The Richmond Community Foundation, in partnership with Chevron, has developed the Community Leadership Institute (CLI) to work with nonprofit leaders to hone and strengthen their leadership, management and fund development skills, which are needed to support effective service delivery and organizational sustainability. This was based on the belief that well managed organizations are effective at using scarce resources, leveraging public, corporate, and philanthropic assets, and connecting people across systems to improve the overall quality of life for West Contra Costa County residents.

The health of the nonprofit sector depends on the quality of its executive leadership. Agency leaders must be able to raise fundamental questions related to strategy, mission, and accountability. These leaders are challenged to perform multiple functions and roles as they guide their organizations through today’s complex environment, and they must be highly skilled not only in the technical aspects of their organizations’ missions, but also in the areas of finance, human resources, information technology, program evaluation, resource development, and many others.

The Community Leadership Institute provides nonprofit leaders with opportunities to enhance and acquire new skills through a comprehensive cohort-based learning model. The content of the training is a response to the “which skill gaps can be filled through training?” question. The Institute provides an overview of nonprofit organizations from the inside out and discusses leadership in a manner where attendees feel empowered to lead from their position, identify strategies for organizational growth, and create sustainability of the organization’s mission.
CLI topics, taught by local and regional experts include:

  • Organizational Assessment
  • Logic Model Development
  • Development and Leadership of Board and Staff
  • Effective Collaborations and Collective Impact
  • Financial Management
  • Evaluation and Success
  • Fund Development
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Employee relations and workplace culture
  • Work-life Balance

This highly interactive program promotes networking among the cohort in between sessions as well as collaboration and partnerships after completion.

Participation in the Community Leadership Institute will require high levels of commitment from each individual and their board of directors. Attendees are expected to be actively engaged in all aspects of the Institute, including the four-day boot camp and monthly training sessions.

Community Leadership Institute Structure

  1. Boot Camp: This is the kickoff event of the Institute. Representatives of 15 organizations participate in four full days of workshops and panel sessions on topics ranging from Leadership Styles to Board Development. The Boot Camp serves as a catalyst for the program year.
  2. Sessions: Formerly known as our Brown Bag sessions, these 90 minute to two hour sessions will occur once a month ten times a year. Some sessions will be in the morning and others in the afternoon, subject to change. These will be focused on personal and nonprofit leadership skills facilitated by local and regional experts.
  3. Mixers: These events are more social than technical. Occurring two to three times a year, these social mixers will serve as networking and check-in opportunities for our CLI participants. Dates and times TBD.

Admission to the Institute is selective, since we strive to achieve a great balance of representation among nonprofit organizations throughout West Contra Costa County.

 (We are not accepting applications at this time)

The Richmond Community Foundation is committed to enhance the capacity of nonprofit leaders to address the unique challenges in our community.  We believe that strong leaders with the right skills and support, will better communicate the value of the nonprofit sector, lead more effective coalitions, and lead community change.

For questions regarding the Community Leadership Institute (CLI) please contact Mónica Lazo, Director of Grants Management via email mlazo@richmondcf.org.