For years, Richard De Jesus played Santa Claus each Christmas, giving food and gifts to help his less fortunate neighbors in North Philadelphia. While he found this annual charity work fulfilling, he was nagged by the sense that many members of his community needed help year-round. So he started the non-profit Richard and Friends as a way of helping those facing food emergencies and crises such as homelessness.

Now 20 years later, De Jesus’s daughter, college student Jessica Castro, has joined him in running the organization out of his North Philadelphia home. Although they don’t get paid, both are committed to their work and find it rewarding — but challenging.

Like hundreds of small community-and faith-based organizations across the city, Richard and Friends labors to operate successfully in an increasingly competitive non-profit arena. These organizations typically need to strengthen their insider knowledge and technical expertise so they can find and exploit funding opportunities.

Now a new Temple program is meeting these demands head-on. The Non-Profit Management Certificate program offers an ongoing series of seminars and workshops designed to build the capacity of small non-profits. The program is a huge hit so far, with full classes and rave reviews from participants.

De Jesus and Castro have been attending the classes — which are taught by Temple professors and administrators — since last fall, gaining expertise in grant writing, financial management, social media and organizational effectiveness.

“I basically help my father run his program,” said Castro. “We go together so we can build our skills and make sure our organization stays afloat. We have learned how to write grants, look for funding resources and be a more professional organization.”

The program is a collaborative effort among several administrative entities at Temple: the Center for Social Policy and Community Development and the School of Social Work under the College of Health Professions and Social Work; Temple University Harrisburg; and the Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs.

“It’s geared toward non-profit staff members who are committed to furthering their professional education while using the vital skills they have already acquired through years of serving people in need,” said Shirley Moy, interim director of the Center for Social Policy and Community Development, which organized the program. In total, the program offers 60 hours of instruction through 20 workshops over the course of a year. It’s open to all on a first-come first-served basis; 90 people are currently enrolled.

This semester’s offerings include “Financial Management,” led by Senior Associate Vice President of Finance and Human Resources Kenneth Kaiser and Assistant Controller Patricia Russo, and “Program Evaluation,” led by social work faculty member Marsha Zibalese-Crawford and geography and urban studies faculty member Gerald Stahler. Additionally, participants can tap into individualized technical assistance pro bono via the involvement of graduate students, faculty and staff.

According to Moy, Temple’s program is different from other university programs for non-profits.

The program is funded by the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) and Learn and Serve America.

“The non-profit sector doesn’t have the same professional development requirements that other fields have,” said Hillary Kane, director of PHENND. “This is a way to provide support and training to folks who don’t normally get the opportunity.”

Phase two of the program includes plans to start a student internship program that would pair Temple students with non profits in need.