United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Community Impact

Defining the Need*

Strong leadership is critical to the ability of nonprofit organizations to carry out their missions and their key roles in our society. Developing new nonprofit leaders can’t wait!

640,000 new senior nonprofit managers will be needed in the next decade.
75% of executive directors report that they are planning to step down in the next five years.
One in three executive directors is eventually fired or forced out of the job.
Only 29% of executive directors have discussed a succession plan with their boards of directors.
Finding and developing talented managers is the most common management challenge faced by nonprofits today.

*Statistics from Daring to Lead 2006 done by CompassPoint and the Meyer Foundation

Prepare to Lead: United Way's Emerging Leaders Program

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Emerging Leaders Program is an intensive leadership development program offered to 24 mid-level nonprofit managers who have demonstrated a commitment to the non-profit sector. High-achieving nonprofit professionals under the age of 40 are encouraged to apply for a place in this year's Emerging Leaders Program.

Participants in United Way’s Emerging Leaders Program will attend six highly interactive class sessions and a summer leadership seminar after the conclusion of the program, complete a skills assessment and a multi-rater (360°) feedback assessment, receive three individual professional coaching sessions, attend a leadership panel and have access to peer networking opportunities and follow-up sessions for program alumni.

For details regarding eligibility to apply as a sponsored Leadership Fellow with Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) and Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, please click here.

Who Should Apply?

United Way's Emerging Leaders Program is designed for up-and-coming professionals, not senior executives.

The program will help participants to identify and develop core values, insights, effective communication skills, performance management, and team building skills that are the hallmarks of a transformational leader.

United Way’s Emerging Leaders Program will help build new skills that can be used today and in the future.

No more than one employee per organization will be selected to participate in the Emerging Leaders Program with exceptions made only in special circumstances determined by the program director.