Are you a passionate leader dedicated to making a difference in a Virginia nonprofit organization? Here’s an incredible opportunity to broaden your enterprise perspective and elevate your leadership impact! The University of Virginia Darden School Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the prestigious Commonwealth Fellowships for our renowned advanced management experience, The Executive Program (TEP), for the 2025-2026 session, commencing this fall.
These fellowships, valued at $46,948 each, will be awarded to two exceptional leaders currently working within the Virginia nonprofit sector. This is your chance to participate in a transformative and immersive six-month experience alongside top-ranked faculty and a diverse cohort of peers – at the #1 public business school.
Applications are available now, and the deadline to apply or refer a colleague is May 23, 2025.
“Today’s nonprofit leaders face the same challenges as for-profit leaders, and often, with fewer resources. We wanted to provide an opportunity for nonprofit leaders to develop a broader, more holistic perspective on leadership, and TEP provides the ideal environment and experience to do that,” says Ashley Williams, CEO and CLO of Executive Education & Lifelong Learning. She emphasizes the value TEP brings to nonprofit leaders, stating, “One of the biggest differentiators of our advanced executive leadership program is its immersive and holistic approach. By that I mean we are shaping leaders from the inside out—we have a wellness and fitness component to our program. You are also assigned a personal coach who works with you on your specific needs and areas of professional development.”
TEP features two impactful two-week in-person modules in Charlottesville and the DC Metro area, complemented by a virtual module where participants work through a personal business challenge with guidance from faculty.
Recipients from the first two years of the Fellowship include:
- Ravi Respeto (TEP ‘24), President & CEO, United Way of Greater Charlottesville
- Athena Gould (TEP ‘24), Deputy Director, Virginia Humanities
- Ethan Long (TEP ‘25), President & CEO, VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment
- Sean Lanier (TEP ‘25), Founder & Executive Director, Resolve Solutions Incorporated
From their experiences, they highlighted the program’s academic rigor, practical application, and the invaluable network of peers and faculty. “We built a strong camaraderie,” said Gould, “Everyone is kind and supportive and really intelligent, and so I think that relationship is going to continue long after the program. These are connections that you can’t put a price on.”
Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to invest in your leadership journey and amplify your impact within the Virginia nonprofit community. Applications are open and the deadline to apply is May 23, 2025. While the fellowship covers a significant portion of the tuition, a $12,000 administrative fee will apply. Selected recipients will be informed by June 1, 2025.
Ready to take your leadership to the next level? Learn more and apply for the Commonwealth Fellowship today at https://cloud.learn.darden.virginia.edu/ee-tep-fellowship
