Five nonprofit professionals who lead organizations serving Cobb County families graduated Monday, July 20, from the Certified Nonprofit Professional program, each receiving a $5,000 unrestricted grant for their organizations.

The graduates completed six months of coursework through a partnership between Cobb Community Foundation and Kennesaw State University, the foundation announced Wednesday, July 22. The total: $25,000 in "Big Finish" grants spread across five organizations that provide everything from youth mentoring to emergency family assistance across the county.

The graduates

Andy Gaines represents Friends of The Strand, the nonprofit that operates the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square. The historic 1935 venue filled more than 38,000 seats in 2023 and hosts over 150 events a year, drawing visitors from 86 of Georgia's 159 counties.

Laura Kraus, of The Marietta Schools Foundation, joins a 43-year-old organization that has awarded 325 scholarships totaling $985,000 since its founding in 1983.

Kristen Thompson, executive director of Marietta Mentoring for Leadership, runs a program that pairs students from under-resourced families with community mentors. The organization, active since 2010, reported $560,409 in contributions in its fiscal year ending June 2025.

Carolyn Turner represents HOPE Family Resource Center, a Mableton-based nonprofit founded in 2009 that distributes food boxes, clothing, and financial resources to families across Cobb County.

Jody Vane represents Cobb Moms Helping Cobb, which assists families countywide with rent, utilities, and groceries.

What the program covers

The CNP credential, administered by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, is a six-month facilitator-led program covering fundraising, strategic planning, operations, leadership, and board governance. Each graduate also completed a strategic project tailored to their organization's priorities, though the foundation did not detail what those projects entail.

The $5,000 grants are unrestricted, giving each leader flexibility to implement the initiatives they developed during the program.

What's next

The foundation has not announced dates for the next CNP cohort. Nonprofit leaders interested in the program can find details at cobbfoundation.org.