A directory of local and national non-degree programs that help you develop your leadership potential 

Visit our Who Leads in MN? section for data about and inspiration for Minnesota's leaders.

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Advocacy Leadership Institute

National Endowment for the Arts
Geography Served
National
Program location
Washington, D.C.
Cost
$1,020
Duration
3 days
Program focus
Arts and humanities
Legislative affairs
People of color
Public policy
Participant focus
Latino
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Eligibility
Arts professionals, artists, or arts administrators
More information
Requires National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) membership; Cost includes food, lodging, and transportation

ALF Fellows Program

American Leadership Forum
Geography Served
National
Program location
Various locations
Cost
Not specified
Duration
1 year
Program focus
Community building
Participant focus
General audience
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
20-25

American Indian Ambassadors Program

Americans for Indian Opportunity
Geography Served
National
Program location
Albuquerque, NM
Cost
Not specified
Duration
2 years
Program focus
Native nations
Participant focus
Indigenous
Emerging
Mid-career
Eligibility
Age 25-35

Arcus Leadership Academy

American Association for State and Local History
Geography Served
National
Program location
Online
Cost
$65 - $110 per course
Duration
1 year
Program focus
Arts and humanities
Equity
Participant focus
General audience
Emerging
Mid-career
Eligibility
Cultural heritage and historic preservation leaders
More information
AASLH members receive a discount

Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute (APAWLI)

The Center for Asian Pacific American Women
Geography Served
National
Program location
Online
Cost
$3,500
Financial aid is available
Duration
7 months
Program focus
People of color
Public policy
Women
Participant focus
Asian
Black
Indigenous
Latino
People of color
Women
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
12-16
Eligibility
8+ years of experience
More information
Cost includes lodging and meals

Aspen Executive Seminar

Aspen Institute
Geography Served
National
Program location
Aspen, CO
Cost
$12,350
Financial aid is available
Duration
1 week
Program focus
Community building
Participant focus
General audience
Senior

Avanzando Líderazgo Program

LatinoLEAD
Geography Served
Minnesota
Program location
Minneapolis
Cost
No cost
Duration
8 months
Program focus
Civic engagement
Community building
Community organizing
Economic development
Equity
Participant focus
Latino
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
10-12

Becoming a Leader in Uncertain Times

Strategic Consulting & Coaching
Geography Served
Minnesota
Program location
Online
Cost
$350
Duration
4 weeks
Program focus
Workforce
Participant focus
General audience
Emerging
Mid-career

Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute

Nexus Community Partners
Geography Served
Twin Cities
Program location
Saint Paul, MN
Cost
Not specified
Financial aid is available
Duration
7 months
Program focus
Civic engagement
Community building
Economic development
Equity
Health
People of color
Workforce
Participant focus
Asian
Black
Indigenous
Latino
People of color
Underrepresented communities
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Eligibility
Nomination by a BCLI alumnus or community organization
More information
Includes a small stipend

Bush Fellowship

Bush Foundation
Geography Served
National
Program location
Various locations
Cost
No cost
Duration
12-24 months
Program focus
Community building
Native nations
Participant focus
General audience
Indigenous
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
24
Eligibility
At least 24 years old; resident of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or one of the 23 Native nations within that same geography
More information
Fellowship is a flexible grant of up to $100,000

C-Suite Academy

The Executive Leadership Council
Geography Served
National
Program location
Chicago, IL
Cost
$6,500
Duration
3 days
Program focus
People of color
Workforce
Participant focus
Black
People of color
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
25

Certificate of Executive Nonprofit Leadership

Center for Social Leadership
Geography Served
National
Program location
Washington, D.C.
Cost
Not specified
Duration
6 months
Program focus
Workforce
Participant focus
General audience
Senior
Eligibility
Nonprofit directors and executives
More information
Includes a conference and follow-up training

Children and Family Fellowship

Annie E. Casey Foundation
Geography Served
National
Program location
Baltimore, MD
Cost
No cost
Duration
21 months
Program focus
Equity
Families and children
Participant focus
General audience
Senior
Cohort size
15
Eligibility
10 years of career experience
More information
Cost of travel, lodging, and meals is included

Clergy Leadership Academy

Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Geography Served
Minnesota
Program location
Minneapolis, MN
Online
Cost
$500
Financial aid is available
Duration
3 years
Program focus
Community building
Participant focus
Faith-based
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Eligibility
Licensed pastors and clergy with recommendation from district superintendent

Clinical Scholars

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Geography Served
National
Program location
Online
Various locations
Cost
No cost
Financial aid is available
Duration
3 years
Program focus
Health
Participant focus
General audience
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
35
Eligibility
Health professionals with five years experience, one team member must have a terminal degree for practice in their field
More information
Fellows apply in teams of 3-5 licensed health care providers. Grant funding available for project funding and salary support

Community Equity Program

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Geography Served
Twin Cities
Program location
Saint Paul, MN
Cost
No cost
Duration
9 months
Program focus
Civic engagement
Legislative affairs
Native nations
Public policy
Participant focus
Asian
Black
Indigenous
Latino
People of color
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
20

Community Food Systems Fellowship

VitalVillage
Geography Served
National
Program location
Online
Cost
No cost
Duration
18 months
Program focus
Community organizing
Hunger and food systems
Emerging
Cohort size
10-15
Eligibility
The fellow must have an established partnership with a nonprofit organization, coalition, network, group, cooperative, business, or institution that has a strategic focus on local food systems
More information
Selected fellows will receive a $2,500 stipend and can also apply for innovation pilot funding. Program includes one three-day in-person convening

Community Leadership

Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce
Geography Served
Greater Minnesota
Program location
Elk River, MN
Cost
Not specified
Duration
9 months
Program focus
Civic engagement
Economic development
Participant focus
Location-based
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior

Community Leadership Network

W. K. Kellogg Foundation
Geography Served
National
Program location
Various locations
Cost
No cost
Duration
18 months
Program focus
Community building
Equity
Families and children
Health
Participant focus
Asian
Black
General audience
Indigenous
Latino
People of color
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
80
Eligibility
Five years of career experience
More information
One national cohort. $25,000 stipend (taxable). Cost includes travel expenses, lodging, and meals

Congressional and Social Justice Fellowships

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Geography Served
National
Program location
Washington, D.C.
Duration
12 months
Program focus
Equity
Legislative affairs
Public policy
Participant focus
Black
Emerging
Cohort size
9
Eligibility
Requires graduate or professional degree.
More information
Includes a salary and benefits. Participants responsible for their own housing and living expenses.

Creative Community Leadership Institute

Bush Foundation
Geography Served
National
Program location
Cloquet, MN
Grand Forks, ND
Rapid City, SD
Cost
Not specified
Duration
5 months
Program focus
Arts and humanities
Community building
Native nations
Placemaking
Participant focus
Black
General audience
Indigenous
People of color
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
25
Eligibility
Live in Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota
More information
Three cohorts up to 25 each

Culture of Health Leaders

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Geography Served
National
Cost
No cost
Financial aid is available
Duration
3 years
Program focus
Equity
Health
Participant focus
General audience
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
40
Eligibility
At least 21 years old
More information
Stipend funds can be used for living expenses, including child care. $20,000 annual stipend; $35,000 in project funds for implementation and evaluation

Elizabeth Kearney Women's Leadership Program

YWCA Mankato
Geography Served
Greater Minnesota
Program location
Mankato, MN
Cost
$1,400
Financial aid is available
Duration
10 months
Program focus
Civic engagement
Community building
Women
Participant focus
Women
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
More information
Payment plans available

Embracing Equity Leadership Residency

Embracing Equity
Geography Served
National
Program location
Online
Cost
Not specified
Financial aid is available
Duration
1 year
Program focus
Education
Equity
Participant focus
Educators
General audience
LGBTQ
People of color
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
Cohort size
20-25
More information
Teams of 2 representatives from each organization.

Embracing Equity Virtual Cohort Learning

Embracing Equity
Geography Served
National
Program location
Online
Cost
$600
Financial aid is available
Duration
5 days
Program focus
Education
Equity
Participant focus
Educators
General audience
People of color
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
More information
Sliding scale based on ability to pay.

Emerging Latino Leadership Program (ELLP)

HACE (Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement)
Geography Served
National
Program location
Online
Cost
$3,750
Duration
3 months
Program focus
People of color
Workforce
Participant focus
Latino
People of color
Emerging
Mid-career
Eligibility
5+ years of work experience

Emerging Leader Program

Great Lakes Leadership Academy - Michigan State University Extension
Geography Served
National
Program location
Various locations in Michigan
Cost
$3,500
Financial aid is available
Duration
6 months
Program focus
Civic engagement
Economic development
Environment
Equity
Participant focus
General audience
Emerging
Cohort size
26
More information
Cost includes lodging but not transportation

Emerging Leaders in Community Development

Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers
Geography Served
Twin Cities
Program location
Various locations
Cost
No cost
Program focus
Community building
Economic development
Equity
Poverty
Participant focus
General audience
Emerging
Mid-career
More information
Network with members-only activities

Emerging Leaders Program

Center for Collaborative Leadership - University of Massachusetts Boston
Geography Served
National
Program location
Online
Cost
$3,500 - $7,500
Financial aid is available
Duration
10 months
Program focus
Civic engagement
Equity
Participant focus
General audience
Emerging
Cohort size
40-50
Eligibility
Five years of career experience
More information
Program fee is on a sliding scale based on type of institution

Equity in Philanthropy Fellowship

Rockwood Leadership Institute
Geography Served
National
Duration
Two week-long sessions
Program focus
Community building
Equity
People of color
Participant focus
Asian
Black
Indigenous
Latino
LGBTQ
People of color
People with disabilities
Underrepresented communities
Emerging
Cohort size
18
Eligibility
Nominations accepted on website; selected nominees are then invited to apply
More information
Includes accommodation, meals, and reimbursement for at-home family care during participation if needed

Equity Leadership Institute

YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities
Geography Served
Minnesota
Program location
Minneapolis, MN
Cost
$1,600
Duration
3 weeks
Program focus
Equity
Participant focus
General audience
Emerging
Mid-career
Senior
More information
Includes one-week pass to YMCA

Executive Forum

Anderson Center
Geography Served
Greater Minnesota
Cost
$16,500
Financial aid is available
Duration
1 year
Program focus
Economic development
Participant focus
General audience
Senior
More information
Nonprofit organizations receive a 20% discount

Executive Leadership Institute

National Forum for Black Public Administrators
Geography Served
National
Program location
Various locations
Cost
$11,000
Duration
8 months
Program focus
Economic development
Public policy
Participant focus
Black
People of color
Mid-career
Senior
More information
Cost does not include transportation or lodging costs

Executive Leadership Program

Allstate Foundation and Nonprofit Leadership Center
Geography Served
National
Program location
Chicago, IL
Evanston, IL
Northbrook, IL
Cost
Not specified
Financial aid is available
Duration
6 months
Program focus
Community building
Participant focus
General audience
Senior
Cohort size
30
Eligibility
10-20 years of career experience, five years in leadership role
Leadership Program Directory

Frequently asked questions

With support from the Bush Foundation, this directory provides a list of leadership development programs for Minnesota residents—particularly residents who are from communities that are underrepresented in leadership positions—who are interested in developing or supporting the development of individual, organizational, or community leadership abilities.

  1. They are available for all Minnesota residents and/or centered on:

    • Indigenous communities and communities of color, women, immigrant and refugee communities, veterans, people with a disability, and rural residents
    • A specific focus, including poverty, diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership in ethnically diverse communities, health care (e.g., mental and physical health; drug abuse), immigration, civility
    • Specific sectors, including education, public/private education, non-profit, elected officials
    • Emerging, mid-career, and senior professionals
  2. They are focused on long-term transformation

    They may contain some skills-based training or technical skills specific to a profession (e.g., fundraising, policymaking, budgeting), but are primarily focused on longer-term transformation to engage in leader roles or processes and not focused on professional development.

  3. They meet over an extended period

    The program is conducted over a period of weeks or months (ideally months), and focus on a process of evolution, transformation, or development

  4. They build capacity

    They focus on individual, organizational, or community leadership development, and build capacity of people to work more effectively as individuals, in their professions, or in their communities.

  5. They incorporate both content and connection

    These programs provide knowledge and skills, as well as the chance for connection with others, building a network, and learning from others.

  6. They involve a group of people working together

    Ideally, the group work and reflect together to build leadership capacity (e.g., cohort model, mentoring, working individually but reflecting on individual projects with a group), and are a diverse group (e.g., race/ethnicity, sector, gender).

  7. They provide training to those who have not had a voice in leadership

    They are intentional about tapping into the voices that do not have resources for leadership development programs.

  8. They tap into ways that leadership development looks different across identities and different places

    For example, leadership development may occur when not aligned with professional responsibilities. In addition, all programs included in the directory align with the following definition of leadership:

    • Leadership is a collective process of people working together towards building capacity to engage in effective leadership roles and processes by developing social capital through networked relationships that enhance cooperation and resource exchange.
    • Leadership is a process that does not require formal, positional authority or title, and that leadership can exist anywhere within a community or within any position in an organization.
    • Leadership can be defined differently depending on cultural lens, situation, or context.

What leadership development programs are not included in the directory?

  1. Programs that promote discrimination of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older), or genetic information are not included. It is our intention to include programs that have values consistent with diverse and inclusive leadership goals.
  2. In general programs with the following characteristics are excluded from this directory:
    • Professional development and workforce development programs that provide technical skills specific to a profession
    • Internal leadership development programs specific to employees of organizations
    • Degree-granting programs in higher education, including alumni programming
    • Programs that provide credit via a professional association

Minnesota Compass and the Bush Foundation do not endorse the leadership development programs included in this directory. The goal of the directory is to provide a resource for individuals seeking to learn more about leadership development programs.

The language used to describe the ‘Leadership stage’ filter—emerging leader, mid-career, and senior—are reflective of the language primarily used by leadership development programs. We understand that this language may not be in alignment with the various ways in which leadership and leaders look across different identities, cultures, and places.

The language used to describe the race and ethnicity within the ‘Participant focus’ filter is reflective of the language primarily used by leadership development programs to describe their participant focus. We understand that this language may not be in alignment with the unique and diverse cultural communities that exist within these racial and ethnic categories or the ways in which language is currently evolving to describe race and ethnicity.

If you would like to add a leadership development program to this directory, please complete this form

Thank you to the Bush Foundation for their support of this directory and to all members of the advisory committee that guided its development:

Ernest Comer 

Laura Connelly   

Jayme Davis 

Consuelo Gutierrez-Crosby

Joyce Hoelting

Amanda Koonjbeharry

Damon Shoholm

Shirley Sneve

Terri Thao

Pahoua Yang Hoffman

Is your program already in the directory? Check here first.

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