From Understanding to Impact

Lessons from the field

How do foundations turn their deep knowledge in a field into more effective grantmaking?

Leadership and Race

How leadership programs can help solve racial inequalities

Part of the Leadership for a New Era series, this report explores the ways in which our current thinking about leadership often contributes to producing and maintaining racialized dynamics.

Goals of the FLA

Perspectives on investing in and evaluating coaching

In this short video, evaluator Bill Ryan describes the goals and key elements of the Flexible Leadership Awards program.

Coaching can't be just for executive directors

New perspectives on funding and evaluating coaching

Janet Carter offers thoughts on how to approach coaching in a comprehensive way that will benefit every level of the organization.

Coaching on a larger scale

Practical insights on how coaching works best

David Kakishiba gives advice on what to consider when bringing in coaches to work with a number of people within an organization.

For a leader of color

How coaching works- or doesn't work- for leaders

Lina Sheth discusses how coaching helped her develop a framework for often being one of the only leaders of color at the table.

Multiple coaches in an organization

Practical insights on how coaching works best

Gail Ginder talks about the challenges and benefits of having multiple coaches and how best to manage communication and confidentiality.

Advice for other leaders

Practical insights on how coaching works best

Gilda Gonzales gives her input to other Executive Directors who are considering coaching, and talks about how to know if it’s working.

Haas, Jr. Fund’s journey with coaching

New perspectives on funding and evaluating coaching

Bill Ryan describes the FLA program's initial approach to coaching and how it evolved into a major strategy for leadership development.

Coaching is one among many strategies

New perspectives on funding and evaluating coaching

Gail Ginder shares three considerations for funders who are thinking about investing in coaching over, or in addition to, other leadership support.

Encourage leaders to invest

New perspectives on funding and evaluating coaching

Bill Ryan discusses the unique role that funders can play in overcoming the "scarcity mentality" that stops leaders from investing in coaching.

Role of supervisor

Practical insights on how coaching works best

Janet Carter describes the importance and value of the supervisor being included in setting coaching goals.

Coaches ask good questions

Practical insights on how coaching works best

Janet Carter talks about how, from the start, her coach helped her build a framework for what she would work on in coaching.

The number one consideration in choosing a coach? Chemistry.

Practical insights on how coaching works best

Janet Carter shares what she believes is the single most important criteria for picking a coach to work with.

Selecting the right coach

Practical insights on how coaching works best

There are a lot of qualified coaches out there. Gail Ginder gives advice on how to go about selecting one that's right for you.

Three key ingredients

Practical insights on how coaching works best

Based on his broader research and his evaluation of coaching in the FLA, Bill Ryan identifies the essential elements of a successful coaching engagement.

A personal reflection on the coaching process

Practical insights on how coaching works best

David Kakishiba reflects on how he and his coach worked together to develop coaching sessions that worked for him.