Next Level is a program that connects BIPOC executive directors serving BIPOC communities with peer support, professional expertise, and executive coaching so that you can emerge a stronger and more confident leader. Through one-on-one mentorship and small peer group discussions, you will learn how to increase organizational effectiveness and achieve greater sustainability.
We pair executive directors with experienced BIPOC mentors who will:
- Serve as a confidential sounding board and professional advisor
- Help you triage organizational priorities
- Work with you to develop tactical plans
- Provide professional coaching and support along the way
Monthly peer group sessions will be held online and include subject matter experts who can answer your questions related to:
- Fundraising
- Financial management
- Human resources
- Board governance
- And more!
During discussions with your mentor and peer group gatherings, you will gain new skills and insight into strategies and resources to help you take your organization to new heights!
Watch our video to listen to testimonies from previous participants:
Time Commitment
Next Level is a 6-month partnership. If accepted into the program, you will be asked to complete our Five Elements of a Healthy Nonprofit self-assessment. This will give both you and your mentor an idea of where to focus your conversations. When the assessment is complete, you and your mentor will meet on a monthly basis to discuss priorties and develop a work plan for increasing organizational effectiveness, sustainability, and growth.
Each month will include a one-on-one meeting with your mentor and one peer group learning session with a subject matter expert.
Who can participate?
The program will focus on organizations that based in or who are primarily serving BIPOC communities or other underrepresented groups. Thanks to the Seattle Foundation and 501 Commons donors, this program is free to organizations in King County.
What do Next Level organizations have to say?
Bookie Gates, executive director of Baseball Beyond Borders, had this to say about Next Level:
"The Next Level cohort has given us that ability to build on the one staff that we currently have in place to then add multiple staff that will function in various lanes to support community development and academic enrichment. The Next Level program is a learning community that I think is going to take Baseball Beyond Borders and the other organizations in the cohort to another level, providing them with the opportunity to create meaningful and long-lasting impact within their community."
Apply Today!
To learn more about the 2026 cohort, please contact Jan Burrell, at jan@501commons.org.