To Connect, Inspire & uplift Black Leaders
The Black Leadership Institute (BLI) connects, inspires, and uplifts senior-level Black leaders shaping social impact across the country and across sectors. Through transformative programming, BLI supports Black leaders with the resources, network, and community to build upon their social, financial, knowledge, and cultural capital as they step into positions of greater power and influence.
A unique and transformative program, BLI brings together a national cohort of Black leaders in senior roles across the nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and private sectors who are leading in fields, or on issues, with significant outcome disparities for Black people – such as workforce development, incarceration and recidivism, health care and well-being, environmental justice, poverty, and education – for an eighteen-month fellowship program.
Now in its third year, the BLI program will launch its next cohort in January 2025, serving thirty senior-level Black leaders from six cities across the country. The program will connect Fellows both nationally and locally, allowing them to develop strong regional and national bonds of shared commitment, support, and purpose.
The program includes:
- Eighteen months of programming, including twelve months of in-person regional convenings and virtual sessions with the full national cohort, followed by six months of individual, virtual executive coaching.
- Two in-person retreats in locations of significance to the Black experience in the US and to the growth of Black power and influence into the future.
- Sessions that anchor on critical topics that enable Black leaders to identify and implement new strategies for building greater power and influence in their communities. Fellows will explore multiple forms of power, currency, and exchange through the lenses of social, financial, knowledge, and cultural capital.
- A focus on cultivating joy and renewal through a pedagogy grounded in deep personal connection, community building, mindfulness, well-being, and the intersection of self-awareness and leadership.
- A building and strengthening of local and national cross-sector networks.
Learn more about the Black Leadership Institute’s 2025-26 program schedule.
WHO ARE BLACK LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FELLOWS?
We know that those closest to the social issues impacting our communities are not only the best equipped to address the critical challenges of our time, but they also possess the wisdom of lived experience to build an equitable future. That’s why BLI brings together a national cohort of Black leaders across the nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and private sectors who are leading in fields, or on issues, with significant outcome disparities for Black people.
Every BLI Fellow is deeply connected to an expansive network beyond their own organization, and the profound impact of their individual journey within BLI will have broad ripple effects that benefit these communities.
Ideal candidates for the Black Leadership Institute are:
- Experienced nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and private sector executives, social entrepreneurs, and senior leaders who have direct oversight of a team and budget representing a significant portion, if not all, of an organization or enterprise’s work, and who share a passion for and dedication to racial and gender equity
- Engaged in full-time work at the senior level for at least ten years, occupying roles with increasing responsibility, visibility, and impact both through their career and their community involvement, and a focus on driving impact for historically marginalized communities
- Committed to taking on roles that address issues with significant outcome disparities for Black individuals and communities, including but not limited to, workforce development, incarceration and recidivism, health care and well-being, environmental justice, poverty, and education
- Collaborative leaders who build or expand cross-sector networks, partnerships, and communities for social change, inside and outside of their work roles
- Able to attend all in-person and virtual sessions for BLI
- Growth-oriented and actively seeking to enhance their leadership and social impact through peer-based connections and development
- Living in one of our current BLI communities*, which now include: Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Detroit, MI; Los Angeles, CA; Providence, RI; and Seattle, WA
* We expect the BLI program to expand to more regions over time. If you don’t see your city on the list of BLI communities, sign up for our newsletter to be the first to learn about new locations.
Applications are currently open for our next Black Leadership Institute cohort, beginning in January 2025, and are being accepted through June 28, 2024.
Nakia Douglas, Current BLI FellowThe BLI Opening Retreat was transformative by reminding us of who we are, why we do what we do, and ultimately who we are going to become in the future. As we continue to grow, so do our organizations and our communities.
Erica Hamilton, Founding Director of BLIInvesting in Black entrepreneurs, communities, and social impact leaders is of critical importance. Black leaders are often the most underinvested in, the least well resourced, and the most isolated in their work to lift up their communities and advance the progress of Black and Brown communities. Through BLI, we have the opportunity to center Black leaders in the design and implementation of a unique program that will give leaders what they want and need to realize their goals for driving impact in their communities and the world at large.