For More Information, Contact:
Emily Richardson, 336.397.5522,
emily@kbr.org
For Immediate Release
[May 18, 2009]
KATE B. REYNOLDS CHARITABLE TRUST TO PARTNER WITH THE
ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION AND THE CENTER FOR
CREATIVE LEADERSHIP TO ENHANCE PIPELINE OF NONPROFIT
EXECUTIVES
Seven-County Region in eastern North Carolina is One of Nine to Participate in
Fellowship Program to Prepare Next Generation of Nonprofit Leaders
Winston-Salem, North Carolina– The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust (KBR) has
been selected to collaborate with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the
Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) to implement a national fellowship program in
eastern North Carolina that will help train the next generation of community health
leaders. The RWJF Ladder to Leadership program aims to boost the skills and
capabilities of early- to mid-career professionals working in health and health-related
nonprofit organizations so they will be positioned to lead organizations as many nonprofit
leaders retire.
Over the next 16 months, RWJF, CCL, and the national advisory committee of the
Ladder to Leadership program will select 30 fellows who work in seven eastern North
Carolina counties to take part in the 16-month leadership curriculum. Fellows will
participate in face-to-face training sessions, individualized executive coaching, and team
project work.
“The Center for Creative Leadership and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are premier
organizations in their respective fields. Nothing short of magic can happen when the two
of them collaborate,” said Karen McNeil-Miller, KBR President. “The Kate B Reynolds
Charitable Trust is thrilled to be able to serve as the state sponsor for the Ladder to
Leadership program. We know that the ultimate and greatest result of this effort will be
improved health care and improved health for our most vulnerable residents in that
region.”
The nonprofit sector, like many industries and sectors, is facing an impending exodus of
senior leaders who plan to retire in the coming years. A study by the Bridgespan Group
estimated that by 2016, nonprofit groups will need approximately 80,000 new senior
managers each year. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there
were 1.4 million nonprofit organizations in the United States in 2006.
“Nonprofit organizations are a critical part of health care and service delivery in this
country. It is important we work with current leaders to build a pipeline of qualified
future CEOs and executive directors, so we do not lose the vision and capacity needed to
continue to do this work effectively in the future,” said Sallie Petrucci George, M.P.H.,
program officer at RWJF. “We are committed to investing in tomorrow’s nonprofit
leaders to make sure they receive the training they need to best serve those at-risk
communities.”
Eastern North Carolina was one of nine sites selected across the country to participate in
the program. It was chosen because of the unique health care needs of its primarily rural,
low-income, minority population. Other criteria included census and demographic
information, community-based needs for public health leadership development, and
commitment of local community partners.
“We believe this program will have a powerful and lasting impact on individual leaders
and their organizations,” said Karen Dyer, director of CCL’s Education and Nonprofit
Sector. “By design, the program encourages fellows to apply new skills and innovative
solutions to problems in their communities as these skills are learned. So they are giving
back to the community as they go.”
To become a fellow, applicants must demonstrate a record of accomplishment within the
nonprofit sector, potential for leadership in the nonprofit health or health care field, and a
proven commitment to serving at-risk groups. To learn more about who is eligible and
how to apply, visit: http://www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=20281.
An information session on the training program and application process will take place at
the Area L AHEC (1631 South Wesleyan Boulevard, Rocky Mount, NC, 27804)
Monday, June 22nd from 2:00-4:00 and Tuesday, June 23rd from 10:00-12:00.
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care
issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to
improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a
diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve
comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years, the Foundation
has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems
that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping
Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to
make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.
The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL®) is a top-ranked, global provider of executive
education that develops better leaders through its exclusive focus on leadership education
and research. Founded in 1970 as a nonprofit, educational institution, CCL helps clients
worldwide cultivate creative leadership—the capacity to achieve more than imagined by
thinking and acting beyond boundaries—through an array of programs, products and
other services. Ranked among the world’s top providers of executive education by
BusinessWeek and the Financial Times, CCL is headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., with
campuses in Colorado Springs, C.O.; San Diego, C.A.; Brussels, Belgium; and
Singapore. Its work is supported by more than 500 faculty members and staff.