Rutgers Institute for Ethical Leadership Partners with Victoria Foundation and American Express Foundation to Strengthen Next Generation of Nonprofit Leaders

The majority of the seats will go to leaders with organizations funded by the Victoria Foundation or serving the greater Newark area, but for the first time, any nonprofit emerging leader can apply for a seat in the cohort regardless of service area or funding sources. The funding increase will support the extra seats in the cohort and provide scholarships for participant fees, while ensuring the sustainability of the program into the future.

The program will support approximately 20 nonprofit emerging leaders over a twelve-month period. The group will meet once a month from September through August to take part in this unique and ground-breaking comprehensive approach to developing both personal and professional leadership skills and competencies. To date, there over 65 alumni of the program working within all areas of the greater Newark nonprofit sector.

"There are many critical nonprofit organizations in Newark. This program offers top-notch leadership training to the emerging leaders in our community," said Irene Cooper-Basch, Executive Officer of Victoria Foundation. "Not only will this education and experience enhance their professional growth, but it will build a network of skilled nonprofit professionals who can work together to strengthen their organizations and the communities they serve as well as solve authentic problems plagued by our city."  

Research by The Bridgespan Group shows that there is a shortage of senior leaders within the nonprofit sector. This program is geared to prepare those next generation leaders for their future roles by anticipating their responsibilities and preparing them for the challenges they will encounter.

"I can truly say VELP has transformed me…I've been able to spread my vision throughout my team and get them to not only believe it, but activate it, essentially building a better group of people working not only for me, but with me," says Marsha Armstrong, VELP cohort 5 participant. "Things I thought I didn't control, I quickly learned that I do, and I had the power to make my life at work and home the way I wanted it to be… The world should definitely know how this [program] can change their lives."

Each monthly session includes formal instruction provided by practitioners and field experts, as well as peer-to-peer discussions led by the group facilitator. Participants also receive ongoing one-on-one coaching and emotional intelligence assessment and education. Based on the belief that leadership can be learned, assessment of leadership effectiveness and training in Emotional Intelligence skills play an important role in this program.

For more information about the program and to apply before the June 30^th deadline, visit http://www.business.rutgers.edu/iel/nonprofits or contact the program manager, Vicki Fernandez, at [email protected] and 973-353-3488.

About Victoria Foundation
Victoria Foundation is a New Jersey-based private grantmaking institution, which was founded in 1924 by Mr. Hendon Chubb to honor his mother, Victoria Eddis Chubb. The Foundation has awarded over $225 million in grants, focusing its giving over the past 50 years to ameliorate the suffering of children and families living in poverty in Newark, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.victoriafoundation.org.

About American Express: Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow
One of American Express' three philanthropic platforms is Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow. Under this giving initiative, which recognizes the significance of strong leadership in the nonprofit and social purpose sectors, American Express makes grants focused on training high potential emerging leaders to tackle important issues in the 21st century. More than 16,000 emerging nonprofit and social sector leaders worldwide have benefitted from American Express leadership programs, including the American Express Leadership Academy among others. For more information, visit http://about.americanexpress.com/csr/

About the Institute for Ethical Leadership
The Institute for Ethical Leadership at Rutgers Business School develops education, training and critical-thinking tools that make leaders more effective, and helps them make ethical decisions in the face of real-world challenges. It provides these tools to partners, including business, government, and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit http://www.business.rutgers.edu/iel

SOURCE The Institute for Ethical Leadership at Rutgers Business School

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