Today’s leaders,
tomorrow’s visionaries.
It is critically important that future nonprofit executive directors and managers in New York have the necessary knowledge and skills to guide their organizations in successfully addressing the challenges and opportunities facing New Yorkers and the nation. We believe that these competencies are developed holistically, through a combination of formal instruction, lived experiences, and workplace learning.
Leadership Fellows New York 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.
Fall 2023 nominations are open, with dates listed below.
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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 at least 10 class sessions on Fridays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. They will also be expected to attend all of our Leadership Conversations, which are scheduled roughly once every two months on a Monday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
All of the costs associated with the fellowship are underwritten by foundations. The program is effectively free for applicants and their organizations.
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 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 professional with a minimum of five years of overall nonprofit experience and at least three years of managerial experience working with people, projects, and budgets.
- You must be nominated by your executive director or CEO.
- Your organization must have received a grant from The New York Community Trust, The Westchester Community Foundation, the Long Island Community Foundation, the Ford Foundation Good Neighbor Committee, the Fund for the City of New York, or the North Star Fund within the last three years. Donor-advised funds are not eligible.
- To find the list of eligible organizations, please click here.
Class Schedule
The schedule for the Fall 2023 cohort is listed below. All session will take place at FPWA (40 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004) from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- October 6
- October 13
- October 20
- October 27
- November 3
- No session November 10 in observance of Veteran’s Day and Diwali.
- November 17
- No session November 24 in observance of Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day.
- December 1
- December 8
- December 15
- December 22
- No session December 29 in observance of all winter holidays (Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s).
- January 5
- January 12
How Nominations Are Assessed
Nominations 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?
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 projects must address a leadership or management issue, challenge, and/or opportunity facing their organizations. Fellows use the skills gained through the curriculum to develop a strategic plan to bring the change project to fruition. For more information, please visit our FAQs page.
Join Us
Fall 2023 nominations are currently open.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible. We encourage all applicants to submit by September 15. Some seats in the cohort will be offered by then. The final deadline for nominations is September 22.
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@leadershipfellows.org.