Why supporting leaders matters—especially now

Imagine this: you’re working at a nonprofit, you believe deeply in the mission, and you’re making a difference in your community. However, the demand is high, resources are stretched thin, and you are continuously asked to do more with less. Then, you receive a promotion. You’re now a decision maker, you're managing people, and everyone is looking to you for answers. Stepping into a leadership role is a big deal and comes with unexpected hurdles, especially now when organizations are facing unprecedented threats, an unpredictable environment, and having to defend their missions in ways they have not had to before. On top of this, too often, new leaders inherit organizations without the infrastructure, support, or resources they need to succeed. 

Speaking from personal experience, we know that when someone steps into leadership for the first time, they are rarely asked what they need to thrive. Instead, the focus is on what the organization needs, what the community needs, or what the mission requires. Those questions matter, but so does this one: What do you need to grow as a leader?  We’ve found that asking this question can make all the difference. 

Five years ago, we began doing exactly this. We recognized a gap in the resources available to emerging nonprofit leaders—especially women of color. We wanted to help fill this gap through small, flexible grants. There was no rigid formula or lengthy list of requirements—just a casual conversation centered on what each leader needed most. Whether it was expanding relationships, accessing coaching, training, building organizational capacity, or creating space to think strategically, the goal was the same: helping leaders thrive. 

Since first asking that question in 2021, Blue Shield of California Foundation has supported the professional development of 18 leaders across California. We've also expanded our reach and inspired another funder along the way. In partnership with Visionary Women, we developed a cohort of six female nonprofit leaders. The cohort has been awarded individual grants for their leadership development in addition to yearlong cohort peer support. 

This work has become one of the most meaningful parts of our leadership development efforts because it reflects our Foundation’s values of equity, dignity, partnership, possibility, and integrity. Along the way, we’ve learned a great deal. As we reflect on the past five years, a few lessons stand out. 

Investing in leaders means listening and asking them to share what they believe they need. 

What leaders told us they needed most was professional coaching, strategic planning, and leadership training. One leader shared that working with a coach was transformative—an opportunity they had never had in more than 25 years working in public health. Others described coaching as giving them the confidence to take risks, think more creatively, and navigate complex decisions. In this work, we center leaders. We invite them to reflect on their journey and what they need to grow. We listen, as our intent is to be responsive and not prescriptive. 

At a time when nonprofit leaders are facing difficult conversations with funders, adapting their strategies, and being forced to find new sources of support, these investments have provided greater stability during periods of transition, allowed for strategic reflection at a critical time, and strengthened leaders’ confidence to guide their organizations forward. 

There is power in bringing leaders together. 

Leadership can be deeply rewarding, and it can also be incredibly isolating. It is not an easy time to be leading. We recognized this group was carrying so much responsibility—for their organizations’ missions, for their teams, and often for the hopes of their communities.

This summer, for the first time, we convened the leaders we’ve supported with a modest goal: to learn from one another and build community. One lesson we’ve returned to again and again is that no matter the challenges we’re facing, no one can take away our ability to come together—to connect, reflect, strategize, learn, and support one another. Especially during periods of uncertainty, that ability to come together becomes one of the most important sources of strength we have.  

The gathering was incredibly powerful. Participants told us they valued the opportunity to step away from the demands of their day-to-day work, prioritize their own well-being, and connect with peers who understood the unique realities of nonprofit leadership. Many reflected that leadership can feel lonely, and that creating intentional spaces for connection matters. 

Small investments can create a significant impact. 

The leaders in this program accomplished remarkable things with relatively few dollars. One leader described the grant as a catalyst for transforming their organization. With access to coaching and strategic support, they developed a 30-year strategic plan and, within just a few years, grew their annual budget from less than $50,000 to $750,000. 

Stories like these remind us that investing in leaders is one of the most effective ways to strengthen organizations and, ultimately, California communities. 

These lessons have reinforced something we believe deeply: sustaining leadership requires more than endurance. It requires investing in the person behind the role. This means creating the space for leaders to rest, heal, learn, reflect, and connect with peers. None of these are indulgent—they are essential ingredients for helping leaders stay clear, grounded, resilient, and able to lead for the long haul. 

We’re grateful to be in a position to support this work, and we are committed to building on it in the years ahead. The need for leadership support will continue, and we want every leader in our field to know this: we see you. Thank you for the leadership you show every day—often in ways that aren’t always visible but are deeply consequential. It is an honor to be in this work alongside you.