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Change Leaders In Philanthropy Fellowship

The Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship (CLIPF) is a 10-month peer cohort program for senior executives who are responsible for developing and guiding change efforts in their organizations. Senior leaders working with GEO member organizations apply to participate in the fellowship’s program of peer learning, coaching and other activities.

About the Community

This fellowship began as a part of GEO’s larger Leading Change in Philanthropy initiative and is a response to requests from executives for more support, resources and guidance on how to lead organizational change. The goal of the program is to develop a community where executives find coaching, resources and peer support, while exploring and implementing ideas for transforming philanthropic practice in their organizations in ways that advance equity and support thriving nonprofits and communities.  

Eligible participants in CLIPF are senior executives working at GEO member organizations who are responsible for leading and/or supporting change in their organizations. The preference is for only one participant from each organization, but GEO is open to having two or more senior leaders who are working together on a change project at the same organization.

For members with an annual grantmaking budget greater than $25 million in grants, the program fee is $6,200. For members with an annual grantmaking budget of less than $25 million in grants, the program fee is $3,800. We appreciate organizations who donate beyond the fee to support our scholarship fund to make the program more accessible. 

Please use your foundation’s grantmaking giving range (e.g., grants, discretionary, FOI, etc.) to determine your fee. In addition to the fee, fellowship participants will be responsible for travel and lodging fees associated with each retreat. 

To remove prohibitive barriers to participation and assemble a more inclusive cohort, GEO will offer a modest scholarship for the program fee (up to a maximum of $2,000) to a maximum of two participants. Requesting financial assistance will not affect acceptance into the fellowship. Scholarship recipients are still expected to cover travel and lodging fees associated with each retreat.

GEO will provide informational webinars that give an overview of the program’s structure and goals, as well as an opportunity to hear and learn directly from program facilitators and former cohort participants.

If you are interested in learning more about CLIPF, including being notified when applications open in January 2025 and the next informational webinar will be held, please complete this quick form or contact Jaser Alsharhan at jaser@geofunders.org

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