Millennium Leadership - Coaching for Generation Next

The Nonprofit Leadership Gap, a Looming Problem

With the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, the landscape of nonprofits is changing. A large exodus of committed leadership from the nonprofit field is expected over the next 5-20 years. The Northwest Pasadena/Altadena nonprofit community is similar to many others in which key organizations are led by founders or long-time executive directors.  

As these experienced leaders leave or change roles in the nonprofit sector, a new generation of leaders must be prepared to fill the void.

Solution

The goal of Flintridge Center’s Millennium Leadership program is to support young leaders in developing the skills to successfully lead community-based organizations and social impact projects or to serve the public.

Millennium Leadership will focus on helping next-generation leaders (ages 21-35) to:

• Identify their leadership and communications styles.
• Develop leadership capacity.
• Learn concepts critical to nonprofit leadership.
• Identify community leadership opportunities.

The eight-month program is open to individuals who are aspiring leaders, as well as those who currently hold a position of leadership. Ten participants will be provided with focused support, including individualized coaching, training, tools and resources to improve performance.

Why Coaching?

While counseling is an attempt to heal past problems, coaching focuses on improving future performance.

Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them. John Whitmore, 2002.

Coaching helps individuals:

• Make more conscious decisions about their professional and personal lives.
• Build upon strengths and access internal resources.
• Improve learning and relationships.
• Close the gap between where they are and where they want to be.

By working with a coach, aspiring leaders will be able to step into leadership roles with greater confidence. Current leaders will grow their skills and work towards specific goals and outcomes that will contribute to the success of their organizations.

Criteria

Millennium Leadership is designed for emerging leaders who:

• Were born between 1975 and 1990.
• Are committed to identifying and enhancing their leadership skills.
• Have a (minimum) two-year affiliation with an organization serving Northwest Pasadena/Altadena that focuses on children, youth and families.

Participants must be nominated by an executive director or faith/community leader.

How It Works

Millennium Leadership begins with a confidential leadership assessment to help participants discover their leadership strengths and weaknesses.

Using the assessment as a guide, participants will identify leadership gaps and design a work plan to address growth goals.  

Next, participants will be matched with a coach to serve as an accountability partner in implementing the work plan. Participants will work with the coach for six sessions.

Coaches recruited for the program are experienced individuals who have:

• Expertise in one-to-one, goal-oriented relationships.
• Worked with emerging nonprofit leaders.
• Demonstrated cultural competency.

Participants will also attend monthly learning sessions ranging from three to seven hours. These sessions will build connections among the participants and foster a lasting network of next-generation local leaders.

Cost: $500

The first Millennium Leadership cohort starts in late August 2011.

How to Apply

Prospective applicants should submit the nominator endorsement and Millennium Leadership application form to Program Director Lisa Wilson by July 15, 2011. The 2011-12 cohort will be announced on August 1st.

Millennium Leadership Application (PDF)

 

 

This program is offered with the support of the S. Mark Taper Foundation Investing in Leadership Program.