United States: Livingston Fellowship Program

Deadline: 2-Jul-21

The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation is currently seeking applications for the Livingston Fellowship Program to provide advanced learning opportunities to promising nonprofit leaders who hold significant leadership roles in Colorado’s nonprofit sector. This innovative professional development program reflects the belief that no investment in the tangible assets of a nonprofit organization can equal an investment in its greatest asset—its leaders.

The program is named in honor of Johnston R. Livingston, a long-time Trustee, Chairman and later Chairman Emeritus of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. John passed away in September 2008, but his passion for innovation, entrepreneurism, and creativity continues to inspire each class of Livingston Fellows. Fellows are selected on the basis of leadership ability, potential for significant and unique contributions to the nonprofit sector, and their capacity to move from “success to significance” as leaders of people, organizations and the nonprofit sector as a result of the fellowship experience.

A core aspect of the program is that each fellowship plan is unique – developed by the fellow with guidance from the foundation and their peer fellows – allowing it to respond to specific leadership development needs. Since the inception of the program, nonprofit leaders have traveled nationally and abroad, participated in distinguished academic programs, met with prominent leaders in their fields, and worked to cultivate their creativity and innovation. Over time, the Livingston Fellow alumni network has grown along with the peer support, learning, and connections among the group, which inspires the fellows to strive toward and lead transformative change across the Front Range.

Award Information

Livingston Fellows receive awards of $35,000 to enhance their leadership skills through formal and informal professional advancement activities.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates
- Leaders of Colorado, Front Range-based 501(c)(3) arts, culture, humanities, youth development, human/social services, health, environment, and science organizations comprise the pool of potential candidates. The grantee organization cannot be classified as a governmental agency or as a community or private foundation.
- Individuals must currently be serving full-time in a senior-level, paid position with significant responsibilities for the programmatic and/or operational activities of the organization.
- In alignment with Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s commitment to equity and anti-racism, and in recognition of the historic underinvestment in Black, Indigenous, people of color and other individuals from underrepresented communities, they strongly encourage the inclusion of such leaders as both nominators and candidates.
- Candidates cannot be an employee of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, a Trustee of the Foundation, or a relative of any employee or Trustee of the Foundation.
Candidate’s Employing Organization
- Established 501(c)(3) organization in Colorado’s Front Range (not a community or private foundation);
- Fully supports the candidate’s application and has a plan for organizational management during the candidate’s absence;
- Guarantees all benefits and continues full-time employee status of the candidate during the fellowship award period.