Emerging Leaders: Leadership Development Program

Learn to lead with purpose. The Emerging Leaders (EL) leadership development program empowers aspiring leaders in the nonprofit, public, and social impact sectors to develop the leadership capabilities, management skills, and confidence that will advance their professional contributions and accelerate their careers. 

With personal growth at its core, the program yields tangible, near-term value to participants (and their primary employers) and supports their longer-term leadership development. It blends facilitated training and peer-group learning with experiential activities, personalized assessments, visiting panels of experts and executive directors, and on-the-job assignments.

In addition, the Emerging Leaders program connects diverse cohorts of participants with Princeton AlumniCorps' mature network of social change leaders.

History and Purpose

In 2011, Princeton AlumniCorps, in partnership with lead facilitator, Hilary Joel, conceived and designed Emerging Leaders. Since its beginnings, EL has complemented AlumniCorps’s flagship program, Project 55—which serves recent Princeton graduates seeking work in civic engagement—by catering to more experienced mid-career professionals in the nonprofit and public sector. 

With its unique focus, Emerging Leaders has forged pathways to senior leadership via expert professional and leadership development techniques. Year after year, EL’s tailored curriculum and ever-evolving program design provide highly relevant and transferable skills for mid-career managers who aim to elevate their careers.

Program Format

Our facilitated program focuses on developing individual leadership strengths and capacities, as well as building resilience and the ability to adapt to the ever-shifting nonprofit landscape. 

Our program is designed to accommodate those with full-time jobs and requires employer cooperation. The program runs for a total of eight full weekday sessions, held monthly from September through April. Five sessions are held in New York City, while the remaining three are virtual. We are currently accepting applications for our 2024 - 2025 cohort. 

Benefits: What You’ll Gain

Some of the key benefits of the Emerging Leaders program include:

• Understanding of one’s own leadership style and strengths
• Hard nonprofit skills & management training
• Individualized leadership-in-action “stretch” goals
• Leadership competencies – e.g., self-awareness, team dynamics
• Advising – periodic conversations with nonprofit leaders
• Expert panels and guest speakers, including executive directors
• Facilitated peer support

Eligibility 

To be selected for the Emerging Leaders program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. ‍Professional Experience: Applicants should have 3 to 10 years of full-time work experience, with at least two years of experience working in the nonprofit or public sector. We understand that there are many reasons an early- or mid- career professional may not reflect that timeline. If you believe you may be well-suited for the Emerging Leaders program, but do not see yourself reflected in this qualification, please contact our team at programs@alumnicorps.org.
2. Current Employment: Applicants should be currently employed at nonprofit organizations and government entities that are based in:
3. The greater New York City area — eligible for our hybrid cohort, which includes five (5) in-person and three (3) remote sessions.
4. Applicants located outside the greater New York City area can be eligible so long as they can demonstrate a commitment to attending all required sessions of the program. Those locations can include, but are not limited to organizations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Washington, DC.
5. ‍Management Experience: Applicants should have some level of management responsibilities that include the management of staff, interns, vendors, and/or volunteers, and may also include significant project or cross-functional management.
6. ‍Attendance Requirement: Prospective Emerging Leaders should be available to attend each session throughout the program and have access to the internet and a computer. Please note that Princeton AlumniCorps does not offer program participants reimbursement for travel/commuting expenses.

Critical Program Dates

• Application Opens: Spring 2024
• Application Closes: May 10th, 2024
• Interview Window: June 2024 (No Interviews Held June 19 in observance of Juneteenth)
• Status Notification: July 2024
• On-boarding: July & August 2024

Please note: Process dates are subject to change. Applicants will receive notification of any adjustments promptly.

Program Fees

Emerging Leaders aims to provide an accessible and cost-effective avenue for professional growth to individuals from all backgrounds. We envision that participants' employers will recognize the value of investing in their employees' development by sponsoring the cost of the program. 

We are dedicated to empowering prospective applicants to engage in constructive dialogues with their employers to secure their support – both professional and financial – for their participation in Emerging Leaders. 

Application Fee: $50 (waived for Project 55 Alumni)

2024-2025 Program Fees – Variable, Based on Organization Budget

Organization Budget:

• Below $1 million – $950
• $1-3 million – $1,675
• $3-5 Million – $1,975
• $5-10 Million – $2,350
• Over $10 Million – $2,950
• Participant Self-Pay – $900

Princeton AlumniCorps recognizes that many growing leaders in the nonprofit sector do not receive financial support for professional development opportunities. AlumniCorps is happy to collaboratively set up payment plans, in addition to our reduced self-pay rate, to ensure our programming is broadly accessible.

Want to learn more? 

You can learn more about Emerging Leaders on Princeton AlumniCorps’ website here: www.alumnicorps.org/emerging-leaders

The application can be accessed through our website or this link: www.tfaforms.com/5110353

Don't miss this opportunity to propel your career and deepen your impact in the social sector. Apply now and join us in shaping a brighter future for all social impact professionals!

Questions? Email Andrijana Bilbija, Program Manager, at abilbija@alumnicorps.org.