The Transformative Leadership Program – Special Cohort for Funders and Donors was initiated to bring transformative practices and skills to the progressive philanthropic sector.

Since its founding, SJL has run programs exclusively for grassroots organizations, with the overarching purpose of increasing the effectiveness and infrastructure of the social justice sector. It is clear that a key component of that infrastructure is the progressive philanthropy community, and yet there are few formal opportunities for this community to organize and align itself.

The TLP for Funders and Donors was thus designed to help the philanthropic community develop and deepen relationships of trust and begin to envision what more coordinated philanthropic work could look like. It is a training program that focuses on personal leadership, organizational leadership, and movement-building, and offers new skills and practices for increasing the performance of individual organizations and the broader sector. Similar to other SJL programs, the TLP for Funders and Donors is also designed to help individuals face the challenges and inhibitions that may impede their effectiveness and move toward aligning daily behaviors with social justice principles.

The program was initiated in 2010 with 19 participants from 15 different philanthropic institutions in the pilot program. Based on the positive feedback and demand for additional trainings, SJL is working with past participants to plan the next cohort of the program. Interested funders should contact us at info [at] sojustlead [dot] org.