Leadership Resources

National Leadership and Fellowship Programs

The following are leadership development programs and fellowships designed to celebrate, enhance and accelerate the leadership and public service work of people of color in the US. If you have suggestions for additional programs to include, please email us. Thank you.

Center for Progressive Leadership New Leaders Program
The Center for Progressive Leadership’s New Leaders Program works to build access to political power by connecting young people from underrepresented communities to leadership development and paid opportunities in the progressive movement. CPL's New Leaders Internship Program is a ten-week summer program in Washington, DC for young people from underrepresented communities across the country with a demonstrated passion for progressive change. Each CPL New Leader is matched with a paid internship in a leading progressive organization in DC, including policy and research work, advocacy, organizing, media relations, and online communications. CPL New Leaders also participate in orientation and closing workshops, weekly trainings, coaching, and a variety of networking events, conferences and other opportunities. CPL's New Leaders Fellowship is a six-month part-time leadership and professional development program that provides young progressives who are working for social change with the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills and deepen their networks in the progressive movement. Fellows will participate in training, coaching, project based work and community building.
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Center for Social Inclusion Alston Bannerman Sabbatical Fellowship
In 2008, the Center for Social Inclusion absorbed the nation’s only sabbatical fellowship program focused on organizers of color - the Alston Bannerman Fellowship. The New World Foundation founded the Fellowship to promote movement building by honoring and supporting longtime organizers of color. Fellows receive a $25,000 award to take three-month sabbaticals for reflection and renewal and we also created a “senior fellowship” to support leaders of color to develop and share transformative ideas with the field. Since its founding in 1988, the Alston Bannerman Program has awarded 239 fellows working on a broad range of issues -from workers rights to environmental justice, immigrant rights to native sovereignty, affordable housing to education reform. Fellows have come from 31 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
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Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL)
Each summer since 1989, CAPAL has organized the Washington Leadership Program (WLP) for interns and young professionals in Washington, DC. WLP is a series of free evening programs intended to highlight a diverse selection of public policy issues and career tracks. The format of WLP sessions range from panel discussions to policy debates among experts. For 23 years, WLP has been the only educational and leadership development working series in Washington, DC that focuses specifically on the Asian Pacific American (APA) community and its role in public policy.
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Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Washington Leadership Program
The CBCF Congressional Fellows Program was created in 1976 in order to increase the number of African Americans working as professional staff in the U.S. Congress. The Congressional Fellows Program offers public policy training to young professionals by providing them with an opportunity to work on Capitol Hill. CBCF Fellows work in congressional member and committee offices, attend leadership development seminars, complete a community service project and produce policy papers.
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Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellowship and Graduate Fellowship Program
The Public Policy Fellowship is a paid fellowship that offers talented Latinos who have earned a bachelor's degree within two years of the program start date the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at the national level in public policy. Fellows have the opportunity to work in congressional offices and federal agencies, depending on their area of interest. The Graduate Fellowship Program is a paid fellowship that offers exceptional Latinos who have earned a graduate degree or higher related to a chosen policy issue area within three years of program start date unparalleled exposure to hands-on experience in public policy. The fellowship seeks to enhance participants' leadership abilities, strengthen professional skills, and increase the presence of Latinos in public policy areas.
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Council on Foundations Career Pathways
The Council on Foundations' Career Pathways is a 12-month leadership program that prepares candidates from diverse backgrounds to compete for and earn positions as philanthropic leaders. We work with individuals currently employed in foundations and grantmaking institutions who are seeking to advance their careers in philanthropy. By bringing together talented high-level senior managers from diverse backgrounds with philanthropic leaders and executive search consultants, we can strengthen the pipeline of professionals looking to compete for and succeed in philanthropic leadership positions. We also work with foundations and grantmakers to help them acquire and retain the best management talent from this ready and willing pool.
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Hispanic Federation Hispanic Leadership Institute
The Hispanic Federation operates the Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) in partnership with the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College-CUNY. The HLI aims to help Latino nonprofit managers develop and improve their management skills, enhance the operations of their organization, and work more effectively within the broader community. Specifically, through the Institute, the Hispanic Federation seeks to develop a cadre of nonprofit leaders who will strengthen institutions that advance the quality of life of the Latino community. 
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Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP) Leadership in Action Internship Program
Leadership in Action (LIA) is an eight-week paid summer internship program designed to develop emerging young leaders by providing college students with practical leadership skills and the opportunity to work hands-on in the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community in Southern California.
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Management Leadership for Tomorrow College Access, MBA and Executive Programs
Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) equips high potential African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans with the key career ingredients – skills, coaching and door-opening relationships – that unlock their potential. By cracking the code on career potential, MLT is developing the next generation of minority leaders, for the corporate, nonprofit and entrepreneurial sectors, who will in turn have transformational impact on our communities.
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Mestiza Leadership International Latino Leadership Development Program
The Latino Leadership Development Program was designed to meet the need to develop competent Latino leaders at all levels of an organization - particularly in the executive ranks - by assisting mid-level to senior-level managers become more effective organizational leaders, increase their visibility, and strengthen their management capacity. Participants learn practical ways to increase productivity and value to the organization.
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National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Law Fellow Program
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People hopes to inspire attorneys to enter the field of civil rights law and to provide broad exposure to various strategies utilized by grass roots civil rights organizations. The NAACP Law Fellow Program is designed to give students who have completed at least one year of law school the opportunity to work for the summer at NAACP Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. Those selected for the program: work with civil rights attorneys on relevant issues concerning economic justice, education, housing, voting rights and environmental justice; perform case investigation and assist with emerging litigation and administrative complaints; attend the NAACP National Convention and Continuing Legal Education Seminar in Orlando, Florida; examine and evaluate citizen complaints of civil rights violations; and interact with civil rights leaders and attorneys.
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National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) National Institute for Newly Elected Officials
The National Institute for Newly Elected Officials offers newly elected officials a comprehensive introduction to public service, with seminars addressing budgeting, staffing, policy discussions, and other key governance issues. Join elected officials from all levels of government and experts for this unique, nonpartisan skills development program in the nation’s capital. Attendees include members from both major political parties, including Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado and Republican Congressmen Raúl Labrador of Idaho -- the first Latino to represent the state in the U.S. House of Representatives – and Francisco “Quico” Canseco of Texas – the first Republican to represent his district in 20 years.
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National Council of Negro Women Dorothy I. Height Leadership Institute
The Dorothy I. Height Leadership Institute (the Institute) is a leadership development center for emerging and established African American women leaders in national organizations, community organizations, on college campuses and in other public and private sector institutions. The Institute takes into consideration the need for intergenerational leadership in all parts of NCNW's family of organizations as well as other African American women's organizations. The programs and activities of the Dorothy I. Height Leadership Institute are designed to: (1) develop and enhance the leadership capabilities of the (elected) established leaders in the 39 affiliated organizations; (2) identify, develop and integrate a cadre of young, emerging, new leaders into the organizational structure of NCNW and the affiliate groups; (3) identify and address leadership issues that affect the productive volunteer participation of black women in public service areas that address the concerns of the African American community; and (4) strengthen board, staff and community-based sections by increasing their leadership, management, collaborative and comprehensive community service capabilities.
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National Hispana Leadership Institute Executive Leadership Program
For 25 years, the National Hispana Leadership Institute has fostered hundreds of Latina leaders through its award winning Executive Leadership Program. The program targets mid-career professional Latinas and advances a model that emphasizes and builds upon personal strengths. What makes NHLI's program different from other leadership programs is that it addresses skill development and provides training and support through both a female and a Hispanic cultural lens. NHLI also promotes a heightened awareness of social responsibility and stronger attention to the needs of the broader Hispanic Community.
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National Hispanic Medical Association Leadership Fellowship
The NHMA Leadership Fellowship Program promotes leadership development among members of the National Hispanic Medical Association. The emphasis is on the knowledge and skills necessary to take a leadership role in health policy development and advocacy at local, state and national levels on issues of importance to the health of the Hispanic community.
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National Urban Fellows Master of Public Administration Fellowship
National Urban Fellows' leadership development program is a rigorous, 14-month, full-time graduate degree program comprising two semesters of academic course work and a nine-month mentorship assignment. Fellows receive a $25,000 stipend, health insurance, a book allowance, relocation and travel reimbursement, and full payment of tuition, in addition to their ongoing personal and professional development. The program culminates in a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the City of New York's Bernard M. Baruch College, School of Public Affairs.
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Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Next Generation Nonprofit Leaders Program
The Next Generation Nonprofit Leaders Program (NextGen) is a competitive internship stipend program for Nonprofit Leadership Alliance students. NextGen helps a racially and ethnically diverse group of students with demonstrated leadership potential complete nonprofit internships. 
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Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship Program
The Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) is a not-for-profit that has been supporting efforts to increase diversity in public service for over 30 years. PPIA believes that our society is best served by public managers, policy makers, and community leaders who represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives. To achieve this goal, PPIA has an outreach focus on students from groups who are underrepresented in leadership positions in government, nonprofits, international organizations and other institutional settings. The PPIA Fellowship Program helps students achieve a Master's Degree or joint degree, typically in public policy, public administration, international affairs or a related field. The organization does this through the intensive study provided by participation in a Junior Summer Institute (JSI), through partnerships with universities across the country, and through an alumni network that provides opportunities to connect with nearly 4000 individuals who share the same interest in public service.
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The Greenlining Institute Leadership Academy: Fellows Program
Thriving communities of color urgently need a generation of young people who are informed and engaged in addressing the most critical issues facing their communities. The Greenlining Academy works to empower and develop the next generation of multi-ethnic leaders to advance racial and economic equity and create positive social change. They seek to develop a network of visionary leaders ready to work across racial and ethnic lines to address America’s most pressing problems and develop sustainable solutions rooted in equity and justice. The Fellowship program is a year-long, paid training program for young leaders who have completed their undergraduate or graduate degrees. Each fellow is assigned to a specific program area and develops expertise under the mentorship of the program director. An additional program launched in 2012 is placing six Health Equity Fellows within The California Endowment’s philanthropic programs to address community health disparities in California.
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The Institute for Responsible Citizenship Washington Program & Youth Scholar Academy
The Institute for Responsible Citizenship prepares high-achieving African-American men for successful careers in business, law, government, public service, education, journalism, the sciences, medicine, ministry, and the arts. The organization requires students to complete rigorous academic seminars in Government and Economics, work at high-level internships, and participate in lectures, seminars, and roundtable discussions with some of the nation's most prominent public and private sector leaders. An integral part of the program includes intensive mentoring by the Institute’s founder, professors, alumni and friends. The goal is not only to help talented African-American men achieve career success, but it is also to train these young leaders to be men of great character who will make significant contributions to their communities, their country, and the world.
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The Pipeline Project 21st Century Fellows Program
The 21st Century Fellows Program is a year-long program for LGBT people of color managers currently working at human rights, service and advocacy organizations, with an emphasis on those working at LGBT organizations. The program is supported by the Arcus Foundation, the Gill Foundation, the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, and an Anonymous Donor. The Pipeline Project also collaborates with the Rockwood Leadership Institute and the Flexible Leadership Investments Program of the Haas, Jr. Fund on some program elements.
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Women of Color Network Leadership Training Institute
The Women of Color Network Leadership Training Institute offers mentors training and resource materials to build concrete leadership skills among women of color activists. It is a unique opportunity for individuals to enhance their capacity in areas such as: program development, grant-writing, fundraising, community organizing, policy development and building multi-cultural relationships. The Leadership Institute aims to equip advocates and activists with the necessary skills and knowledge so they can apply them in their program and community.
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