NeighborWorks America selects senior leaders for program to transform organizations

First international participant chosen

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Jul 22, 2014, 01:17 ET

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fifty participants from around the globe have been chosen for a competitive program that equips executives with the skills to advance their organizations' performance, announced NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. The participants will begin the program in October 2014.

Achieving Excellence is an intensive program in which senior leaders of nonprofit organizations each tackle the business challenge that, when met, will position their organizations to thrive and better serve residents. The program takes place over a period of 18 months, including 3 one-week sessions at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, executive coaching throughout and work in peer groups. Representing a diverse range of organizations, participants come from various fields; from nonprofits, housing authorities and other types of organizations with 3 to 5000 employees; all working to benefit their communities. For the first time, NeighborWorks America has selected an international participant, Laurice Ponting from Genesis Housing Association in London, England.

NeighborWorks America created the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, working in collaboration with Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and author Douglas K. Smith, to transform nonprofits to even more effectively and efficiently benefit their communities. NeighborWorks America has graduated almost 300 CEOs and other senior leaders since the program began in 2002.

"The Achieving Excellence Program equips leaders to increase the community impact of the work they do," explained Chuck Wehrwein, acting chief executive officer of NeighborWorks America. "It goes way beyond the typical training course to focus intensively on systemic, long-term change."

Independent evaluations have shown tremendous results for organizations that have participated in this program. In just one recent class alone, achievements by Achieving Excellence graduates included the following:

Total clients served increased by 146%.
Average total assets increased by 23%; average increase attributed to their participation in Achieving Excellence was $6,860,507 per organization with $96,047,109 cumulatively.
More than $12.3 million new income generated by 23 organizations, more than $5.5 million of which was generated through operations (fees for service, etc.)
Number of successful homeowners created increased by 15%.
Approximately 2,500 new affordable rental units developed, managed or acquired by 18 organizations
89,100 square feet new commercial space created by 7 organizations.

The program will begin with the first of three Harvard University-based sessions in October 2014 plus 2-3 additional meetings across the country. It will conclude with a forum and graduation in February 2016 at the NeighborWorks Training Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. Between sessions, participants will be working on the challenge most critical to their organizations' success, with the guidance of their executive coach and the feedback from their peer group.

For more information, visit www.nw.org/ae.

About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $19.5 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's leading trainer of community development, financial capability and affordable housing professionals.

SOURCE NeighborWorks America