1. Full Program Description

Program Overview

The Black Civic Leadership Initiative is a comprehensive, multi-year effort to build, support,
and sustain a powerful pipeline of Black civic leaders. The initiative develops community members’ civic skills,
prepares them to serve on boards and commissions and in public office, and strengthens intergenerational
mentorship and leadership networks.

Core Goals:

• Develop Black civic leadership by training at least 300 community leaders through a Civic Leadership Academy.
• Support Black candidates for boards, commissions, and public office.
• Deepen mentorship and leadership networks that connect emerging and experienced leaders.

Program Components

Civic Leadership Academy

The Civic Leadership Academy is a structured training program that equips emerging Black leaders with the
knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage effectively in civic life and public decision-making.

• Civic literacy and understanding of local, state, and federal systems
• Policy analysis and issue advocacy
• Public speaking, storytelling, and media engagement
• Community organizing and coalition-building
• Ethical leadership and accountability
• Boards, commissions, and public office pathways

The program will train at least 300 leaders through cohorts, intensive workshops, and
ongoing coaching and support.

Boards, Commissions, and Public Office Pathways

This component focuses on turning civic leadership readiness into concrete representation on boards,
commissions, advisory councils, and elected offices.

• Candidate readiness and governance training
• Database and alerts for board and commission openings
• Application and interview support
• Connections to endorsers, partners, and community organizations
• Peer circles for those currently serving in public roles

Mentorship and Leadership Network

The initiative builds a durable network of mentors, peers, and institutional partners to sustain Black leaders
over time.

• Mentorship cohorts pairing emerging leaders with experienced civic leaders
• Quarterly leadership summits and networking events
• Digital Leadership Network Hub for ongoing communication, resource sharing, and collaboration
• Affinity groups (e.g., young leaders, women, faith-based leaders, issue-focused groups)

Target Population

The initiative primarily serves Black community members who:

• Demonstrate interest in civic participation, community change, and leadership
• Have lived experience with inequities and underrepresentation
• May lack access to traditional political networks, mentorship, and training

Intended Impact

• Increased civic literacy and leadership capacity among Black residents
• Expanded pool of qualified Black leaders prepared to serve in public roles
• Greater representation of Black leaders on boards, commissions, and in public office
• Strengthened intergenerational leadership networks and cross-sector collaboration
• Policy and systems changes driven by leaders rooted in Black communities

2. Strategic Roadmap

This roadmap assumes a 3-year initiative. Timelines can be adjusted to match your actual context.

Year 1: Foundation & Pilot

Year 2: Scale & Integration

Year 3: Sustainability & Deepening Impact

3. Grant Proposal Section

Need Statement

Black communities experience persistent underrepresentation in civic leadership, from local boards and
commissions to elected office. This underrepresentation contributes to policies and decisions that do not
fully reflect Black communities’ priorities, lived experiences, or expertise. Barriers include limited access
to leadership training, scarcity of mentors and networks, and opaque pathways into public service roles.

The Black Civic Leadership Initiative responds to this gap by providing a structured,
culturally grounded pipeline that identifies, trains, connects, and supports Black leaders as they step into
roles of civic power and influence.

Program Goals & Objectives

• Goal 1: Develop Black Civic Leadership.
  • Objective 1.1: Train at least 300 Black community leaders through the Civic Leadership Academy over the grant period.
  • Objective 1.2: Increase participants’ civic knowledge and leadership confidence by at least 30% as measured by pre- and post-assessments.
• Goal 2: Increase Representation on Boards, Commissions, and in Public Office.
  • Objective 2.1: Support at least 75 program alumni to apply for boards and commissions.
  • Objective 2.2: Achieve placement of at least 40 alumni on boards, commissions, advisory councils, or in elected roles.
• Goal 3: Deepen Mentorship and Leadership Networks.
  • Objective 3.1: Establish mentorship cohorts connecting at least 100 emerging leaders with experienced civic leaders.
  • Objective 3.2: Build an active Leadership Network Hub engaging at least 200 leaders annually.

Activities

• Design and deliver Civic Leadership Academy cohorts (in-person, virtual, or hybrid).
• Conduct workshops on governance, campaign basics, policy advocacy, and media engagement.
• Provide one-on-one coaching and office hours for participants and alumni.
• Maintain a live database of board and commission opportunities and distribute regular opportunity alerts.
• Host quarterly summits, networking events, and roundtables with partners and mentors.
• Operate a digital Leadership Network Hub for resource sharing and collaboration.

Outcomes

• Short-term: Increased civic knowledge, leadership skills, and confidence among participants.
• Intermediate: More Black leaders serving on boards, commissions, and in public office; stronger networks.
• Long-term: Equitable representation in decision-making bodies and policies that better reflect Black communities’ needs and priorities.

Sustainability

The initiative is designed for long-term sustainability through multi-year funding, partnerships with
institutions that benefit from diverse leadership, and the formation of an alumni network that helps mentor
and recruit future cohorts. Over time, alumni will contribute back to the program as trainers, mentors, and
donors, reinforcing a self-sustaining leadership ecosystem.

4. Slide Deck Outline

Each bullet represents suggested content for one slide.

1. Title Slide
   Black Civic Leadership Initiative
   Tagline, logo, and presenter information.
2. Problem & Context
   Underrepresentation of Black leaders in civic roles; impact on policy and community outcomes.
3. Vision & Mission
   Vision of equitable civic leadership; mission statement of the initiative.
4. Program Goals
   1) Develop Black civic leadership, 2) Support Black candidates for boards and public office, 3) Deepen mentorship networks.
5. Civic Leadership Academy
   Overview of curriculum, cohort model, and target of 300 leaders trained.
6. Boards, Commissions & Public Office Pathways
   Training, opportunities database, application support, placements.
7. Mentorship & Leadership Network
   Mentorship cohorts, summits, Leadership Network Hub, alumni community.
8. Strategic Roadmap
   Year 1–3: foundation, scale, and sustainability.
9. Metrics & Evaluation
   Key indicators: participants trained, placements, network engagement, policy impact.
10. Stories of Impact (Case Examples)
    Profiles of leaders who advanced to boards, commissions, and public office.
11. Partnerships & Community Engagement
    Government, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, grassroots groups.
12. Budget & Sustainability
    High-level budget categories and plan for long-term funding and scaling.
13. Call to Action
    Ways funders, partners, and community members can support and participate.

5. Metrics & Evaluation Plan

Evaluation Approach

The initiative will use a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative data (e.g., participation and
placement counts) with qualitative data (e.g., interviews, stories, and case studies) to measure progress and impact.

Key Metrics

Data Collection Methods

• Surveys: Online or paper pre/post surveys for all participants.
• Tracking systems: Centralized database of applications, placements, and leadership roles.
• Focus groups & interviews: Annual conversations with participants, alumni, mentors, and partners.
• Document review: Review of meeting minutes, policies, and public decisions where alumni are involved.

Learning & Continuous Improvement

Data will be reviewed regularly by staff and advisors to identify trends and opportunities. Findings will inform
improvements to curriculum, recruitment, support services, and partnership strategies. An annual impact report
will share key results with funders, partners, and community stakeholders.

6. Logic Model / Theory of Change

Theory of Change (Narrative)

If Black community members have access to high-quality civic leadership training, clear pathways into boards,
commissions, and public office, and strong mentorship and leadership networks, then they will be more likely
to step into and succeed in civic leadership roles. As more Black leaders serve in positions of power and
influence, decision-making bodies will become more representative and accountable, leading to policies and
systems that better reflect and serve Black communities. Over time, this will contribute to more equitable
outcomes in areas such as education, housing, health, and economic opportunity.

Logic Model