It’s nearly the end of the year; and, if you’re like most CSR professionals, you are currently looking for — and budgeting for — potential 2016 professional development opportunities.

To help you with tools and ideas, Donors Forum negotiated the deeply discounted rate of $5,000 for our Members to attend the 2016 Institute for Corporate Social Responsibility. The Institute is offered in partnership with Johns Hopkins University and the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers.

This four-part, six month course of study examines the scope and complexity of CSR, including its evolution, components, best practices, measurement models, key issues, and current trends. At the end of the program, participants earn a professional certificate in CSR from Johns Hopkins University.

Created by and for CSR practitioners, this program is designed to meet the growing and ever-changing needs of CSR professionals and is grounded in practice and applicability. All classes are taught by top CSR leaders, including Tim McClimon of the American Express Foundation, Diane Melley of IBM, Carolyn Berkowitz of the Capital One Foundation, and Michael Bzdak of Johnson & Johnson.

Only 25 registrants are accepted each year. These professionals spend six months together learning, exploring best practices, and, ultimately, building a powerful network of peers, mentors, and confidants, not only with each other and faculty members but also with guest speakers from companies and organizations such as GlaxoSmithKline, Disney, The White House, the United Nations Foundation, and Greenpeace.

There are lots of professional development opportunities, conferences and workshops available to CSR professionals. But, if you’re looking for something a bit different, if you’re looking for a cohort of peers to learn with and from, if you’re looking for a course of study steeped in practice and real-life case studies, check out the Institute for Corporate Social Responsibility and take advantage of the deep discount!

— Marilou Jones, Director of Communications