Inclusive Leadership Program
We invest in women of color and gender expansive leaders to navigate power, maximize fundraising potential, and build collaborative networks that transform organizations.
As a minority Muslim woman who has served in nonprofit and community leadership spaces for more than three decades, I yearned for an intentional woman-focused leadership development space.
Talem’s Inclusive Leadership Program answered the call. Women leading faith-based and community organizations carry enormous responsibility, and navigating those pressures alone can often feel isolating, confusing, and draining. As facilitators, Saadia and Rachel, created a genuinely safe space for honest reflection and growth around difficult topics. The program addressed relevant and meaningful issues, and each conversation left me feeling encouraged, supported, and empowered.
Completing the Inclusive Leadership Program left me feeling refreshed, strengthened, and more optimistic about the future of women’s leadership within our communities. I highly recommend this unique and beneficial program.
Dr. Mona Islam, ILP alumna
Program Participants
We welcome women of color and gender expansive leaders with at least 5 years of nonprofit experience and 1 year in their current role. Each cohort is intentionally small; limited to 5–8 participants to ensure deep connection and personalized support.
Participants are matched into specialized cohorts based on their professional responsibilities.
Our curriculum is tailored to the unique challenges of each role while providing the management tools necessary to scale your leadership impact.
Program Cost
The annual program fee is $3,600, payable in full or in two installments.
To ensure leadership development remains accessible we offer:
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50% Subsidy: Organizations with budgets under $100,000 pay a reduced fee of $1,800.
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Professional Development: We encourage asking your organization to cover this cost as an investment in their leadership pipeline.
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Financial Hardship: If cost is a barrier, please contact us to discuss further options.
Program Details
This high-touch program is designed for sustainable growth.
Our curriculum balances technical mastery with transformative leadership. You gain practical nonprofit management skills while exploring the internal shifts needed to lead authentically and navigate power dynamics within the sector.
Participants commit to:
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Interactive sessions blending skill-building with collaborative problem-solving.
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Support group sessions that navigate specific career hurdles through real-time peer support and networking.
It's never too late to supercharge your leadership skills.
Join a cohort.
Program Goals
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Executive Presence: Gain strategic backing and confidence to fearlessly occupy and excel in high-level leadership roles.
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Thrive in Longevity: Sustain your career with access to peer ecosystems and resource frameworks, directly combatting burnout and increasing retention for BIPOC women in power.
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Unlock Fundraising Potential: Gain exclusive access to influential fundraising networks to fuel and scale your community initiatives.
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Cultivate Strategic Partnerships: Master the art of cross-sector collaboration to address the most pressing issues facing your community.
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Dismantle Barriers Together: Leverage collective power and unified influence to clear a wider path for the next generation of leaders.
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Model Excellence: Embody a new standard of leadership. Serve as a living archetype of success, using your platform to inspire and mentor others.
Program Topics
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Cultivating Public Trust: Master the balance of transparency, confidentiality, and mandated reporting to build unwavering organizational integrity.
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Mapping Your Leadership Journey: Use personalized strength assessments to optimize your work style, lead teams effectively, and build authentic community partnerships.
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Governance & Board Power: Navigate the complex dynamics of nonprofit boards, focusing on diversity, shared responsibility, and the critical ED-Board relationship.
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Moving Toward Horizontal Leadership: Dismantle traditional power hierarchies by adopting culturally diverse, horizontal leadership models that foster shared authority and collective success.
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Healthy Work Ecosystems: Create a culture that attracts and retains top talent through inclusive management and essential HR legal frameworks.
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Harnessing Intersectional Identity: Operationalize diversity, equity, and belonging to build a workplace where intersectional identities are a source of strength.
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Core Management Essentials: Gain technical mastery over financials, program evaluation, metrics, and high-impact marketing strategies.
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Culturally Responsive Fundraising: Learn to successfully navigate cultural norms to secure funding within communities of color and broaden your donor base.
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Radical Self-Care & Boundaries: Develop sustainable leadership habits through time management, conflict resolution, and prioritizing your mental and physical health.
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Navigating Leadership Barriers: Acquire practical wisdom and strategies to overcome systemic obstacles, microaggressions, and discrimination in the sector.
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Modern Management Approaches: Explore alternatives to traditional top-down hierarchy, including Co-CEO models and horizontal leadership structures.
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Strategic Future-Mapping: Use Theory of Change and systems-thinking tools to navigate your organization toward long-term, systemic impact.