About the Career Pathways Program
Career Pathways is a leadership program that aims to awaken inherent and authentic leadership in individuals committed to strengthening their practice and building connections. This 10-month hybrid program is rigorous, highly personal, and built for mid-to senior-level philanthropic professionals. The program caters to individuals looking to advance their careers while contributing to a more equitable society. Participants will discuss philanthropic topics, as well as deep-rooted tensions within the sector, while exploring promising practices at a national level and building a community of support. The cohort will represent a wide range of foundations, grantmaking institutions, and philanthropic organizations from across the nation.
Career Pathways is the Council’s flagship leadership development program. It was launched in 2010 to increase the number of diverse candidates in senior and executive philanthropic leadership positions. Since then, the program has continued to evolve. We are moving beyond the traditional definitions of leadership and focusing on the lived experiences and practices that support and promote the recruitment and retention of people of color, individuals from marginalized communities, and their allies.
Why This Program
Career Pathways’ unique design is what makes it effective. Participants gain access to a community of peers. Together, this community will discuss timely and relevant topics in philanthropy, and explore leadership practices and organizational change strategies. The 10-month program concludes with a Leadership-In-Action Project, in which participants broadly apply what they have learned to their organization or the field of philanthropy. The program also provides structures of support for each participant to bolster their growth, including working with an executive coach to reflect and define their leadership styles and strengths.
The result: Participants graduate with a clear understanding of their authentic leadership strategy and have the enhanced skills and network to apply that strategy to their organizations and communities. Nearly 90 percent of Career Pathways graduates are now senior-level executives within foundations.
Learn More About the Program and how to Apply
Learn if Career Pathways is right for you or someone at your organization, what to expect for the 2025-26 program schedule and curriculum, and how to prepare for in the application process by joining our Career Pathways 2025-26 Program Information Session on January 15.
Have specific questions about your application? Drop in for our Career Pathways 2025-26 Application Office Hours on either January 28 or February 18.
Program Details:
Hybrid Program Schedule 2025-2026
2025
- Program Orientation – July 15-17 (virtual)
- Learning Session 1 – July 23-25*
- Learning Session 2 – October 21-23*
2026
- Learning Session 3 – January - April (virtual series)
- Learning Session 4 – May 12-14*
*In-person events
Cost
Members
Organizational Council dues $10,000 or greater
$6,800
Organizational Council dues between $3,000 and $9,999
$5,900
Organizational Council dues less than $3,000
$5,100
Nonmembers
Nonmember pricing
$8,500
