Today’s Practitioners. Tomorrow’s Leaders.
With growing economic inequality, inadequate supply of affordable housing, broad gaps in educational achievement, and insufficient living wages, the work of our city’s robust nonprofit sector has never been more important.
It is critically important that tomorrow’s nonprofit executive directors and managers have the necessary knowledge and skills to guide their organizations in successfully addressing the challenges and opportunities facing New Yorkers.
Leadership Fellows at The Trust is the premier professional development opportunity for mid-career nonprofit practitioners in the metropolitan New York City region. The fellowship program represents a diverse, inclusive, and talented community of nonprofit leaders who are advancing social justice missions in New York and beyond.
Originally established in 2015 by The New York Community Trust in association with the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College and its Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management, the fellowship has supported over 600 leaders at more than 250 local and national nonprofit organizations.
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“Gleaning from such a diverse assemblage of distinct leadership was rewarding in and of itself, however, having the opportunity to spend my Fridays with a fantastic group of colleagues made it that much more special.”
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“Taking part in the fellowship was one of the best things I could have done. From building networks with individuals with a similar passion to developing my managerial abilities, the fellowship gave me the push I needed.”
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“The New York Community Trust Leadership Fellows was inspiring and changed my perspective on leadership. I look forward to applying the significant skills I gained through the fellowship program.”
Program Overview
Fellows will participate in 12 class sessions on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They will also be expected to attend at least two of our Leadership Conversations, which are scheduled according to the needs of our fellows and external audience.
Tuition, breakfast, and lunch costs associated with the fellowship are underwritten by the New York Community Trust, so the program is free for participating fellows. However, fellows and their organizations are responsible for their own travel costs.
The Leadership Fellows program awards 3 credits for those who graduate from the fellowship, apply, and are accepted into any degree programs from the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College.
It features:
- A curriculum taught through the lens of real-world issues and trends
- Small group exercises using tools and strategies to address the particular challenges and/or opportunities faced by the nonprofit sector
- Leadership Conversations sponsored by Baruch College’s Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management where fellows connect with nonprofit professionals, social justice practitioners, and government leaders
- The opportunity to have a minimum of four 1-hour meetings with a carefully selected mentor
We aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for communities of color and immigrants, and we encourage executive directors to consider nominating talented people of color and immigrants from their staff.
Eligibility
- You must be a mid-career nonprofit professional.
- You must have a minimum of 5 years of overall nonprofit experience.
- You must have a minimum of 3 years of managerial experience — this means managing people, projects, and budgets.
- Your organization must have received a grant from the New York Community Trust or the Fund for the City of New York within the last three years. Unfortunately, donor-advised grants are not eligible.
Application Form Checklist
- Do I have approval from my organization to apply?
- Have I read through all the information on the Apply and FAQs pages?
- Have I been given a change project to work on at my organization?
Class Schedule
The schedules for the Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 cohorts are listed below. Please note that all sessions are still subject to change at this time.
Sessions for the 2026 calendar year will be held primarily at the New York Community Trust offices (909 3rd Ave, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10022) or at Baruch College (135 East 22nd Street, Room 301, New York, NY 10010). All sessions run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- March 6
- March 13
- March 27
- April 10
- April 17
- April 24
- May 1
- May 8
- May 15
- May 22
- May 29
- June 5
- June 12 (GRADUATION)
- September 4
- September 11
- September 18
- September 25
- October 2
- October 16
- October 23
- October 30
- November 6
- November 13
- November 20
- December 4
- December 11 (GRADUATION)
How Application Are Assessed
Applications are scored on a 20-point scale.
Candidates are awarded a maximum of 5 points for each of the following categories:
Analytical Thinking: Does the candidate describe a challenge or issue that gives context to his/her proposed project?
Written Communication Skills: Is the candidate’s writing clear, convincing, and easy to understand?
Leadership Experience: Has the candidate held leadership roles with internal and external stakeholders at his/her organization? Does the candidate have leadership experience prior to his/her current organization?
Proposed Change Project: Is the proposed change project of front-burner importance to the organization?
Join Us
Spring 2026 applications are due by January 30, 2026.
All applicants must submit the form linked below. You will receive an email confirmation when you have successfully submitted.
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@leadershipfellows.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my organization have more than one person apply?
Unfortunately, we can only accept one applicant from an organization per cohort cycle.
In simpler terms, this means that you can have Person A apply in the spring and Person B apply in the fall, but both A and B cannot apply in spring at the same time. You and your team will have to decide which individual applies per cycle.
Do I need to pay tuition to participate?
No. Tuition and food costs associated with the fellowship are underwritten by the New York Community Trust, and the program is free for participating fellows. However, fellows and their organizations are responsible for their own travel costs.
What time commitment do I have to make?
Each cohort runs for approximately three to four months in the Spring (March through June) and Fall (September through December) with about 25 fellows per cohort. Fellows will participate in approximately 12 sessions scheduled each Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fellows are also required to attend all Leadership Conversation panel discussions that provide a forum for engaging with leaders and change makers in the nonprofit sector from different organizations and foundations as well as all levels of local, city, and state government.
What if I have a conflict with the planned class times?
Please reach out to us at info@leadershipfellows.org to discuss this on a case-by-case basis. We will be happy to work with you.
Who fills out the application form?
The applicant who intends to join Leadership Fellows at The Trust should fill out the application form in their own words and their own writing.
What is the change project?
The “change project” is an initiative of front-burner importance for the organization, developed in consultation with the executive director or CEO of the organization. The initiative must address a potential leadership or managerial challenge or opportunity facing their organizations. Fellows draw on the knowledge gained in each session to develop their change project into potential initiative for implementation at their organization.
You can find change project samples from previously accepted fellows on our extended FAQs page.
Do I receive academic credit for this fellowship?
Yes. As of 2025, those who complete the Leadership Fellows program receive 3 credits for those who graduate from the fellowship and apply and are accepted into any degree programs from the Austin W. Marxe School at Baruch College. Please contact Trust staff after your degree program acceptance to ensure that you receive your credit.