Investing in Dynamic Leaders
Strong leadership is critical for effective social sector organizations. Leadership development not only strengthens new leaders and keeps leaders vigorous for the long haul — it also improves performance and capacity across the entire organization.
In partnership with the Center for Community Development at American Express, Invest in Success is an intensive and immersive program helping nonprofit leaders build skills in board governance, organizational finance, and strategic management that will help take their organization to a new level. This program provides space for participants to think creatively and strategically about larger issues their organizations are facing.
Program content is designed and led by a national facilitator to fit the participants' needs and build skills for long-term success. By working together with a network of peers, nonprofit leaders excel in a cooperative learning environment and build a long-lasting support network.
CFU is committed to partnering with donors and other funders to support investments in strengthening social sector leadership. If you or your institution is interested in funding this work, contact us about potential co-investments.
Applications
Applications for the 2024 Invest in Success initiatives have closed.
If you have questions on the initiative, email
Testimonials
“The IIS program helped me to better understand myself and my leadership style in order to maximize my strengths and identify the strengths of others...The IIS program launched me down a path of personal and organizational development, gave me the essential tools, and was the catalyst for our organization's growth.”
- Connie Sowards, Family Support Center of Southwestern Utah"When I attended [Invest in Success], CAPSA was at a pivotal point of growth and needed to establish some strong infrastructure systems, policies, and practices. IIS gave me the information and coaching needed to help us take those next steps.”
- Jill Anderson, Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse“The knowledge I learned from participating in IIS was invaluable and has helped our program as we've continued to grow and change.”
- Melanie Linford, Kids Who Count“The experience of Invest in Success was mind-blowing...The curriculum was impeccably fresh and energizing. I went in with the intent of wrangling health benefits for the team, and I left with my financial wits whipped and peppered with questions.”
- Peggy Green, Iron County Care and Share“Invest in Success was, truly, one of the most valuable professional development opportunities of my career; I benefited in countless ways. One of my key takeaways was the importance of fostering a values-led organization and the ways in which to do so. Beginning in 2014, the Multicultural Center implemented these governance strategies. Today, we have a highfunctioning, diverse, and advantageous Board of Directors.”
- Rhiana Medina, Moab Multicultural Center“As a result of our participation in IIS, Comunidades Unidas' team collectively revised and revamped its mission, vision, goals, and organizational values...The IIS program was a transformational experience and training for our participating team members and for Comunidades Unidas as a whole. To this day we continue to utilize many of the tools and resources provided during the training, such as strategic planning and goal setting tools.”
- Comunidades Unidas“As a part of the IIS Seminar I learned that the combination of Trust, Culture, Rapport, and Values will equal a stronger, more effective team dynamic and that ultimately will result in better case outcomes for the population we serve.”
- Aubrey Davis, Children’s Justice Center
Qualifications
Nonprofit executives selected to participate in the program should work in organizations that meet the following criteria:
- Must serve in a management level position of a Utah-based 501(c)(3). Preference will be given to organizations in Salt Lake and Tooele counties.
- Organization must serve a CRA-eligible (low-income) community or population, including Native Americans.
- Organization must be focused on economic development or human services.
- Must have a strong desire to build skills in order to help the organization become more effective, sustainable and resilient.
- Must face significant barriers of time or discretionary funds to access other professional development opportunities.
Past Participants
2023 Cohort
- Sadie Enright, Nature Preschool Director, Stokes Nature Center
- Martin C. Munoz, Kids Count Director, Voices for Utah Children
- Kim Pate, Assisted Living Administrator, The INN Between
- Ashley Radel, Chief Financial Officer, YMCA of Northern Utah
- Saundra V. Stokes, Chief of Staff & Chief Mission Impact Officer, YWCA Utah
- Larissa Trout, Associate Director, Spy Hop Productions
2022 Cohort
- Ian Acker, Founder & Executive Director, Fit to Recover
- Brian Higgins, Creative Director & Founder, Mental Healthy Utah
- Sonya Martinez-Ortiz, Executive Director, Rape Recovery Center
- Debbie Mayo, Executive Director, New Horizons Crisis Center
- Rhiana Medina, Executive Director, Moab Valley Multicultural Center
- Mohan Sudabattula, Founder & CEO, Project Embrace
- Lexi Tuddenham, Executive Director, Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah
2021 Cohort
- Desirae Arends, Regional Director, Playworks Utah
- David Brooks, Director, Able Fund SLC
- Shauna Brown, Executive Director, Project Read
- Vincent Carson, Youth Program Director, Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy
- Dustin Eskelson, Director, Ogden Bicycle Collective
- Riley Greenwood, Director of Social Innovation, CHOICE Humanitarian
- Georgina Griffith-Yates, Executive Director, Wasatch Community Gardens
- Brian Higgins, Executive and Creative Director/Founder, Mental Healthy F.i.T.
- Kate Jagla, Development Director, Moab Free Health Clinic
- Jen Lopez, Co-founder & Artisan Business Development Director, Clever Octopus
- Sonya Martinez-Ortiz, Executive Director, Rape Recovery Center
- Lori Weaver, Director of Operations, House of Hope
2020 Cohort
- ReAnne Reimschussel, Canyon Creek Women's Crisis Center
- Rikki Epperson, Community Rebuilds
- Bobbi Lord, Family Support Center
- Ian Acker, Fit to Recover
- Mohan Sudabattula, Project Embrace
- Kendra Penry, Stokes Nature Center
- Heidi Justice, Utah Health and Human Rights
- Kaitlin Thomas, Youth Garden Project
2019 Cohort
- Abi Taylor, Seekhaven
- Aubrey Davis, Children's Justice Center of Grand and San Juan County
- Susie Witt, Habitat for Humanity Northern Utah
2018 Cohort
- Nara Bopp-Williams, WabiSabi Moab
- Lindsey Boyer, DOVE Center
- Honor Keeler, Utah Dine Bikeyah
- Justin Queen, Green River PACT
- Debbie Mayo, New Horizons Crisis Center
- Penny Evans, New Hope Crisis Center
2017 Cohort
- Carol Hollowell, Switchpoint Community Resource Center
- Chris Giangreco, Four Corners School of Outdoor Education
- Connie Sowards, Family Support Center in Southwestern Utah
- Peggy Green, Iron County Care and Share
- Shirlee Draper, Cherish Families
2016 Cohort
- Edith Sage, Beacon Afterschool Program
- Jill Anderson, Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse
- Dorothy Engelman, Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation
- Anna Tremonte, OUTreach Resource Centers
- Barbara Lefler, Red Rock Center for Independence
2015 Cohort
- Gavin Noyes, Utah Dine Bikeyah
- Daniel McNeil, Grand Area Mentoring
- Laura Bartschi, Family Support Center of Washington
- Melanie Linford, Kids Who Count
- Annette Mcfarlane, Restoring Ancestral Winds
- Cindy Baldwin, Canyon Creek Womens Crisis Center
2014 Cohort
- Chris Lezama, Epicenter
- Tracy Johnson, New Frontiers for Families
- Teri Iverson, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah (Southern Utah)
- Josie Luke, Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County
- Rhiana Medina, Moab Multicultural Center
- Jae Maxfield, Dixie Care & Share
