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Launch Carolinas Leadership Accelerator Program is a multi-year leadership, resource, and network-expanding program designed to connect and strengthen relationships between trusted non-profit leaders and philanthropic partners who have a vested interest in addressing social challenges in communities with limited resources in North Carolina and/or South Carolina.
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The program goals are to:
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Build the knowledge and skills of non-profit leaders and philanthropic funders relevant to non-profit management and leadership development;
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Understand the potential for system-level impact and sustainable change within underresourced communities in North Carolina and South Carolina;
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Promote new approaches to grantmaking and greater access to traditional and non-traditional resources;
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Encourage trust-building, synergy, and collaboration between non-profit leaders and philanthropic funders; and
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Open access to networks for non-profit leaders and philanthropic foundations, thus expanding professional connections throughout the region.
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There are four integral Launch Carolina participants: the non-profit leader, the non-profit organization, the funding partner, and the strategic thought partner (STP).
ABOUT LAUNCH CAROLINAS
The non-profit leader must hold the position of Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director, or President within a North Carolina or South Carolina organization. They should be committed to remaining with the organization for the entire program year and demonstrate a dedication to at least ten additional years of work in the non-profit sector.
The leader should exemplify strong values and characteristics associated with effective leadership and have a distinguished history of community service recognized by peers, colleagues, and the community.
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Preferred candidates will also have a strong interest in building relationships with both peers and the philanthropic community.
The non-profit organization must be federally designated as a 501(c)(3) and provide culturally competent services and programs that are informed by community needs, with an operating budget between $150,000 and $1,500,000. Additionally, the organization must serve an area facing one or more of the social priorities outlined.
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Ideal organizations may have experienced limited access to philanthropic funding in their service area or population, yet still trusted by and closely connected to the communities it serves.
The funding partner is a foundation in North Carolina and/or South Carolina that pledges to financially invest in developing a non-profit leader and their organization over four years.
The strategic thought partner (STP) is a philanthropic leader who commits to one-on-one partnerships with participating non-profit leaders. The STP relationship is marked by joint responsibility for supporting a mutual learning experience between the two to inspire deepened interpersonal relationships.
The dyad challenges one another to explore, grow, and think expansively.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
& SOCIAL PRIORITIES
Twelve non-profit leaders, twelve strategic thought partners, and a list of funding partners are engaged in a 10-month program of quarterly in-person workshops and monthly virtual learning sessions, followed by annual meetings during the subsequent three years. ​
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Strategic thought partners attend all four in-person workshops and at least three virtual learning sessions. During these sessions, the agenda is crafted to allow separate discussions specific to foundation leaders, 1:1 time with their assigned non-profit leaders, and networking with all non-profit leaders and their foundation colleagues.
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Funding partners (Foundation CEOs/Presidents who are not serving as STPs) and board chairs of the non-profit organizations attend two in-person workshops (orientation and graduation). They are also invited to participate in virtual discussions appropriate for their roles.
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Greater community impact will be discussed within five social priorities.
Health Outcomes, to include a person’s physical, behavioral, and/or mental
condition;
Healthcare Access, to include a access to treatment of a person’s physical,
behavioral, and/or mental condition;
Educational Attainment; to include the promotion of academic access,
quality, completion, and workforce development;
Geographic Isolation, or limited access to population centers and services; and
Social Vulnerability, demographic and socioeconomic factors (such as poverty,
lack of access to transportation, and crowded housing) that adversely affect
communities.
Program participants should anticipate graduate-level individual and organizational development discussions centered on innovation, problem-solving, systems change, and collaboration.
