Intro to Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy

This Intro to Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy program will build your confidence in pursuing new pathways in your philanthropy through experiential learning, skills practice, and hands-on work. It is designed to be a meaningful, transformative experience that could significantly shift your view of your role and work.

Participants are asked to complete eight or more interviews, and actively participate in six, 2-hour modules devoted to skills training, coaching, and action planning. Throughout the program, participants:

• Hone their skills in deep listening and asking powerful questions. Being present and open to new ideas takes skill and practice.
• Venture into their community or field to listen, learn, and expand their networks by interviewing people within and beyond the nonprofit sector.
• Use our framework to synthesize their interviews and make sense of what they heard individually and with a circle of lean-funder peers.
• Learn from peer catalytic guides who have years of experience practicing Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy.
• Develop two or three actionable ways their foundations can use their unique power and position to fill gaps, address real needs, advance equity, unite people, and nurture innovation and entrepreneurship in their communities.

Additionally, participants leave the program:

• With deeper empathy, sensitivity, and an understanding of their community’s challenges.
• Recognizing the many roles their foundation can play to meet needs and fill gaps beyond grantmaking.
• Part of a shared community of peers that offer ongoing support and coaching.

Program Schedule

Participants meet virtually six times over 10 weeks.

All Modules are from 2:00-4:00 PM ET. 

• Module 1: Introduction to Catalytic, Listening Skills Training – March 26, 2025
• Module 2: Asking Powerful Questions, Prep for Interviews – April 2, 2025

Three-week break to engage in three interviews

• Module 3: Check-In & Guidance on Interviews, Begin Making Sense of What You’re Learning – April 23, 2025
• Module 4: Small Group Work with Catalytic Guides – April 30, 2025

Three-week break to conduct remaining interviews

• Module 5: Synthesizing What You’ve Heard, Identifying Ideas for Action with Catalytic Guides & Peers – May 28, 2025
• Module 6: Refine & Share Ideas for Action Steps, Connect to Community of Support, Map Out Next Steps – June 4, 2025

Audience

We welcome any foundation staff, trustee, or donor who wants to shift their work from transactional to transformational. This program provides training and support to lean funders as they begin venturing into the community to understand needs, opportunities, and gaps where they can make a difference.

Catalytic Guides

Exponent Philanthropy members with deep experience in listening, building relationships, and understanding systems will serve as catalytic guides. These guides will offer insights on interviewing partners and community members, and they will facilitate sense-making sessions, provide coaching, and help tease out ideas and opportunities for action.

Facilitator

Laura Gale is a leadership coach, facilitator, and change consultant. She has spent her career designing and leading transformative change processes for individuals and groups. Laura brings an explicit anti-racist lens to her work and expertise in the areas of group facilitation, leadership development, change management, team dynamics, culture change, and cohort development. Laura currently runs a leadership development consultancy called Nightingale Coaching & Consulting.

Registration Fees

*We welcome multiple people from the same foundation to participate; a modest discount is available. Email info@exponentphilanthropy.org to inquire. 

Accessibility

The Virtual Learning Series uses Zoom; automated closed captioning is available. We can provide additional accommodations upon request (e.g., live captioner, ASL interpreter).

Please contact info@exponentphilanthropy.org or call 202-580-6560 if you need accommodations.