AFP Leadership Institute
We are not currently accepting applications for the AFP Leadership Institute. After four successful cohorts, we are pausing to assess the long-term sustainability of the program.
If you have additional questions, please contact the AFP Professional Development Team at [email protected].
As baby boomers retire, nonprofits are having trouble finding qualified individuals to fill key leadership roles. AFP Global, in partnership with the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy, is addressing this gap with a new leadership development program, designed to provide the next generation with the skills they need to claim a seat at the leadership table.
What is the AFP Leadership Institute?
AFP’s Leadership Institute is a week-long in-person learning experience. This deeply reflective, action-oriented program teaches both the theory, as well as practical applications, of key leadership concepts, with a focus specifically on applying these leadership skills to the fundraising profession.
Who is the Leadership Institute built for?
This program is designed by fundraisers, for fundraisers who aspire to the next level of leadership in the nonprofit sector.
Selected participants will have both fundraising and staff management experience, and, crucially, will represent the diversity of our field (geographically, demographically, and representing different organization sizes and career trajectories).
Participants will be change agents, open to self-reflection, generous and willing colleagues, and ready to work.
Here's what participants had to say about the program:
The international design of the program, the authentic conversations, well prepared instructors, mixed with a diverse group of professionals, made for a very open and welcoming environment for everyone to be authentic and vulnerable. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is serious about their leadership role or to someone who desires to lead. – Christopher Beck, CAP
I had the privilege of getting to know 18 leaders across the country who committed to taking a deep dive into leadership practices, personal goals, evaluation of strengths, weaknesses, AI in the workplace, creating safe environments, providing feedback, agile thinking, growth mindset, and so much more. We laughed, challenged our thinking, discussed our goals, examined our strengths/weaknesses, but most importantly focused on
embedding a growth mindset in our core ways of thinking. – Derria Ford, MBA, Ed. D
What will I learn?
AFP's Leadership Institute focuses on key areas of leadership, essential to building a growth mindset, including learning agility, adaptability, communication, team development and motivation, decision-making, and strategic thinking.
This program is focused on four key leadership skill sets: self-awareness, culture building, communication, and learning agility.
Case studies, deliverables, discussion prompts, and guest speakers will all directly tie into fundraising and the experience of fundraisers.
You will develop self-awareness and a practice of reflection to help you become an authentic leader, rooted in your own core values and strengths.
The leadership skills learned are highly transferable across job positions, organizations, and hierarchies, and can be applied to management responsibilities like talent management, strategic planning, and board management.
How can the Leadership Institute benefit me?
We are not building cookie cutter leaders. We’re giving you tools and helping you build key competencies to support YOUR leadership trajectory in fundraising and beyond.
- Come away with an individualized career growth plan, reflective of your leadership goals, skills, and growth areas.
- Connect with other aspiring leaders for ongoing conversations beyond the program.
- Participate in 1:1 coaching sessions to develop skills specific to your needs.
- Learn effective culture-building strategies that focus on inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.
Questions:
If you have any questions at all, please contact [email protected].