Have you ever wished you had a trusted group of nonprofit peers to coach, encourage, validate, challenge, support, and hold you accountable as you grow as a leader? Then consider our Leaders Circles program. In 2024-25, 160+ people participated in 18 different Leaders Circles and shared that this program was one of their best sources of support and professional development.

Program Overview:

• Monthly meetings (90-120 minutes) September through May
• 6-10 nonprofit staff (matched by role/experience/org size) for each Circle, with a skilled volunteer facilitator
• Members participate in meeting real-time challenges and offering real-life solutions through their shared experiences
• Meetings are confidential, supportive, and create a cycle of learning, sharing, achieving, and accountability

Please note: meeting times and locations are chosen mutually by Circle members and their facilitator prior to the first meeting. Attendance is crucial to benefitting from this program, so please be prepared to respond promptly to scheduling communications when Circles are announced in August.

Circle Member Expectations:

• Commit to your Circle colleagues by making your meetings a priority on your calendar
• Ask powerful questions to help members find their own insight
• Be prepared to hold yourself and each other accountable for your learning and actions

Outcomes:

• Develop a trusted and expanded network of peers
• Professional and personal growth
• Expanded resources discovered
• Safe environment leads to openness, vulnerability and growth

Circles Available:

• Executive Director/President/CEO
• CFO or equivalent
• COO, VP of Operations, or equivalent
• CDO, Development Director, or equivalent
• CHRO, Human Resource Director or equivalent
• CMO, Communications/Marketing Director, or equivalent
• Volunteer Manager or Coordinator
• Program Director/Manager 

(reach out if you have questions about other roles)

Participation Fees:

Leaders Circle fees are on a sliding scale to keep them affordable for all sizes of organizations and are based on annual revenue from the most recent IRS Form 990. Despite rising costs, we have held fees to the same level this year.

Join a Leaders Circle Now!

Note: Your organization must be a current nonprofit member of Leadership Council for your registration to be processed. Please verify internally or send a message to info@leadershipcouncil.us to check your status.

Please share with team members and colleagues who might also benefit from a Circle.

What Participants Say:

“Simply being able to spend time in a judgment-free zone with other nonprofit executives who understand what you're living is genuinely beneficial to my well-being.”

          – Kristin Tennyson, Head of School, Linden Grove School

“Engaging with leaders from different backgrounds fosters creative problem solving and broadens strategic thinking.”

          – LaTonya Springs, Assistant Director, Housing Opportunities Made Equal

“Learning from the experience of others with volunteers and in the nonprofit sphere has helped me become more comfortable as a young professional. I have appreciated this experience very much.”

          – Maya Mintu, Volunteer Coordinator, Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky

“Being part of a Leaders Circle has been a critical support to me as an Executive Director. It benefits me both professionally and personally -- providing the right mix of feedback, encouragement and information sharing to help me grow through successes and challenges.”

          – Dimity Orlet, Executive Director, Pro Seniors