Center for Compassionate Leadership

What Center for Compassionate Leadership does

The Center for Compassionate Leadership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 and headquartered in Montauk, USA, operating with 1-10 employees. It delivers evidence-based compassionate leadership training to individual leaders, healthcare professionals, and institutions worldwide, serving a global community of more than 1,200 alumni from 75 countries who have completed the flagship Compassionate Leadership Certification Training since 2019. The organization is led by co-founders Laura Berland (Executive Director) and Evan Harrel (Chief Operating Officer), supported by faculty with affiliations at Stanford's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), the University of Michigan Center for Positive Organizations, and CompassionLab.

The product portfolio is anchored by a proprietary Compassionate Leadership Model that operates on an inside-out framework: self-compassion as the foundation, compassion for others in daily leadership, and outward extension to systems and culture change. The flagship Certification Training is an eight-module curriculum delivered as either a 3-week accelerated or 8-week standard cohort program. Supporting offerings include the 8-month Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training (which certifies Accredited Teachers to deliver the curriculum independently), Awakening Compassion at Work (a 6-week program built on the Social Architecture Framework), Compassion Intensive, Burnout Prevention in Healthcare, and Cultivating Awareness for Leaders. The curriculum was validated by an 18-month longitudinal study conducted by Claremont Graduate University, which found statistically significant increases in self-compassion, compassion for others, compassion at work, and resilience among participants. All programs are delivered live online via Zoom with lifetime access to recordings.

Revenue is generated through four streams: program and training fees (Certification Training at $1,275 general or $895 nonprofit, Teacher Training at $4,750, Awakening Compassion at Work at $995), donations and philanthropy supporting scholarships, professional development credits (SHRM PDCs) for HR professionals, and customized organizational consulting. Distribution occurs through three primary channels: direct-to-consumer public online cohorts with self-service registration, a global network of 20+ Accredited Teachers who deliver the curriculum independently across multiple time zones and languages, and customized enterprise engagements. Named institutional clients include Microsoft, BP, WHO, Kaiser Permanente, Johns Hopkins, NHS UK, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Carter Center, and Cornell, Emory, Princeton, and Notre Dame Universities. The Center is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits.

Name

Center for Compassionate Leadership

Legal name

Center for Compassionate Leadership

Website

https://centerforcompassionateleadership.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Compassionate Leadership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers evidence-based compassionate leadership training to individual leaders, healthcare professionals, and institutions worldwide, anchored by a proprietary curriculum validated by an 18-month longitudinal study at Claremont Graduate University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montauk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Program/Training Fees: Revenue from fee-based training programs including Compassionate Leadership Certification Training ($1,275/person), Teacher Training ($4,750), Awakening Compassion at Work ($995/person), and various workshops and retreats. Scholarships and nonprofit discounts available.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds to support scholarships for leaders who demonstrate passion for change but cannot afford program costs, particularly targeting leaders from war-torn nations, nonprofit entrepreneurs, single-parent professionals, and leaders from under-resourced countries.
3. Professional Development Credits: Revenue from SHRM recertification credits (PDCs) offered to SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP holders for program participation, and potential CE credits for healthcare professionals, social workers, therapists, and teachers.
4. Customized Organizational Consulting: Fee-based consulting services for organizations seeking to assess and implement compassionate leadership practices, including policy recommendations, procedure design, and action planning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Center for Compassionate Leadership delivers evidence-based compassionate leadership training programs built on its proprietary Compassionate Leadership Model, an inside-out framework integrating modern leadership science, contemplative wisdom, and organizational psychology. Its flagship offering is the Compassionate Leadership Certification Training (eight-module online program), accompanied by a Teacher Training program, specialized courses (Awakening Compassion at Work, Compassion Intensive, Burnout Prevention in Healthcare, Cultivating Awareness for Leaders), customized organizational consulting, and executive retreats. Programs are delivered live online via Zoom and through a global network of accredited independent teachers.

Product overview

The Center for Compassionate Leadership offers a portfolio of compassionate leadership training programs centered on its proprietary Compassionate Leadership Model and research-based curriculum. The core flagship offering is the Compassionate Leadership Certification Training, an eight-module online program that serves as the foundational product and prerequisite for the Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training (an 8-month certification program for those who wish to become accredited teachers). Supporting the flagship are specialized programs including Awakening Compassion at Work (a six-week social architecture course), the Compassion Intensive (a four-week introduction to compassion practices), Burnout Prevention in Healthcare (an 8-week course for healthcare professionals), Cultivating Awareness for Leaders, and Global Compassion Community Gatherings. The portfolio also includes customized organizational consulting, executive retreats, and tailored in-depth modules covering topics such as Self-Compassion for Leaders, Psychological Safety, and Systemic Racism and Unbiased. An accredited-teacher-delivered Spanish-language edition (Certificación en Liderazgo Compasivo) is offered for women leaders. The programs collectively work from the inside out — starting with self-compassion as the foundation, moving to compassion for others in day-to-day leadership, and extending outward to systems change — and are delivered live online via Zoom with lifetime access to recordings and materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Compassionate Leadership Certification Training An eight-module (accelerated 3-week or 8-week) online certification program equipping individual leaders and executives with evidence-based compassionate leadership tools and practices, grounded in three core dimensions: inner strength, connection to others, and organizational change. Serves as the prerequisite for the Teacher Training program and is eligible for 18 SHRM PDCs.
• Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training An intensive 8-month program (3-day London opening retreat, 5-month learning and practice phase with practice teaching pods, and 3-month teaching practicum) that trains and certifies individuals to become Accredited Compassionate Leadership Teachers qualified to deliver the Compassionate Leadership Certification Training curriculum independently. Tuition is $4,750 USD excluding retreat room/board and travel.
• Awakening Compassion at Work A six-week online co-learning journey on designing organizations and communities that awaken compassion, based on the social architecture approach from the book Awakening Compassion at Work by Monica Worline and Jane Dutton. Teaches how to design organizational structures (roles, routines, networks, culture) that foster collective compassion. Tuition $995 general / $895 nonprofit.
• Compassion Intensive A four-week introduction to the practice of compassion through evidence-based research, interactive exercises, personal reflection, and group discussions. Condenses key components of Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) developed at Stanford University's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). For individual leaders and professionals seeking a condensed introduction to compassion practice.
• Burnout Prevention in Healthcare An 8-week personal and professional development course based on a compassion training curriculum designed at Stanford School of Medicine (Compassion Cultivation Training), customized for nurses, physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. Potentially available for 12 CE credits. Addresses compassion fatigue and burnout in clinical environments.
• Organizational Customized Training and Consulting Customized in-person and online compassionate leadership training for institutions, including Introduction to Compassionate Leadership Workshops, Compassionate Leadership Transformational Executive Retreats, and Building a Community of Practice. Includes customized in-depth modules on topics such as Self-Compassion for Leaders, Psychological Safety, Organizational Resilience, and Systemic Racism and Unbiased. Sells consulting engagements to enterprises, healthcare systems, universities, NGOs, and government agencies.
• Global Compassion Community Gatherings Quarterly virtual community events for the global network of compassionate leaders featuring thought leadership, research presentations, and compassion-based curriculum from top leaders in the field, aimed at aligning, inspiring, and connecting compassionate leaders worldwide.
• Certificación en Liderazgo Compasivo (Spanish-Language Certification Edition for Women Leaders) A Spanish-language version of the Compassionate Leadership Certification Training, delivered as an 8-week program for women leaders, integrating neuroscience, contemplative practices, and a gender perspective. Facilitated by Natalia Sarro, the first Spanish-language certified instructor for the Center.
• Cultivating Awareness for Leaders A program focused on cultivating awareness as a foundational leadership skill, supporting leaders to deepen their awareness, self-compassion, and vulnerability as anchors for compassionate leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of alumni would recommend the program to friends and colleagues
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers39 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stanford University – Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonica C. Worline serves as a collaborating research scientist at Stanford's CCARE. The Center's curriculum draws on research from Stanford's compassion science. The Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) developed at Stanford CCARE provides foundational content for the Center's Burnout Prevention in Healthcare program.
• Claremont Graduate UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-class educational evaluators at Claremont Graduate University conducted an 18-month longitudinal study of the Compassionate Leadership Certification Training curriculum, finding statistically significant increases in self-compassion, compassion for others, compassion at work, and resilience.
• Compassion InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center's Compassion Intensive program condenses key components of Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT), developed at Stanford's CCARE and now housed at the Compassion Institute. The Institute's CCT curriculum is referenced as foundational content.
• University of Michigan – Center for Positive Organizations, Ross School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonica C. Worline serves as Faculty Director of the Center for Positive Organizations at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. This academic affiliation provides research grounding for the Center's compassionate leadership framework.
• Four Acres Centre for Leadership (London)minorOthersThe Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training opening retreat is held at the Four Acres Centre for Leadership in London, providing the in-person venue for the 3-day opening retreat component of the 8-month teacher training program.
• SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Center for Compassionate Leadership is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification activities. This SHRM recognition enhances the professional credibility and marketability of the certification training program for HR professionals.
• CompassionLabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonica C. Worline serves as Executive Director of CompassionLab, described as the world's leading research collaboratory focused on compassion in the workplace. This partnership provides ongoing research grounding and legitimacy for the Center's evidence-based approach.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Potential Project: Global mindfulness-based leadership training provider working with enterprises, governments, and humanitarian organizations. Operates in the same evidence-based mindful leadership training category with similar B2B2C delivery and a focus on measurable organizational outcomes.
• Wisdom Labs: Offer evidence-based mindfulness and compassion training for workplaces and individuals, with structured online programs and enterprise offerings. Comparable as a smaller-scale player combining contemplative science with leadership/well-being training for organizations.
• Mindful Schools: Provides mindfulness and compassion training programs primarily for educators and school leaders. Comparable as a mission-driven training organization with evidence-based curricula, accredited teacher networks, and content adapted for specific professional segments.
• Compassion Institute: Houses the Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) originally developed at Stanford CCARE, which is foundational content for several of CFCL's programs. Directly comparable as a compassion-focused training and research organization targeting similar populations.
• Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute: Most direct comparable: a leadership training organization born out of Google's mindfulness program that delivers evidence-based mindful leadership curricula to enterprises globally. The Center's COO/Founder Peter Bonanno previously built SIYLI's train-the-trainer program (800+ certified trainers, 100,000+ participants), making it the closest mirror of CFCL's intended scale model.

Emerging players

• Mind & Life Institute: Nonprofit fostering dialogue and research between contemplative traditions and modern science. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit advancing the science of compassion and awareness that informs training programs similar to CFCL's evidence base.
• Greater Good Science Center (UC Berkeley): Academic research and education center producing evidence-based content on well-being, compassion, and prosocial behavior. Comparable as a research-grounded provider that publishes curricula and training content overlapping with CFCL's evidence-based approach.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Creative Leadership: Large, established leadership development organization serving Fortune 500 enterprises, governments, and academic institutions globally. Represents the broad incumbent alternative for enterprise buyers evaluating compassion-based leadership training as part of wider leadership development portfolios.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with substantial leadership development and executive education offerings. Represents the broad incumbent competitor that enterprise HR buyers may consider alongside or instead of specialist compassion-training providers.
• LinkedIn Learning: Large-scale professional development platform with extensive leadership and management content, including courses on empathy, communication, and well-being. Represents the broad low-cost incumbent alternative for self-directed learners who might otherwise pay for cohort-based programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BeingCompassion
• Facebookfacebook.com/beingcompassion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-compassionate-leadership

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Compassionate Leadership