Nonprofit Leadership Initiative

Resource Center

The resource list below provides a glance of the range and variety of leadership development efforts in the nonprofit sector. Many leadership development initiatives or partnerships address leadership skills and competencies and leadership issues specific to certain contexts (e.g., community organizations, foundations, service delivery organizations, or advocacy groups). There are also a multitude of skills building programs such as grant writing, strategic planning, advocacy, and lobbying training. The resource list has four main categories: 1) programs and organizations, 2) funders, 3) university-based programs, 4) research/surveys and other resources and links to other general leadership information. We welcome your comments and suggestions.  Let us know about an organization or program that should be included in this resource list. Send emails to ELP@IndependentSector.org.

Programs and Organizations

Academy for Educational Development
The New Voices Fellowship Program is a national program that helps nonprofit organizations bring innovative new talent to their staffs. The Fellowship Program awards salary-support grants to small nonprofits that have demonstrated a commitment to cultivating and strengthening the leadership potential of "new voices."

Advocacy Institute’s Leadership Fellows Program
The Advocacy Institute’s Fellows Program is an intensive, five-day to three-week in-residence retreat. It is customized to strengthen the ability of a particular group like emerging leaders. In addition, the Advocacy Institute has partnered with the Ford Foundation and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University for the Leadership for the Changing World fellowship program. This program includes a research initiative and will bring awardees together with other leaders to share experiences, address specific challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration

Americans for the Arts
Americans for the Arts is an arts advocacy organization dedicated to help create opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Americans for the Arts sponsors an Emerging Leaders initiative as part of their annual conference. The program targets those that are 35 and younger or who have less than 5 years in the field. Established leaders bring emerging leaders to the conference at a discounted rate.

American Humanics
American Humanics is a national alliance of colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations preparing undergraduates for careers with youth and human service agencies. The organization’s mission is to prepare and certify future nonprofit professionals.

The American Leadership Forum
The American Leadership Forum brings together national leaders from various sectors in communities across the country to develop their leadership skills and to strengthen their commitment to work together on public issues. Although this program does not specifically target emerging leaders, it serves as a good model for networking and collaboration.

Asian Pacific Americans Women Leadership Institute
The Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute (APAWLI) is dedicated to nurturing and further developing the leadership skills of successful Asian American and Pacific Island women leaders through a year-long fellowship program that provides comprehensive training. APAWLI is developing an Emerging Leaders Program for the San Francisco Bay Area. 

AtTheTable.org
AtTheTable.org is an online clearinghouse featuring information and resources needed to effectively involving youth in organizations and communities. 

The Berkana Institute
The Berkana Institute offers resources and perspectives on systems thinking and the new sciences as it applies to organizational and personal change. The institute supports leaders around the globe. The Developing Leaders-in-Community initiative offers methods and processes to support leaders working together as communities of practice. This approach helps develop many more leaders than conventional individual approaches

Campus Compact
A national coalition of college and university presidents that promotes community service and encourages partnerships between faculty, campuses and communities who seek to integrate civic and community engagement into their teaching and research.

Center for Creative Leadership
The Center for Creative Leadership offers an Emerging Leaders custom program for new young leaders. Program components include learning about feedback and disclosure, personal values and ethics, interpersonal and team conflict, as well as decision-making at individual, team, and organizational levels. 

Center for Policy Alternatives
A new initiative of the Center for Policy Alternatives is a mentorship program that encourages young women's leadership across sectors. The program, entitled California's Emerging Women Leaders pairs established outstanding women leaders (OWLS) with young, emerging women leaders (EWLS) ages 18-35. Key program components include enhancing communication and messaging and developing effective leadership skills, and policy workshops. 

Community Leadership Association
The Community Leadership Association is dedicated to nurturing leadership in communities throughout the United States and internationally. Founded in 1979, the Community Leadership Association's members include diverse community leadership organizations at the state and local levels and individuals interested in community leadership development. The association does not have a formal emerging leaders component per se, but because they work with communities, also work to develop emerging leaders.

CompassPoint
CompassPoint Nonprofit Services is a nonprofit training, consulting and research organization with offices in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. CompassPoint provides management tools, concepts and strategies. CompassPoint conducts research and work on the topic of executive transition that includes succession planning and developing emerging leaders within an organization.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) Emerging Leaders Series aims to engage young professionals and emerging leaders in discussions and activities related to public policy issues. CBCF also has an Internship Program and a Fellows Program targeted to emerging leaders.

CORO 
The CORO Fellows Program in Public Affairs is a nine-month, full-time, post-graduate leadership-training program. The fellowship introduces young leaders to all aspects of the public affairs arena. Sixty-four fellows are chosen annually. Program components include: field assignments, site visits, interviews, and individual and group projects. CORO has good support systems for their alum. They have created a National Alumni Association, which publishes newsletters, maintains a national alumni directory, and convenes conferences. For career support, their alumni can visit the CORO website for an online career resource and development section. 

Corporation for National and Community Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) provides leadership training to staff members affiliated with a national, state, or local organization receiving funding from the Corporation for National Service. CNCS oversees AmeriCorps, the domestic Peace Corps, which engages more than 50,000 Americans in community service.

Do Something
Do Something is a nationwide network of young people who want to make a difference in their communities. The Do Something Community Connections Campaign provides community organizations with training, resources and support as they work to involve and engage young people as leaders in their efforts.

The Leader to Leader Institute
Formerly the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management.  The institute offers leadership and management resources and publications. The Foundation brings together leadership gurus and nonprofit leaders at conferences. The Frances Hesselbein Community Innovation Fellows Program is a year-long program that supports the professional development of established social sector leaders who are engaged in projects or programs that demonstrate community innovation. Although the foundation does not have an emerging leaders program, their work, especially in case studies could provide self-help leadership development.

Emerging Congressional Staff Leadership Program
The Emerging Congressional Staff Leaders Program pairs veteran congressional staff with less experienced staff to assist them in developing the skills, confidence and professional networks needed to build careers in the legislative branch. The program combines one-on-one mentoring and group discussions tailored to the needs and interests of each emerging leader.

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy is a newly established national network of young professionals and people involved in the work of organized philanthropy. Membership includes staff, trustees, donors, students and others who are involved in philanthropy and interested in connecting with a peer group to provide youth leadership within the philanthropic sector. 

Eureka Communities
Eureka Communities is a national fellowship program for the CEOs of nonprofit community service organizations. The program intent is to create a professional peer network. The Eureka Fellowship is a two-year, 200-hour commitment. The fellows are matched with innovative mentor nonprofits. In addition, the Eureka Fellows also come together for forums, special workshops and networking to build their skills and address issues. After completing the program, fellows remain involved as "Alumni" Fellows where they act as mentors and supporters for new classes of fellows.

InterAction
InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations. InterAction has an annual Emerging Leaders Program, a special track for conference participants under 30 and other early-career professionals. Emerging Leaders receive a discount registration fee and participate in special sessions tailored to their needs and concerns.

John Gardner Fellowship Program
The Gardner Fellowship Program is designed to attract outstanding students to careers in public service. Fellows work at a government agency or nonprofit organization of their choice for ten months. An appropriate mentor or senior person at the host organization will serve as a mentor who will help build their leadership skills and help guide the fellow’s professional development. 

Junior Achievement Leadership Academy
The Junior Achievement (JA) Leadership Academy is “virtual university” which provides JA organization leaders with the leadership skills and tools necessary to lead their organization. The program strives to build a culture that values and invests in people. Although the program targets senior leaders, program participants serve as mentors educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise

Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP) offers leadership training, publishes public policy research, and conducts community education to advance Asian Pacific American empowerment. Leadership In Action (LIA) develops emerging leadership by providing college students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience working in nonprofit organizations. Program participants work at selected community-based organizations, attend leadership seminars, and work on community projects. 

Local Initiative Support Training and Education Network (LISTEN)
LISTEN develops young urban leaders (ages 14-29) for community problem solving and civic engagement. The organization is focused on rebuilding the capacity of poor communities—its human capital, social capital and organizational infrastructure. Specific activities include: facilitating youth-led community organizing; providing training, coaching and technical assistance; and incubating innovative programs.

Michigan Nonprofit Association
The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) has an Emerging Leaders professional development seminar. The program targets individuals with less than five years professional experience in the nonprofit sector. Participants are matched with a professional mentor. 

National Council of La Raza
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) provides capacity-building assistance to support and strengthen Hispanic community-based organizations. NCLR’s Leadership Development Support Initiative works with organizations and programs to identify, train and support leaders involved in community organizing efforts. NCLR also provides technical assistance, research, policy analysis and in some cases, financial support to organizations.

National Congress for Community Economic Development
As part of its Human Capital Development Initiative, The National Congress for Community Economic Development (NCCED) hosts an Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) as part of their annual conference. The program brings together students and recent graduates to learn more about the field of community economic development. ELP includes workshops, site visits, a networking Fair, and learning forums. After the conference ELP participants become part of an alumni network that keeps them engaged, and connected. ELP alumni receive newsletters, discounts on conferences and publications, and are invited to various alumni activities. 

National Community for Latino Leadership, Inc.
NCCLL's mission is to develop leaders who are 1) committed to ethical, responsible, and accountable actions on behalf of the U.S. Latino population and the broader community; and 2) dedicated to promoting the social, cultural, and economic advancement of the Latino community. 

National Puerto Rican Coalition
The Puerto Rican/Latino Youth Leadership Initiative is a leadership development program for Puerto Rican/Latino students currently enrolled in colleges and universities. The initiative is designed to cultivate essential advocacy, leadership, problem solving, and communication skills.

National Youth Leadership Council
The National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) strives to build vital, just communities with young people through service learning. NYLC launched the DiversityYES!, project which examines the 'culture of service' within various personal racial/ethnic cultures in an effort to understand the influence of intergenerational and multicultural leadership. Learning from this project will complement current individual leadership development for emerging leaders, especially those from a traditionally under-represented community.

Pi Alpha Alpha
Pi Alpha Alpha is a national honor society that recognizes and promotes excellence in the study and practice of public affairs and administration. Currently, there are 123 Pi Alpha Alpha chapters, with a total membership of 25,000 individuals. The activity level of the chapters vary, but examples include: hosting a speakers program which focuses on public policy issues; publishing newsletters and other resources; providing professional or career development opportunities and peer networking.

Points of Light Foundation
The Youth Engaged in Service (YES) Ambassador Program at the Points of Light Foundations places young people (ages 18-25) within national nonprofit organizations for one year. The program provides technical assistance, training, advocacy and program development around youth service, service-learning and youth leadership. 

Posse Foundation
The Posse Foundation identifies, recruits and selects student leaders from public high schools to form multicultural teams called "Posses". These teams are then trained and enrolled at universities giving students the chance to succeed individually and as a group.

Public Allies
The Public Allies apprenticeship program develops young leaders in nonprofit organizations. The program provides intensive weekly leadership trainings and team service projects. Using an AmeriCorps program model, Public Allies has placed thousands of “Allies” within community organizations.

The Rockefeller Foundation 
The Rockefeller Foundation's Next Generation Leadership Program is a two-year fellowship. The goal is to establish a network of thinkers who can approach problem solving across sectors, fields and class. 

Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center provides leadership and advocacy training for Southeast Asian American community leaders. Specific activities include: educating participants in leadership, advocacy; introducing participants to national-level decision-makers; and enabling participants to network with peers. Although the programs are not specifically targeted to emerging leaders, many of the Asian American community leaders tend to be young leaders. 

Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) supports the growth, learning, and development of young professionals. YNPN provides future leaders with professional development, networking and social opportunities. YNPN engages emerging leaders through their active e-mail list (1200+ members) and through their website which lists community information and resources. The program, which was originally designed for young nonprofit professionals working in the Bay Area’s nonprofit community, has recently been replicated in other cities.

Young Women’s Project
The Young Women's Project (YWP) is a multi-cultural organization that builds and supports teen women and girl leaders in the Washington DC area. YWP provides a structured program of training, information, skills, tools, and knowledge. In 2000, the Young Women’s Project received the Leadership IS Award recognizing their organizational commitment to developing future leaders. 

YouthBuild
YouthBuild offers job training, education, counseling, and leadership development opportunities to unemployed and out-of-school young adults, ages 16-24. Program participants learn while the construct and rehab affordable housing in their own communities.

YouthNOISE
YouthNOISE’s mission is to connect, inform, and empower youth through philanthropy, service and policy. YouthNOISE uses the Internet to provide information and resources that can be used to encourage youth action. YouthNOISE is an initiative of Save the Children Federation, Inc.

Youth on Board
Youth on Board works to increase youth participation on organizational boards. Youth on Board trains young leaders for board service and leadership. In addition, Youth on Board works with organizations to find ways to involve young people.

Select Funders

Recently, there has been an increased funding focus by grant makers in the areas of capacity building and organizational effectiveness. For example, the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, a group of funders dedicated to promoting organizational effectiveness, has been leading the field by increasing the knowledge base and encouraging grantmakers to fund capacity-building. Also, adding to the capacity building efforts is the increase in funding from venture philanthropists and other funders who correlate organizational effectiveness with capacity building efforts such as organizational leadership development.

Foundations for Change
Foundations for Change works to increase the number of young donors and family foundations that give resources to social justice groups. The organization links donors and activists and they provide training and tools for grantmakers to learn about about social change philanthropy.

William T. Grant Foundation 
The William T. Grant Foundation invests in research and programs that actively engage young people and enable them to reach their full potential. The W. T. Grant Scholars Program supports promising post-doctoral scholars from different disciplines, whose research deepens and broadens the knowledge base in areas that contribute to the field of youth development. The work of each scholar is mentored by field experts and is supported with $300,000 over five years. The result has been the creation of a new generation of leaders whose mission is to uphold the value of young people as a resource.

Echoing Green Foundation
Echoing Green offers full-time fellowships to emerging social entrepreneurs. The foundation applies a venture capital approach to philanthropy by providing seed money and technical support to individuals. The Echoing Green network currently includes over 300 fellows working domestically and internationally on a wide range of social issues.

The Ford Foundation 
The Ford Foundation has consistently made grants to train and develop leaders, many of them women and minorities. The foundation has developed and promoted fresh and emerging leadership through programs such as the National Urban and Rural Fellows programs, The Hispanic Leadership Opportunity Program, Other efforts include a program that encourages disadvantaged youths to take an active role in civic life. More recently, the New Voices Program was created to cultivate a new generation of leaders in the fields of human rights and international cooperation. Internally, the Ford Foundation develops future leaders through its Program Associates effort, which provides recent graduates with a two-year, entry-level, professional position.

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Kauffman Foundation provides grants in two areas: youth development and entrepreneurship. The foundation funds programs that promote youth civic engagement and that help youth build their own leadership skills. The Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership promotes entrepreneurial success at all levels. A key component of their effort, is the entrepreneurship web site (www.entreworld.org), which is devoted to this topic and provides more information about programs and resources.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The Kellogg Foundation focuses on six groups: social entrepreneurs, youth, women, communities of color, new wealth creators, and corporate social innovators. The Foundation sees works to strengthen and connect these groups through partnerships and developing leadership capacity. Their website Leadership Online - www.leadershiponlinewkkf.org includes information and resources on leadership studies, emerging leadership, local leadership. 
Recently, the foundation launched the “Weaving Project” in collaboration with the Kauffman, Johnson, Surdna, Lily and International Youth foundations. The project goal is to examine whether programs and organizations are ready to meet the challenges youth and communities face today.

J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
The foundation invests in Community Leadership by helping communities across Canada to develop leadership programs. The programs identify and nurture potential leaders, develop networks of people from different sectors of the community who can come together to address community issues, and  instill a sense of community trusteeship among potential leaders.

The Meyer Foundation
The Meyer Foundation provides management assistance grants to its current grantees. The capacity building grants awarded are to be used in the areas of financial management, governance, organizational assessment, and human resources management. The foundation also funds the Learning Circles Project, an initiative designed to improve organizational effectiveness within nonprofits in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. 

Pew Partnership for Civic Change
Pew Charitable Trusts (PCT) encourages and supports citizen participation. Most of their support for emerging leadership falls under the youth civic engagement initiative, which strives to increase civic youth participation. To inform their grantmaking, PCT commissions research and promotes education on the topic. For example, the Partnership for Civic Change and the Center for the Study of Youth and Democracy were created to commission, collect and disseminate research and disseminate best practices. PCT has also launched the National Youth Action Network, which is made up of individuals and organizations committed to increasing youth civic engagement. The network provides opportunities for future leaders to take action on a variety of issues.

University-Based Programs

The Center for the Study of Voluntary Organizations and Service 
The Center for the Study of Voluntary Organizations and Service (CSVOS) is part of Georgetown Public Policy Institute at Georgetown University. CSVOS develops future leaders through education, community outreach and research.

CIRCLE—The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement
Housed at the School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) is a clearinghouse for research on civic engagement among young people (ages 15 – 25). CIRCLE commissions new research to fill the gaps in knowledge and disseminates knowledge and research findings through their website.

The James McGregor Burns Academy of Leadership
The James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland provides individual leadership development training and education to emerging and experienced leaders. In addition, the Academy houses scholars who conduct and publish research. Current research initiatives include The Center for the Advanced Study of Leadership, The African American Leadership Institute and The International Leadership Association as well as CivicSource (www.civicsource.org), a community resource website.

Center for Collaborative Leadership 
The Center for Collaborative Leadership at Boston University sponsors an Emerging Leaders Project where young leaders in Greater Boston enhance their individual leadership skills and learn how to work effectively with other leaders. The project hosts a group of fellows who commit to a week-long seminar, followed by monthly meetings. The program stresses collaborative leadership. A senior staff person at the fellow’s organization nominates the fellows. Tuition, which is normally to be paid by the fellow's organization, is $3,500.

Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management
Founded in 1983, the Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management (INOM) is located in the College of Professional Studies at the University of San Francisco. Through education, research, publications, and community programs, INOM seeks "to strengthen management in the nonprofit sector in California, as well as nationally and internationally, and to serve the nonprofit community."

The Jepson School of Leadership Studies
The Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond is the nation's first undergraduate school of leadership studies with the mission to educate people for and about leadership. Graduates of the Jepson School are awarded a bachelor of arts degree with a major in leadership studies.

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
NASPAA's Public Service Careers Initiative is a marketing campaign that highlights the benefits of careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. The effort is targeted to career centers at college campuses and undergraduate students. Self-help information includes defining what public service is, how to find internships and starting a career in public/nonprofit sector. The program provides education on and sparks interest in nonprofit careers.

National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs
The National Clearinghouse of Leadership Programs provides a clearinghouse of leadership materials. Although not specifically targeted towards emerging leaders, their website is a good resource for self-help materials for leadership development in general. Other information provided includes: leadership conferences and events; leadership organizations; campus leadership programs; and journals and newsletters 

The Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy
The Institute, part of Duke University, has established a new initiative, the Joel L. Fleishman Fellows in Civil Society. The fellowship program provides a select group of leaders from voluntary organizations, foundations and other civil society groups the opportunity to perform research and work with Institute faculty and other Duke affiliates. The program is part of a larger Institute initiative, the Program on Civil Society, which includes research and education, as well as policy initiatives and other policy-related activities.

University of Norte Dame - Mendoza College of Business 
The 42 credit program develops the administrative leadership skills of people in non-profit organizations. The MSA Program design offers a flexible structure with on-site courses 

Research/Surveys and Other Resources

Like Now: Changing the Future With Youth Advisory Boards
Released in November 2002, by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's Youth Advisory Board, this report offers helpful hints about how to organize a youth board and get youth effectively involved in their communities.  

Youth and Government Service
A May 2002 study for the Council for Excellence in Government shows that the nation's young people have an increased interest in public and nonprofit service. The study conducted by Hart-Teeter explores who and what might motivate young people to consider service. 

Daring to Lead: Nonprofit Executive Directors and Their Work Experience
Released by CompassPoint, this is a national study of more than 1,000 nonprofit leaders from around the country. The report includes findings on nonprofit executive career paths, tenure, salaries, and job challenges. Included is a series of calls to action and strategies for supporting and retaining the sector's leadership talent. 

Help Wanted: Turnover and Vacancy in Nonprofits
Released by CompassPoint and funded by the Rosenberg Foundation, this study of more than 400 nonprofit organizations quantifies the position vacancy challenge at nonprofits and highlights the characteristics of the problem. Key findings include that non-program positions (e.g., bookkeepers, development directors, and administrative assistants) are more likely to be vacant than program positions. The study also found that most exiting nonprofit employees stay employed in the nonprofit sector as opposed to a business or government sectors.

Help Wanted: New Nonprofit Leaders for the 21st Century
An article by Pablo Eisenberg for the Neighborhood Funders Group. The article makes the case for investing in future leaders.

Alumni Assess Usefulness on Nonprofit Management Education
A follow-up study released by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. This study provides student perspective on the importance of and satisfaction with the university-based nonprofit management education programs.

Other Online Resources

EmergingLeader.com
The purpose of this virtual organization is to promote effective leadership practices and to provide a place to develop skills and learn from others. The website is user-driven and serves as a clearinghouse for lessons learned and experience gained.

Free Management Library
The overall goal of the library is to provide leaders and managers basic and practical information about personal, professional and organizational development. With an index of 675 topics, this resource is a valuable leadership tool.