"The Academy has been an extremely valuable use of my time. Each month we have the opportunity to sit down, face to face, over lunch and meet prospective partners in a small group setting. It's only month six and I've gotten to know folks from US Bank, JPMorgan Chase, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, S. Mark Taper Foundation, Hitachi, Comerica, Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, The Weingart Foundation, Enterprise, Carol & James Collins Foundation, Crail-Johnson Foundation, Verizon, and Raytheon."
- Seth Eklund, Executive Director, Bresee Foundation, 2012 Academy Senior Fellow
First-Year Fellowship Applications for the Class of 2013 will be available July 1, 2012
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
-
Be currently employed as an Executive Director or Senior Manager (i.e. Program Director, Development Director, Operations Director) with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt after-school program serving low-income, at-risk youth in Los Angeles County, preferably with operating budgets less than $1 million.
- Demonstrate a commitment to “leading beyond their own walls” through partnerships and collaboration.
- Be willing and able to actively participate with all Academy learning and coaching sessions (see below) and complete all Academy post-session assignments.
Program Requirements:
- Actively participate with all 9 Academy Roundtables and 1 all-day Academy Retreat
(9:30 AM - 2:30 PM) on the following dates:
| January 25 |
After-School Issues & Trends |
| February 29 |
Effective After-School Programs |
| March 28 |
Strategic Thinking |
| April 25 |
Leadership Development |
| May 23 |
Board Development |
| June 27 |
Staff Development |
| July 25 |
Fiscal Management |
| August 22 |
Marketing & Communications |
| September 26 |
Fundraising & Resource Development |
| October 24 |
Retreat (all-day, out-of-area) |
Note: Any absences must be approved prior to the start of the program year.
- Participate with at least 3 one-on-one coaching sessions with experienced leadership coaches.
- Conduct 1 site visit at your after-school program for Foundation Board, Advisory Council members (many of whom are funders) and staff.
Selection Process:
Stage 1: Completed applications are screened by Foundation staff and the Academy Fellows Program Selection Committee.
Stage 2: Applicants are notified if they have been selected for a personal interview. The selection committee selects Academy Fellows and alternates after the interviews and written notifications are mailed/e-mailed by December 15.
The deliberations of the selection committee are confidential and final. All applications become the property of City Scholars Foundation® If you have questions, please call 213.627.1792 or e-mail: info@cityscholars.org.
Selection Criteria:
The Academy Fellowship Selection Committee, involving the Foundation's Board of Directors, selects the most qualified applicants based on a written application, recommendation letters/evaluation and, if requested, applicant interviews.
Committee members look for:
- Demonstrated commitment to exemplary leadership in closing the achievement gap for low-income and at-risk youth in Los Angeles County
- Effective written and oral communication skills
- Strong Interpersonal skills
- Characteristics necessary for effective partnership and collaborative learning or problem-solving, including flexibility, initiative, adaptability and maturity
- Academic and professional achievement
- Commitment to continuing professional education
