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Looking to lead a nonprofit? There's a program just for you
Author: Sydney Maki, Editorial Intern, Phoenix Business Journal | bizjournals.com | Source link here.
For Valley nonprofit leaders, a nine-month leadership development program could be in their future.
The ASU Lodestar Center is taking applications for its 10th American Express Leadership Academy, a leadership development program meant to help nonprofit leaders expand their knowledge, better understand the nonprofit sector, find opportunities for engagement and network.
"We really challenge each of the people who take on this program," said Cassidy Campana, a program specialist with the American Express Leadership Academy. "We encourage them that they should take the time for themselves to work through their challenges and focus on building their skills — and we see, every year, breakthroughs with people."
From the last group of about 30 participants, she said 11 have gotten promotions, changed jobs, asked for more responsibilities or used their skills to make a positive change.
The program typically accepts between 25 and 35 people, and the deadline to apply is May 22. The program costs approximately $1,000 per participant, and the group meets for full days once a month for nine months — plus once more for a graduation ceremony. Scholarships are available.
The program is split into two main focus areas: leadership development and understanding of the nonprofit sector.
Participants go through 360-degree feedback assessments where superiors, partners, subordinates and other coworkers provide anonymous constructive feedback about a person. From there, executive coaches work one-on-one with the participant to build upon strong skill sets and fill in any gaps.
During the once-a-month meetings, the group focuses on learning initiatives, ranging from finance and media relations to social enterprise and board life cycles.
"Programs like this are really an opportunity to take one day off a month and sit at a 30,000-foot level with other leaders in the sector," Campana said.
She said the opportunity to get up and around the day-to-day and think long-term and community-wide is really important for nonprofit leaders who want to make change and leave an impact.
The program started with the ASU Lodestar center ten years ago at the request of the American Express Foundation, she said, which had goals of investing in larger ways to the leadership of the nonprofit world.
Interested in applying? Learn more here.
The application process begins online, merits two letters of recommendation and will include in-person interviews in June. There is a $30 application fee, and the program will start in August.