Funders participate in Intro to CLIP to grow as catalytic leaders — building the mindset, skills, and practices needed to drive meaningful change in their communities. The program combines skills training, experiential learning, and peer coaching, helping lean funders move from intention to action.
Here’s what alumni say they gained:
“This program helped me as an Executive Director of a small-staffed foundation work in partnership with my Trustee to catalyze new ideas, consider gaps and opportunities, and frame conversations for future board consideration and action. For example, we are planning a convening of leaders and organizations in New Jersey’s child welfare system. This convening is directly a result of the listening interviews and learning we did in the Intro to Catalytic Program.”
“This workshop requires a substantial time commitment, but the payoff was well worth the effort. By doing the assignments and getting real experience, I learned to approach our program areas and partners more openly, from a place of learning and curiosity. I feel I can more confidently lead our foundation into the future because I have solid information from the community about how and where we can have the most impact.”
“Catalytic philanthropy is something I had never heard of prior to this experience, yet it resonated deeply. Listening, building relationships, and walking alongside communities are critical ingredients for lasting change. Catalytic philanthropy positions you to engage more meaningfully and determine how to help address community needs to drive systemic change.”
The upcoming Intro to CLIP cohort runs March–June 2026.
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Members can access staff experts through our Q&A service by calling 202-580-6560, or post a question to the member community to hear form peers in the field. Explore our Q&A archive
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