Leadership Academy Program for

Women Executive Directors in Underserved Communities and

Women Executive Directors of Color

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

Executive Directors will participate in a 12-month leadership-learning path composed of the following program activities:

Workshops

Leadership Circles

Closing Celebration

Program Fee

Program Eligibility

Application Process

Workshops

Quarterly workshops will provide skills-building opportunities and foster the development of a learning community among participants.

Workshop One will be a 1.5 day long Leadership Development Program and will cover:

• Conceptual models of leadership
• The asset-based leadership approach: Identifying and utilizing talents and strengths
• Developing a Personal Leadership Network
• Establishing individualized Learning Goals for the program year

Workshop Two, Three and Four are one-day workshops and will focus on three of the following topics (selected by the participants):

• Making Requests/Negotiating
• Governance & Strategic Planning
• Financial Management & Accountability
• Human Resources
• Fundraising

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Leadership Circles

Six executive Leadership Circle sessions will be convened during the program year.  Leadership Circles are a unique peer coaching and learning network that is based on an internationally known process called action-learning (people learn best by reflecting on actions, questioning insights, and taking new actions).

These sessions will provide participants:

• Emotional and moral support in a safe and confidential setting with peers and a greater depth of learning through resonance and reflections from the peer group members.
• An opportunity for information and resource sharing, professional development, and skill-building.
• Leadership development enhanced by accountability to peers for pursuing learning goals and by expanded access to learning resources via peer group members.
• Facilitation that helps participants use the Circle to identify goals and resolve individual challenges as well as obtain the necessary skills to effectively coach one another.

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Closing Celebration

A closing celebration will be held to celebrate the accomplishments of the participants and to hear their plans going forward for their professional development.  Additionally the event will be an opportunity for feedback and to hear lessons learned for the leadership project.

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Program Fee

If selected, each participant's organization must submit a fee of $250 due upon acceptance into the program to secure the executive director's spot.

This nominal fee represents an investment by the participating executive director and her agency to take part in the program.  Funds collected will be used to support this program and other related leadership activities and assist agencies for which this fee may be a hardship.  All other costs are underwritten by the Missouri Foundation for Health.  If the fee represents a hardship for the agency, they are asked to notify Nonprofit Services Consortium at 314.223.9580 or toll-free at 1.866.433.9580 or email Kristy Guttmann, program manager, at kristy@nonprofitservices.org.

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Program Eligibility

Applicant must meet the following program requirements:

• Is a woman executive director (for the Women Serving Underserved Communities Academy Program )
• Is a woman executive director of color (for Women of Color Academy Program)
• Currently working in a Missouri organization serving a predominantly underserved population
• Has a demonstrated commitment to a social change and community development mission.
• Manages an organization with two to thirty paid staff (FTE).
• Will actively participate in all sessions associated with the program if selected.
• Will attend each of the monthly meeting and training sessions associated with the program (specific dates will be announced).
• Will commit time between meetings to work on learning goals.
• Will provide feedback to group members on their work and to project managers on program quality and impact.
• Will submit a participation fee of $250 due prior to the first session, if selected.

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Application Process

Download application:  Word format  |  PDF format

Deadline to apply is Tuesday July 31, 2007 via fax to 314-436-0240 or mail to NSC (MFH will not accept applications):

Nonprofit Services Consortium

Attn: Women Executive Director Leadership Academy

1015 Locust Street, Suite 650

St. Louis, MO 63101

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