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Rising Leaders Institute Application - 2027 Class 8

A program for new and emerging nonprofit leaders

For the 8th year, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Omaha and the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands have partnered to enhance the leadership and capacity of young nonprofit professionals in the Omaha metro community through the Rising Leaders Institute (RLI).

The Rising Leaders Institute is a cohort-based leadership development program for nonprofit professionals who are early to mid-level in their nonprofit career and aspire to nonprofit executive leadership. RLI is a one-year program in which young professionals will learn skills necessary to achieve a nonprofit leadership position through (1) mentorship and (2) facilitated discussion with subject matter experts.

Rising Leaders will have the opportunity to be matched with a mentor as a part of the RLI program.

Facilitated discussion will revolve around leadership competencies including
  • Leading Yourself
  • Leading with Others
  • Navigating Your Leadership Journey
Note to Class 8 Rising Leaders Applicants: 
The selection committee will be looking for the following elements in your application: 
  • Evidence of leadership experience, regardless of formal position
  • Desire to learn with and from others
  • Vision for your future in the nonprofit sector
  • Evidence of self-awareness & reflection
  • Willingness to be challenged and to grow as a person & as a professional
  • Specificity whenever possible
  • While we don't prohibit the use of AI in your application, the committee wants to hear your authentic voice

Program Expectations:
Attend every session. Meetings will be held on the dates listed below. Participants may miss ONE session and still be eligible for graduation. Participants missing more than one session will be removed from Class 8 and invited to apply for Class 9. Refunds will not be given. The RLI regular session dates are as follows:

2027 RLI Dates- Typically 3rd Tuesday

Full Session Dates - Required Attendance
  • Welcome Networking Event: January 19th | 3pm – 5pm (optional & encouraged)
  • February 16th | 1-5pm
  • April 20th | 1-5pm
  • June 15th | 1-5pm
  • August 17th | 1-5pm
  • October 19th | 1-5pm
  • December 14th | 1-5pm (Graduation! Moved to 2nd Tuesday)

Off Session Dates - Encouraged Attendance
  • March 16th | 3:30-5 pm
  • May 18th | 3:30-5 pm
  • July 20th | 3:30-5 pm
  • September 21st | 3:30-5 pm
  • November 16th | 3:30-5 pm

Tuition
  • Tuition for the Rising Leaders Institute is $300.
  • Tuition is expected to be paid by the first session. If special arrangements are needed, reach out to NAM at training@nonprofitam.org.
  • If tuition is a barrier, we encourage you to apply anyway. A limited number of scholarships are available. 

Selection Process & Timeline
The 2026 Rising Leaders will be chosen by a committee consisting of NAM & ynpnGO representatives based on this application. View committee list & learn more about RLI here.
  • July 1st - Applications Open
  • July 16th - Zoom Open Office Hours: Register Here
  • August 3rd - Applications Close
  • August 2026 - Committee Review
  • September 2026 - Applicant Notification
  • November 12, 2026 - Class publicly announced at Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands

Apply for the Rising Leader Institute by Monday, August 3, 2026.
1.Applicant Information(Required.)
2.Pronouns
Optional, may be used on nametags
3.Participation in the Rising Leaders Institute will require time away during traditional business hours.
Attendance and full participation from 1:00pm – 5:00pm at each session is expected. Arriving late &/or leaving early are considered an absence. Please review the program dates prior to applying. We recommend placing a tentative hold on your calendar.

Is your organization's leadership in support of your RLI participation?
4.What is your organization's annual budget?
5.What type of services does your organization provide?
6.OPTIONAL:  Please indicate which race(s)/ethnicity(ies) you publicly self-identify as:
7.OPTIONAL: Please indicate the gender identity you publicly self-identify as:
Definitions:
Cisgender: (pronounced “sis-gender”) people whose gender identity and expression matches the gender they were assigned at birth
Transgender: people whose gender identity is different from the gender they were assigned at birth.
8.OPTIONAL: Please indicate the sexual orientation you publicly self-identify as:
9.OPTIONAL: Please indicate the disability status you publicly self-identify as:
10.OPTIONAL: Please indicate your age using the categories below:
11.Please select the geographic area(s) that best describe where your primary work takes place (choose all that apply):
12.Have you applied for RLI previously?
13.Please provide a link to your LinkedIn Profile.
A LinkedIn Profile is not an application requirement. If you do not have a linked in profile, and would like to make one, tips to create one can be found here:
Join LinkedIn
How to create a profile
Supplemental information provided outside of this application form (for example: a resume or personal statement) will not be accepted as a part of your application.
14.Please list any other identity-related information you would like us to know about you (optional):
15.Why are you interested in participating in the Rising Leaders Institute at this point in your career? (200 words or less)
16.What is your vision for your professional future? How will the Rising Leaders Institute help you achieve your goals?  (200 words or less)
17.What is your vision for the future of nonprofits in your community? How does this impact the broader community? How do you see your role in achieving that vision? (200 words or less)
18.What are your expectations of the program? (200 words or less)
19.What unique skill/strength do you bring to the group? (200 words or less)
20.How do you incorporate equity, inclusion, access, and belonging into your work, and how do you approach difficult conversations related to these values? (200 words or less)
21.OPTIONAL: Please use this space to share other comments or information that would be helpful to the RLI committee in reviewing your application. (200 words or less)