Headlines from the FLA Evaluation

Why we evaluated and what we learned

Fund staff, grantees, and the program evaluator help connect the dots between leadership development activities, and the impact of the work.

FLA Overview

An overview of key program elements

Linda Wood and Paula Morris break down the three central components of the FLA: the grant, plan consultant, and peer convenings.

The Resonance of Coaching

How grantees used this tailored approach

Coaching was one of many supports offered to grantees, but it quickly rose to the top choice.

Assessing Readiness

How to tell when an organization is ready for leadership support

Learn about the factors to consider when assessing organizational readiness for leadership support, including "the one thing" needed for success.

Absorptive Capacity

What is the optimal grant size?

Evaluator Bill Ryan talks about how much leadership development a nonprofit can actually tolerate.

A Trusted Advisor

How plan consultants help organizations develop and resource their leadership goals

Learn about the unique role that the plan consultant plays, and how they have become a linchpin to the FLA process.

Securing the Firewall

Creating a safe space for authentic leadership engagements

How the FLA addresses the real tension between grantees’ ability to admit and work through difficult problems, while not having to worry about maintaining an image for the funder’s sake.

Successful Executive Transitions

Supporting organizations through high-stakes transitions

Bucking national trends, the FLA supported several executive transitions, all of which were successful, and took support at many different levels.

Striking Budget Growth

A surprising result of investing in leadership

13 of the 14 participating FLA organizations grew, despite the recession.

Beyond the Exit Survey

How we evaluated the impact of leadership support

The FLA evaluation included self-assessments, but also went deeper to measure success. Learn how in this video.

More than a Grant

What’s the secret sauce?

How expertise, accountability, and success help make the FLA a success.

Coaching as a Capacity-Building Tool

How can coaching change leaders, organizations and movements?

Coaching expert Bill Ryan talks about the exciting potential of coaching for social change in this NPQ interview.