Leadership Development

Across southeastern Louisiana – throughout our cities, towns, and parishes – passionate leaders are ready to elevate their skills, perspectives, and networks to become the region’s next nonprofit executive and senior leaders. Emerging Leaders provides an opportunity for those leaders to level up their leadership. 

Emerging Leaders is a leadership development program aimed at creating a pipeline of senior and executive leadership in the nonprofit sector of southeast Louisiana. This program equips participants with the technical and relationship skills, as well as the critical systems-level thinking, necessary to lead strong, healthy, and impactful nonprofits. Program components allow participants to explore foundational and innovative practices in: 

• organizational finance; 
• team and board management;  
• fundraising and fund development;  
• network-building; and  
• organizational sustainability and care.  

In addition, the program provides space to examine leadership styles and how power, justice, and equity shape leadership practices and development. Participants will have access to individualized coaching sessions and receive comprehensive resources including articles, templates, samples, and worksheets. With these skills and resources, participants should experience an increase in confidence, be better prepared to move into new areas of leadership, and be better equipped to lead organizations that are equitable and just.  

Because we acknowledge there is a racial leadership gap in the greater New Orleans area like there is in many regions across the country, Emerging Leaders centers Black and Indigenous leaders and other leaders of color (BIPOC leaders) in this learning community and affirms their strengths, experiences, and the unique challenges they face. The content and facilitation of this program is rooted in an analysis of justice, power, and equity.

Program Components and Schedule

Emerging Leaders is an in-person, cohort-based experience. Program sessions will take place over six months and include six full-day training sessions, one day of networking opportunities, and access to individualized coaching. Please see the schedule and session topics below. All sessions begin at 9:00 am and end at 3:00 pm. 

• “Who I Am as a Leader” on Tuesday, October 1 

• “Financial Leadership” on Thursday, October 10

• “Fund Development and Network Building” on Thursday, October 24 

• “Networking Opportunities with Financial Supporters” on Wednesday, November 13 

• “Sustainable Leadership” on Thursday, December 12

• “Leadership through Relationships” on Thursday, January 9 

• “Leaders as Visionaries” on Thursday, January 30

Session materials will be accessible online, and opportunities for online community dialogue and resource-sharing will also be available. All cohort members will have access to individualized coaching sessions in the latter part of the program. 

Parking and meals will be provided for all sessions. For a full description of each session, please click here.  

Program Readiness

Leadership development is an ongoing process. We recognize that cohort members already have skills, strengths, and perspectives that will serve them well as executive directors and senior leaders. To be aligned with the intentions and goals of Emerging Leaders, participants should, first and foremost, have a desire and aspiration for a senior or executive leadership role within the nonprofit sector. We also expect that participants will be open to interrogating how power and privilege have shaped their leadership styles and relationships with teams and colleagues. 

Priority will be given to applicants who (1) are currently employed at a nonprofit organization located in the Greater New Orleans region; and (2) have experience in managing a budget or financial resources; managing or leading a team; coaching or mentoring staff or colleagues; and/or cultivating and managing partner relationships for a project, program, or organization. 

Commitment to Participation

The ability to attend all in-person sessions is critical to the community learning experience. Please ensure your availability to participate in all sessions and obtain the support of your immediate supervisor and/or Executive Director before applying to the program. Participation in an end-of-program evaluation is also expected. 

Application Process 

The 2024-2025 Emerging Leaders cohort has begun. Please stay tuned for our next cohort application period.  

Fee  

The fee for this program is $400. However, we never want funding to prevent participation. We have a small pool of funds available for partial scholarships for qualified participants. Please email Senior Program Associate for Nonprofit Leadership and Effectiveness, Alana Peck, at alana@gnof.org for more information. 

Being an executive director can be both rewarding and challenging. While executives assume leadership roles because they are passionate about the communities they serve, they increasingly face operational disruptions, increased demand for services, and a host of sustainability challenges. Now more than ever, executive directors need timely, relevant training and networks of support.  

In partnership with Kresge Foundation and Hilton Foundation, we are excited to host the 2024-2025 Executive Director Intensive (EDI), a comprehensive leadership program exclusively for nonprofit executive directors, CEOs, and presidents. EDI combines experienced trainers and peer learning to support leaders as they develop critical technical and leadership skills; inspire their staff, board members, and other stakeholders to deeper impact and greater responsiveness; and envision organizations that simultaneously meet community needs and successfully navigate the changes occurring in the nonprofit sector.  

Program Content 

The program’s curriculum draws on research, experiences with individual coaching and organizational capacity building in the region, and the collective wisdom of EDI alumni to create a powerful space to cultivate core leadership skills, think creatively, tryout fresh ideas, and identify action steps to successfully lead your organization. Session topics include: 

• strategic priorities and organizational decision-making; 
• organizational sustainability and financial health; 
• organizational business models and revenue streams for your model; 
• mutually supportive and interdependent partnerships with your board (generally) and your board chair (specifically); and  
• the executive director’s role in people management and talent development. 

Program Format 

Over 6 months, cohort members will engage readings, videos, and relevant tools; reflect on learnings between sessions; and apply new practices and strategies in their day-to-day work. Program components at which cohort members’ attendance is required include: a kickoff session, three in-person and two virtual training sessions, an express financial coaching session, and a closing session. We will host a social gathering prior to the program’s start to encourage cohort members to meet one another as well as EDI alumni from previous cohorts. While attendance at the social is optional, we strongly encourage cohort members to attend. 

Program Calendar 

*All in-person sessions will be at the Greater New Orleans Foundation, 919 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130*