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One of our core values at DRG is investing in the donor relations profession, and that includes the current and next generation of leadership. Our industry needs leaders poised to embrace change and take on the challenges of tomorrow — trailblazers who inspire an expectation of excellence among their teams.
At DRG, we have decades of experience leading successful teams and working alongside leaders of all kinds. We know what works and what doesn't, the impact extraordinary leadership can have on an organization, and the skills and characteristics that are common among the best and most inspiring supervisors. That's why we created The Leadership Experience (LX) — our exclusive professional development program designed to help you become the leader you are meant to be.
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The LX program is made up of two distinct cohorts — Distinguished Leaders and Rising Stars. Learn more about the structure, application process, and investment for each program below. Are you ready to join the Leadership Experience?
The Leadership Experience
The Keys to Becoming an Extraordinary Leader
Distinguished Leaders Program
Created for professionals who are committed to strategic donor relations, the Distinguished Leaders cohort is for those who know how to do the work and want to take the next step and elevate their leadership skills.
Every member of the Distinguished Leaders cohort will go through an application process — they will be screened and selected by the cohort facilitators. Only 20 applicants will be selected for this cohort and it will run from August 1, 2024 until June 30, 2025.
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Each member will be paired with a DRG expert to allow for small group coaching and personalized interaction (groups will be curated by type of organization and area of focus).
Here is what you will receive as a member of the Distinguished Leaders Cohort:
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Five, 90-minute virtual meetings featuring focused learning, thought-leadership, conversations, and breakout sessions with DRG in the following areas*:
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
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Talent Management and Retention
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Strategic Decision Making
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State/Future of the Industry
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Crowd-Sourced Problem Solving
- ​Note: This cohort does not include formal presentations—meetings will be made up of cultivated content delivered through conversation.
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Five, 60-minute ideation and crowd-sourced problem solving sessions hosted by DRG facilitators and/or Distinguished Leaders alumni.
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A weekend-long in-person gathering in a location TBD (cost of the program includes the in-person experience but does not include travel/lodging costs)
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This program also includes:
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A recording from each session that will be documented and shared with members of the cohort
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A digital DRG Distinguished Leader Certification Badge to share on LinkedIn or other professional profiles
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Exclusive discounts on all DRG products and services, including digital products, consulting, and conferences
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*This is a tentative outline for conversations included in this cohort. Final topics and discussions will be informed by the members of the cohort and will be finalized based on member feedback.
Your Investment
A year-long membership in the Distinguished Leaders program is $2,000. It's truly one of the best investments you can make in your future — both personally, and for your organization. You'll receive personalized leadership training and support from our team of innovative leaders, and an exclusive in-person experience with DRG and other members of your cohort. Plus, you’ll build a strong network of peers committed to strategic donor relations.
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Limited scholarships are available. Applicants who are interested in scholarship support can express their need within the scholarship application by answering two questions. Please understand we cannot award scholarships to all applicants who express need.
How to Apply
All cohort members must meet the following requirements:
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Currently occupy a Director level or above position, or have 7+ years of experience in donor relations
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Complete the Distinguished Leaders application by June 14, 2024
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Agree to contribute materials to the cohort (examples of policies, procedures, communications pieces, hosted talk, etc.)
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Have a firm understanding of the 4 Pillars of Donor Relations framework
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Scholarship recipients (we will choose 4) must agree to document their entire cohort experience to share with all members
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Application Process:
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Applications will be accepted from May 13, 2024—June 14, 2024. Click here to view a sample application.
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The cohort facilitators will select 20 participants —including a maximum of 4 scholarship recipients—and inform all applicants of their decision by June 30, 2024. The cohort will begin on August 1, 2024 and continue through June 30, 2025.
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Rave Reviews
Rising Stars Program
The Rising Stars program is designed for professionals with a minimum of three years of experience in the field who are looking to take on their first leadership opportunity. This program provides discipline-focused leadership training that will prepare you for the next step in your career.
The program begins in August 2024 and will conclude in May of 2025. This 10-month cohort learning program will provide participants with the opportunity to:
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Work with industry leaders to advance your skill set and grow professionally with a cohort of talented peers
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Earn CFRE continuing education points focused on the donor relations discipline
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Build your network of donor relations professionals across North America
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Tackle challenges and obstacles with a team-centered approach, giving your organization valuable industry insights and benchmarking solutions
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Gain the skills to assess the state of your donor relations program as well as your own professional toolbox to grow not only your organization's program, but also your career!
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Actively participate in 10 monthly meetings (held via Zoom) as well as asynchronous discussion boards and independent reading (via Basecamp). Participants should come prepared to engage in active, respectful discussion at each meeting and complete every asynchronous assignment. Meeting and discussion topics will include:
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Transitioning from donor relations professional to donor relations leader​
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Identifying strengths and creating your own style of leadership
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Management of the Four Pillars of Donor Relations
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Inclusive Leadership
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Donor Relations Strategy
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Data Driven Decision Making in Donor Relations
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Having tough conversations
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Building your career in donor relations
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Leading up, Sideways, and All Around
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Emerging trends and practices in donor relations
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This program also includes:
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A recording from each session that will be documented and shared with members of the cohort
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A digital DRG Rising Stars Certification Badge to share on LinkedIn or other professional profiles
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Exclusive discounts on all DRG products and services, including digital products, consulting, and conferences
Your Investment
Tuition for the Rising Stars program is $2,000 per participant. A small number of full-tuition scholarships will be available. Applicants who are interested in scholarship support will be able to express their need within the scholarship application by answering two questions. Please understand we cannot award scholarships to all applicants who express need. This investment provides you with 10 hours of leadership training, support from our team of mentors, and a network of others in the field with shared experience. BONUS: You'll be ready to absolutely rock that leadership opportunity you've been waiting for!
How to Apply
All cohort members must meet the following requirements:
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Currently have 3+ years of experience in donor relations
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Complete the Rising Stars application by June 14
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Agree to contribute materials to the cohort (examples of policies, procedures, communications pieces, hosted talk, etc.)
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Have a firm understanding of the 4 Pillars of Donor Relations framework
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We recommend all applicants discuss their desire to participate with supervisors and leadership to ensure budgetary support for the program. Need help pitching this opportunity to leadership? We have you covered! Here's a letter you can share with them.
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Application Process:
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Applications will be accepted from May 13, 2024—June 14, 2024. Click here to view a sample application.
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To ensure an engaging, personalized experience, not all applicants will be accepted for this year's cohort.
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All applicants will be notified of admission status by June 30.
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The cohort will begin on August 1, 2024 and conclude in May 2025.
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Additional questions? Email colton@donorrelations.com.
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