Greater Worcester Community Foundation is proud to announce the successful completion of Worcester County’s first cohort of Nourishing Tomorrow's Leaders (NTL), a proven leadership development program brought to the region for the first time this year.
Designed to prepare participants to become effective nonprofit board members while helping increase diverse representation on boards across the region, the pilot cohort marks an important step in strengthening inclusive leadership throughout Worcester County.
Founded more than a decade ago by The Gifford Foundation in Syracuse, NY, NTL has graduated more than 250 leaders and built a strong track record of preparing residents for meaningful board service. Worcester County is now the second region in the country to offer the program.
"I am thrilled we were able to bring Nourishing Tomorrow's Leaders to Worcester County," said Pete Dunn, President and CEO of Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
"We knew this region was ready for a program that not only teaches the mechanics of board service, but also builds confidence, community, and a shared sense of purpose. Seeing the program succeed in Syracuse, I knew NTL would be the right fit for the Worcester region."
- Pete Dunn, President & CEO of Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Sheena Solomon, creator of NTL, launched the program to address a persistent gap in nonprofit board representation. “We did not want to keep having conversations with boards about diversifying. We wanted to create a solution,” she said. "Never would I have thought NTL would be duplicated in other cities, but we are thrilled to see this successful program grow.”
NTL promotes board leadership that reflects the communities served, with attention to race, ethnicity, socio economic background, age, gender, geography, sexuality, education, lived experience, physical and cognitive ability, and religious beliefs. Worcester County’s inaugural cohort also brings a wide range of professional experience to the table, from human services to technology to arts and culture and public health.
During the graduation event, participant speaker Kelly Daige described the personal impact of the experience:
"Purpose deepened, confidence blossomed, leadership rooted. Those six words really capture what this experience has meant to me. I expected to learn about board governance. What I did not expect was how much it would shift the way I see myself and the kind of leader I want to be in this community."
- Kelly Daige, NTL Participant
NTL 2025 Graduates
The program was supported by local experts and covered topics including group dynamics, nonprofit lifecycles, conflict resolution, and effective networking. The cohort celebrated their graduation at Girls Inc., joined by friends, family, and nonprofit leaders from across Worcester County.
Graduates of this first cohort are now ready to bring their skills, lived experience, and commitment to nonprofit boardrooms throughout Worcester County. Greater Worcester Community Foundation looks forward to offering the NTL program annually to those interested in board service. To learn more, visit Nourishing Tomorrow's Leaders or subscribe to our NTL mailing list.
