Leadership today is not about holding everything together alone. It is about holding bold, courageous space—to grow, reflect, and lead together.
The 2026 Collective Leadership and Action (CLA) Initiative is a Partners for Health Foundation–sponsored experience designed to support leaders navigating real pressure in real time.
Purpose
The 2026 CLA advances the Foundation’s mission and strategic priorities by investing in the people who steward systems, lead organizations, and serve communities under real and rising pressure. It responds to the reality that leadership today requires more than technical skill; it demands courage, reflection, accountability, and sustained support.
Why This Matters
Leaders are carrying heavy loads: systems strain, moral fatigue, political headwinds, and communities whose needs cannot wait. CLA begins by naming that reality—and then moves intentionally toward action.
Nonprofit leaders are tasked with holding impossible systems together—and we understand that true sustainability demands leadership support, not just financial resources.
Why Now
Leaders across our grantee network have shared that they are navigating systems strain, moral fatigue, political headwinds, and growing community needs. This initiative marks a threshold moment: a shift from constant urgency to intentional leadership development that strengthens individuals, organizations, and the broader ecosystem.
What to Expect
- A brave and accountable space grounded in respect, confidentiality, and collective voice and responsibility
- Experiential learning that moves beyond theory into lived leadership practice
- Honest dialogue about equity, power, scarcity, and impact
- Shared knowledge, best practices, and practical tools with commitments that translate insight into action
- A community of practice that shares passion, concern, and regularly interacts to learn how to do their work better
Outcomes
Leaders leave with increased capacity to:
- Resource each other to establish strategic partnerships
- Lead amid complexity, conflict, and constraint
- Translate values into disciplined, actionable decisions
- Build momentum that is sustainable
- Strengthen organizational and community impact
Our Commitment
We are committed to walking alongside grantees through success and struggle, supporting not only programs, but the leaders and systems that make long-term change possible.
This is leadership for the moment we are in—and the future we are building together.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What is the 2026 Collective Leadership and Action Initiative?
An experience designed to support grantee leaders and partners as they address complex challenges while advancing mission-driven work. This program is about sharpening your edge, expanding your influence, and stepping into leadership that lasts.
Who is this initiative for?
This initiative is designed for executive leaders, senior staff, and key organizational decision-makers within the Foundation’s grantee network.
What makes this different from traditional leadership programs?
This is not a lecture series or a one-size-fits-all training. Learning is experiential, grounded in real challenges, and focused on how leaders actually show up under pressure. The work emphasizes accountability, courage, and practical application.
What topics will be addressed?
Participants will engage issues such as equity, power, scarcity, leadership impact, food insecurity, healthcare access, and social determinants of health—always connected to real-world leadership decisions.
What is expected of participants?
Participants are asked to engage fully, reflect honestly, respect confidentiality, and commit to applying insights within their organizations and communities. They are expected to attend one in-person launch and five learning sessions—three in person and two virtual—held from February through November.
Will this create an additional burden for leaders?
The initiative is intentionally designed to support forward motion. The focus is on disciplined, value-aligned actions, no grandstanding, no saviorism.
How does this support organizational impact?
By strengthening leadership capacity, decision-making, and alignment, the initiative supports healthier organizations and more resilient systems that better serve communities.
What does participation unlock?
After completing the program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion/Responsibility recognizing their commitment to courageous leadership, growth, and collective action. More than a credential, this experience signals readiness—for clearer strategies, and leadership that holds under pressure.