Annenberg Alchemy is a free capacity building and leadership development program designed to assist small to midsize nonprofit organizations and their leaders in the Greater LA region.
Our newest Alchemy aims to reach Black aspiring nonprofit leaders, align Black executive directors and board chairs, and connect them to resources that will support their ability to lead organizations and produce results, which in turn will help them build healthy, resilient, and extraordinary communities.
Alchemy’s signature course and the first phase of Alchemy’s leadership training. Alchemy’s focus is on the working relationship between the Executive Director and the Board Chair, which is why the presence of both parties at all training sessions is required.
Designed to ensure nonprofit leaders are equipped with the best practices to help them thrive, deliver on their mission, and to fundraise competitively.
The Annenberg Foundation, partnering with the growing tech sector and the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network, hosts this annual technology capacity-building training for nonprofit organizations in the Greater LA region.
Through a special 10-year partnership with CNN, the Annenberg Foundation provided free nonprofit leadership training for the Top 10 CNN Heroes. Participants experienced a customized version of Annenberg Alchemy Fundamentals to meet their dynamic organizational needs.
Annenberg Alchemy is a free capacity building and leadership development program designed to assist small to midsize Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations and their leaders. Our training team represents seasoned and trusted professionals from the social impact sector. With their expertise we continue to strengthen our curricula annually, developing insightful, relevant and compelling content for our nonprofit partners each year. Below you’ll find their individual backgrounds and work experience.
Alchemy Fundamentals and Alchemy+ focus on the alignment of the Executive Director and Board Chair’s goals, roles and responsibilities in relation to each other, providing the catalyst for change for the entire organization. Among the central issues addressed in Alchemy are effective fundraising, board governance, and financial literacy. Alchemy Fundamentals is Alchemy’s signature course and the first phase of training. Alchemy+ is the higher level course for graduates of Leadership Seminar who want to take their learning further. Both Alchemy Fundamentals and Alchemy+ consist of three or four full-day sessions where organizations are selected through a competitive application process (please see eligibility criteria). Alchemy Leadership Labs are half-day workshops and webinars focusing on a variety of capacity building topics. The labs do not require an application process and are open to all qualified 501(c)(3) organizations and fiscally sponsored organizations on a first come, first served basis.
All Alchemy offerings are free to attend. The sole cost of Alchemy Fundamentals and Alchemy+ is the full participation of an organization’s Executive Director and Board Chair.
For Alchemy Fundamentals and Alchemy+, both the Executive Director and Board Chair are required to attend all sessions. Full participation by both the Executive Director and Board Chair is the main requirement.
To be eligible for Alchemy Fundamentals, your organization must: 1) be a qualified 501(c)(3) public charity, 2) located in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino or Riverside County, and 3) have a functioning Board of Directors/Trustees. Although all interested nonprofit leaders meeting the eligibility requirements listed above may apply, the following criteria will also be used to determine the final selections for participation: 1) has the organization served the needs of the local community for at least three years? 2) has the Executive Director served at least two years in his/her role? 3) does the organization operate with an annual budget of $5 million or less? 4) does the organization support under-served and under-capitalized communities of Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino or Riverside County?
Yes. Alchemy Leadership Labs are open to current participants of Alchemy Fundamentals and Alchemy+.
Alchemy is only open to nonprofit agencies and community-based organizations in the five-county region of Greater Los Angeles that have obtained registered nonprofit status with the IRS.
If both the Executive Director and the Board Chair of your organization participated in Alchemy Fundamentals (formerly Leadership Seminar) in the past, you are eligible to apply to Alchemy+. However, if, like many organizations, you have had changes in your Executive Director or Board Chair positions since your participation in Alchemy Fundamentals, we encourage you to re-apply for the Fundamentals training.
Depending on the session, some Alchemy Leadership Labs will be available to view in a real-time online format. For those labs that are not livestreamed, a waiting list will be available.
No. Only participants who completed Alchemy Fundamentals are eligible to apply for Alchemy+.
There is no grant or other compensation associated with Alchemy.
Alchemy is open to all qualified organizations regardless of their grant history with the Annenberg Foundation. We are not giving any preference to organizations on the basis of past, current or future funding decisions.
Yes, your organization will receive full consideration. Participation in Alchemy is not contingent on grantseeking history with the Annenberg Foundation. If you were declined for a grant in the past, but meet the qualifications for participating in Alchemy, we encourage you to apply.
No. Alchemy is not associated with our grantmaking in any way other than the possible award of a small capacity building grant for our Alchemy+ graduates. However, our goal is that your participation in Alchemy training will increase your organization’s ability to compete for resources from any possible funding source.
Call us at (213) 403-3030 or email [email protected].
