Jericho Road Pasadena Launches Program to Diversify Nonprofit Leadership

Jericho Road Pasadena has announced a new Executive Director Social Impact Leadership Program designed to address the lack of diversity in nonprofit leadership.

The program, set to take place every Friday in September, will offer comprehensive training for new and aspiring Executive Directors and CEOs of nonprofit organizations.

Zoot Velasco, an experienced nonprofit executive, educator, and author, will lead the in-person sessions, which will include lunch and run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The curriculum covers leadership, management, supervision, innovation, vision planning, fund development, strategic partnerships, board and staff development, program development, marketing, and succession planning.

The program draws insights from the Gianneschi Center’s study on successful organizations during the Great Recession, providing participants with research-based strategies for organizational resilience.

According to the press release, people of color hold only 10% of CEO positions and 6% of board chairs in nonprofit organizations, despite an increasingly diverse workforce.

The program aims to address this disparity by encouraging diverse applicants and fostering an inclusive environment to support the development of equitable leadership in the nonprofit sector.

Participants will receive training materials, including Velasco’s latest book and essential templates for leading organizations, as part of the program package.

The training is open to new Executive Directors and CEOs of 501(c)3 public benefit, exempt organizations, staff members aspiring to become CEOs, students aiming for leadership roles, and board members of small organizations.

Early bird registration, available until July 31, is $650 per participant, while general admission, open until August 23, is $800 per participant.

For more information about registration, interested parties can visit https://jrpasadena.org/workshops/edtraining/.

Jericho Road Pasadena’s mission is to provide professional expertise to local nonprofits to strengthen their community impact, according to the organization’s statement.

Those seeking additional information can contact Kim Olpin at ExecDirector@JRPasadena.org.