Emerging Leaders

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,
• fund development,
• network-building, and
• and sustainability.

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 and one day of networking. Please see the schedule and session topics for the coming months below:

• “Who I Am as a Leader” on Thursday, September 21st from 9:00am-3:00pm
• “Financial Leadership” on Thursday, October 12th from 9:00am-3:00pm
• “Fund Development and Network Building” on Thursday, November 9th from 9:00am-3:00pm
• “Networking Opportunities with Financial Supporters” on Thursday, December 7th from 9:00am-3:00pm
• “Sustainable Leadership” on Thursday, January 11th from 9:00am-3:00pm
• “Leadership through Relationships” on Thursday, February 1st from 9:00am-3:00pm
• “Leaders as Visionaries” on Thursday, February 29th from 9:00am-3:00pm

Session materials will be distributed online, and opportunities for community dialogue and resource-sharing are available. All cohort members will have access to individualized coaching sessions in February and March.

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 examining how power and privilege have shaped their leadership styles and relationships with teams and colleagues.

Priority will be given to applicants who are currently employed at a nonprofit organization and 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.

Others involved in the nonprofit sector and working towards social change are also invited to apply.

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

We will accept 25 participants to this program. Because space is limited, the application process is competitive. Applications will be reviewed based on eligibility requirements, program alignment, readiness, and capacity to participate. BIPOC applicants and those who work in youth-serving organizations will be prioritized. Click here to apply to the program. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 pm on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. Applicants will be notified of acceptance to the program by Thursday, August 31, 2023.

Fee

The fee to participate in 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 Devon Turner at devon@gnof.org for more information.