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Change Leaders In Philanthropy Fellowship

The Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship (CLIPF) is a 10-month intensive peer cohort program for senior leaders who are responsible for developing and guiding change efforts in their organizations. Senior leaders working at GEO member organizations apply to this fellowship comprised 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 senior leaders in the sector seeking support, resources and guidance on how to lead equitable organizational change. The goal of the program is to develop a community of practice where senior leaders find coaching, resources and peer support to implement transformative change within their grantmaking institutions in ways that advance equity and support thriving nonprofits and communities.

GEO’s Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship is for senior leaders in the sector who are seeking support, resources and guidance on how to lead equitable organizational change. Fellows typically report to an Executive Director, President or CEO at a grantmaking organization, are leading organization-wide change and have direct authority over strategy, culture and philanthropic practice changes. 

For members with an annual grantmaking budget greater than $25 million in grants, the program fee is $8,000. For members with an annual grantmaking budget of less than $25 million in grants, the program fee is $5,000. 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. 

In an attempt to remove prohibitive barriers to participation and assemble a more inclusive cohort, GEO has a modest scholarship pool available up to a maximum of $16,000 based on need. Requesting financial assistance will not affect acceptance into the fellowship. Scholarship funds do not cover retreat travel and lodging fees.

Applications for the 2025 CLIPF cohort will open on January 6, 2025. Add your name to this list to be notified. Cohort activities, both virtual and in-person, will run from February 2025 – November 2025. 

GEO will hold an informational webinar on Tuesday, January 14 at 1pm ET that provides 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.  Register for free here. All registrants will receive a copy of the recording.

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