Executive Women of Color Leadership Program and OPTIONS Application

Women’s Fund of Central Indiana has combined the application for Executive Women of Color Leadership and OPTIONS. Below you can apply for OPTIONS Class 24 and/or the Executive Women of Color Leadership Program Cohort 3. Please note that you cannot be selected for both programs in 2025. 

Your response to the question below will determine which application you are shown. If you are apply to both programs, you must answer all of the questions. 

Women’s Fund of Central Indiana convenes, invests and advocates so all who identify as women or girls living in Central Indiana have an equitable opportunity to reach their full potential no matter their race, place or identity.

Women’s Fund’s Executive Women of Color Leadership Program is a partnership with Carolene Mays and Black Leadership + Legacies, Inc. The program is designed to develop, coach, and empower women of color to move into higher-level leadership roles, preparing them for positions of power and influence and to leave career, civic and community legacies.

The nine-month program features monthly full-day sessions, designed to:

• Develop a cohort of capable professional women of color for organizational leadership and board governance positions by refining and broadening their knowledge and leadership skills through curriculum, interactions and connections with key leaders, engagement, and community service opportunities.
• Connect a network of motivated, talented individuals who are interested in career growth, community service, generational wealth, and global and cultural awareness.
• Provide an opportunity for deeper engagement with Women’s Fund of Central Indiana.

Eligibility to apply:

To align with the Women’s Fund’s mission, an interested candidate must identify as a woman or gender expansive person of color. The cost of the program is $500.

In addition, participants must:

• Be at least 28 years old at the start of the program
• Have at least three years of full-time, work experience in a leadership and/or management position
• Have a proven track record of community involvement
• Support the missions of Women’s Fund and Black Leadership + Legacies
• Commit to attend each session for the full program day

Executive Women of Color Leadership Program Class 3 will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the exception of the Feb., Sep., and Oct. classes on the following dates:

Feb. 11 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Mar. 11
Apr. 8
May 13
Jun. 10
Jul. 8
Aug. 12
Sep. 9 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Oct. 14 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

Attendance is mandatory for the first class of the year on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Missing more than one session will result in a class member’s participation being delayed to a future year.

Participants should be prompt and stay until the end of class. Women’s Fund will commit to always starting on time and ending on time.

Application Process:

To apply and be considered for this program, you must submit:

• The application (Including uploaded resume/CV)
• Recommendation letter
• If accepted, $500 tuition fee is due Dec. 20, 2024.
• Completed application and reference forms are due by Monday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. Submit questions to Carolene@MaysInspiringLeadership.com.

Instructions:

• Answer the questions thoroughly and thoughtfully to help the Executive Women of Color Leadership Program Membership Committee get to know who you are as a person.
• Complete all sections of the application and ensure the recommendation form is completed. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• All applicants will be notified by Dec. 13, 2024 Please do not call or email to check the status before that time.
• A $500 program fee is due from participants by Dec. 20, 2024.

The mission of Women’s Fund of Central Indiana is to mobilize people, ideas and investments so every woman and girl in our community has an equitable opportunity to reach her full potential – no matter her place, race or identity.

Women’s Fund of Central Indiana’s OPTIONS program was designed to help participants get smart about critical issues impacting women and girls, and learn to use their work, wealth and wisdom to make ours a community where women and girls can thrive.

The 10-month program, featuring monthly two-hour sessions, includes guest speakers, field trips, community exploration and leadership development. Participants, age 25 and older, end the program with:

• A better understanding of gender equity and intersections with race and other identities
• A personal giving plan
• Experience in group grantmaking
• An understanding of how to better support women- and girl-serving not-for-profits as volunteers, donors and board members
• An opportunity for deeper engagement with Women’s Fund

Eligibility to apply: Interested candidates must be 25 or older and identify as a woman or non-binary femme. The cost to participate in the program is $500. Part of that fee will go towards providing grants from the class to local women-and-girl-serving organizations.

All applicants are asked to commit to being curious, open-minded and interested in the following:
– supporting the mission of Women’s Fund, its commitment to gender equity and support for women and girls in all their intersected identities;
– exploring critical issues impacting women and girls in our community;
– creating a personal giving plan; and
– contributing to a robust sector of women-and-girl-serving organizations. 

OPTIONS Class 24 will meet from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the exception of the Jan. class on the following dates:

Jan. 21 (12 p.m. – 5 p.m.)
Feb. 18
Mar. 18
Apr. 15
May 20
Jun. 17
Aug. 19
Sep. 16
Oct. 21
Nov. 18

Attendance is mandatory for the first class of the year on Jan. 21. Missing more than one session will result in a class member’s participation being delayed to a future year.

Participants should be prompt and stay until the end of class. Women’s Fund will commit to always starting on time and ending on time.

All applicants will be notified by noon on Dec. 13, 2024. Please do not call or email to check the status before that time.

By typing your name below and submitting an application, you acknowledge all of the information presented on this page is correct and will accept an invitation to participate in the Executive Women of Color Leadership Program or OPTIONS.

To complete your application, you must have the following form submitted. Please note that OPTIONS has an additional form.

Executive Women of Color Leadership Program:
Link to Letter of Recommendation Form

OPTIONS:
Link To Letter Of Recommendation Form (Please Submit Only One Recommendation)
Link To Supervisor Support Form
**If you are self-employed, please still fill out the form.