New E.D. 360
About New E.D. 360
The New E.D. 360 program is a unique mentorship, training, and peer support model that will provide new Executive Director / CEO mentees with a facilitated dialogue designed to build participants’ operational and leadership capacity and gives participants the ability to seek peer support during Executive Director (ED) onboarding in a safe, nonjudgmental atmosphere.
Experienced ED mentors offer their knowledge and expertise in a 1:1 context to help the new ED learn and grow. Experienced EDs have committed to a relationship where mutual learning and support is expected. The program includes:

Affinity Group meetings—One year of facilitated, monthly new ED peer support and peer-learning Affinity Group meetings

Training—Get training on a range of relevant topics to strengthen your skillsets and gain a deeper understanding of the local nonprofit sector


Mentorship—The opportunity to be paired with experienced Executive Director mentors for free 1:1 coaching
Reverse Mentorship—Experienced EDs get new ideas and new energy from their relationship with a new ED
New ED Mentees benefit from:
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Support in problem-solving and decision-making that they cannot get from their colleagues
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Confidence on the job
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Emotional support from peers who are going through similar experiences
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Learning leadership strategies and skills
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Developing collaborative relationships and explore approaches towards collective impact on community challenges
Applications open for new mentees and mentors!
New EDs or CEOs who have been in their role for fewer than 24 months at a Santa Clara County based nonprofit are eligible to apply. Mentee-mentor matches will be made based on alignment between mentors’ strengths and mentees’ goals, strengths, and recognized areas for professional development.
Start Date: The Cohort is expected to kick-off in March 2023 and end in February 2024.
Applications Due: January 9, 2022
Fee: $900
Thanks to our sponsors, Heritage Bank and Spectrum Small Business Advisors, we are able to offer tuition scholarships to those for whom the tuition fee presents a barrier to participation. Scholarships will be prioritized for new EDs who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)*; for organizations under $1 million budgets; and organizations with community organizing programs, lived experienced advisory boards, or other empowerment models such as maintaining designated board seats for clients.
*A note about terminology: We recognize that there is a rich dialogue about terminology such as BIPOC and that not all people self-identify with the term and may identify with more specific racial and/or ethnic identities not explicitly captured by this usage. SVCN has chosen to use this term in this context as a commonly adopted term to describe racial/ethnic groups that have been uniquely impacted by white supremacy, and specifically emphasizes Black and Indigenous people who experience structural racism differently than other people of color. We are always learning and evolving and are open to feedback as we continue to engage with the community and our nonprofit organizations around our language and impact.
Mentors Needed:
Are you an experienced ED looking to mentor new ED as a mentor? If so, please apply as a mentor!
It’s a great way to give back to the community by supporting and sharing your experience. We will provide some guidance on how to be an effective mentor and build relationships with your mentee!
Meet the 2022 Cohort
The New E.D. 360 2022 Cohort represents a wide array of nonprofits and nonprofit subsets from civic engagement and mental health organizations to affordable housing advocacy and youth organizations.
About the Cohort Facilitator, Nelson Layag

Nelson’s passionate about working alongside people and organizations who fight for justice. His understanding and love for the power a group of individuals have when they find a way to work effectively together is evident in his organizational development work with nonprofit organizations, teams, and leaders. In his 25+ years of work in organizational development, he has supported organizations in a wide range of issues that include performance management/staffing, coaching and communications, project management, organizational change, boards of directors, strategy, and leadership development. At the core of all his consulting, facilitation and training engagements is equity and justice.
Nelson is also a certified leadership coach through Leadership That Works and not only bring his coaching to individuals but also with teams. Before starting his own consulting firm in 2018, he spent 24 years at CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and served in various roles including directing the public training program, leading consulting projects, and designing and leading leadership development initiatives. He co-designed and cofacilitated CompassPoint’s Fundraising Bright Spots Program. He also provided fundraising coaching for the program’s participants. Some of his recent clients include Surge Institute, Earthjustice, ABADÁ-Capoeira, SOMA Pilipinas, Grid Alternatives, Dolores Street Community Services, the Ford Foundation, and Changelab Solutions.
2023 Cohort Sponsors


2022 Cohort Sponsors


