MANAGEMENT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
How can I save time and achieve better results through AI?
AREA 9 (not mandatory)
SOCIAL INNOVATION, SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SOCIAL BUSINESS.
How to choose the right business model, to spin off and/or building my own organizations?
What are my strength and weaknesses? What will be my career strategy?
About the Lecturers and the Staff
Marco Crescenzi
Director of the Master
Founder and Coordinator of Leaders4Future – The Network of Third Sector Leaders
Member of the National Council of WWF
Founder and President of Social Change School
Promoter of the LeadingTogether – Women Leadership Programme 2025–2030
Founder of Space T – Talent Intelligence & Acquisition Lab
Visit Marco Crescenzi’s LinkedIn Profile.
Read more about him here.
Faculty Members
Marco Crescenzi (Coordinatore Leader4Future e WWF Board Member), Alessandra Prampolini (DG WWF), Cristina Cornelli, (DG Soleterre), Daniela Fatarella (DG Save the Children), Francesca Ottolenghi (Legacoop), Francesca Pieraccini (DG Cospe), Francesco Farnesi, (Dir. Engim), Giacomo Pinaffo (DG Fondazione di Messina), Giorgio Zampetti (DG Legambiente), Guglielmo Micucci (DG Amref), Ileanea Bello (DG Amnesty International), Martina Pignatti Morano (DG Un Ponte Per), Paolo Ferrara (DG Terre des Hommes), Paolo Pastore (DG FAIRTRADE), Roberto Barbieri (DG Oxfam Italia), Roberto Bennati (DG LAV).
The Master’s program was developed with the active support and involvement of Leaders4Future, the network of General Directors of Italy’s nonprofit sector.
They will contribute lectures, real-life case studies, and personal insights, together with some of the sector’s most experienced managers.
For more information, please contact the Didactic Coordinator: Ms. Alice Novello, Community Manager of Social Change School: alice.novello@socialchangeschool.org
Alice Novello
HOPE Students, 2023
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Valentina Taglioni
HOPE Students, 2023
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Mara Colautti
HOPE Students, 2023
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Our Staff
Marco Crescenzi
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Sabrina Munaò
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Bruno Clerici
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Our Staff and Lecturers are among the best professionals in the Non Profit sector both at national and international level. They come from major NGOs.
Fill in the form to get the brochure
Our Partners
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Field Training Period (FTP)?
What is the mission of the Career Development Service (CDS)?
Are early bird rates or other discounts available?
Yes, there are early bird rates available for those who enroll before June 2025, as well as the option to pay the tuition fee in up to 12 interest-free installments.
All the information is available in the Master’s brochure, which you can request by filling out the form.
