The Livingston Fellowship Program provides advanced learning opportunities to promising nonprofit leaders who hold significant leadership roles in Colorado’s nonprofit sector.

This innovative professional development program reflects Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s commitment to invest in the sector’s greatest assets—its leaders. The program is named in honor of the late Johnston R. Livingston, a long-time Trustee, Chairman, and later Chairman Emeritus. Fellows are selected based on leadership ability, potential for significant and unique contributions to the nonprofit sector, track record of advancing equity and addressing structural racism in nonprofits, and interest in tapping into the discoveries that emerge through the fellowship experience to inform their leadership moving forward.

The Livingston Fellowship is a $35,000 award for senior-level leaders that recognizes past contributions to the field and enhances their leadership through formal and informal professional advancement activities. A core aspect of the program is that each fellowship plan is unique – developed by the fellow. The foundation’s role is to gently guide, suggest and encourage reflection and creativity in what incoming fellows think is possible through the fellowship.

Since the inception of the program, fellows have traveled nationally and abroad, participated in academic programs, met with other leaders in their fields, and imagined and created life-changing experiences that inspire creativity, shift their worldview and bolster resiliency and well-being. Over time, the Livingston Fellow alumni network has grown along with the peer support, learning, and connections among the group, which inspires the fellows to strive toward and lead transformative change across the Denver Metro area.

Bonfils-Stanton Foundation has been on a journey to advance equity and anti-racism in all our work, including the Livingston Fellowship program. Part of this journey requires that we continue to acknowledge our history rooted in White privilege and White supremacy and confront our harmful legacy of racism and exclusion. We are committed to interrogating the racist origins of our systems and institutions and consider its lasting impacts on the community. Bonfils-Stanton Foundation exists to serve. It is our hope that Livingston Fellows will join in and help inform this work by sharing their perspectives, lived experiences, allyship and wisdom as members of the alumni network.

Livingston Fellow Candidate Criteria

• Proven Leadership: Demonstrated impact and leadership within their field.
• Growth Potential: An awareness of areas for personal growth to explore through the Fellowship. 
• Equity Champions: A track record of advancing equity and dismantling structural racism in organizations and systems.
• Learning Readiness: An eagerness to engage in personal and professional development.
• Future Visionaries: Individuals poised to make unique and significant contributions to the sector.

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Additional qualities include:

• Intends to serve at least 7-10 years as a leader in current organization, other nonprofit organizations, and/or in a position that would have considerable influence on the sector;
• Potential to be a transformational leader and opinion-shaper within the community and with other nonprofit leaders;
• Interest in developing a deeper understanding of self and purpose as a leader;
• Committed to examining the history and culture of the sector, making significant contributions to shaping nonprofit practices and policies and exploring new solutions to the field’s complex challenges;
• Desire to share with, learn from, and meaningfully engage with community members, leaders and peers, including the Livingston Fellow alumni network; and
• Prioritize the integration of the three-year fellowship experience with personal and professional commitments.

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‍Nominations

• Candidates are identified through nominations from program alumni, community leaders and self-nominations. Nominations are accessible via Submittable from August 9 – September 16, 2022.
• At the close of the nomination period, the Foundation will notify eligible candidates of their nomination and share a copy of each nomination and endorsement received on their behalf. Nominees, outside of self-nominations, will be able to provide additional information they feel may be relevant to their candidacy. Responses will be entirely optional and not required in order to advance in the selection process.
• A selection panel composed of Colorado community leaders who bring a breadth of experience is convened to consider nominations and recommend a small group of finalists.

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Finalist Applications, Interviews & Selection

• Finalists identified by the panel are then invited to submit a full application which includes:
  • Resume
  • Responses to questions reflecting the candidate’s leadership philosophy, goals and how they meet the fellowship criteria.
  • Endorsement from the board chair of the candidate’s organization that provides assurances that the organization supports the candidate’s application and potential future fellowship plan and is prepared to address organizational management needs during the candidate’s absence.
• When feasible, interviews are conducted at the candidate’s workplace by representatives from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation staff and Livingston Fellowship alumni network.
• Fellow recommendations are considered and approved by the Board of Trustees of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation who determines each class of Livingston Fellows.

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Agreement, Orientation, Plan Development & Ongoing Engagement

• A signed agreement will be completed by all fellows and include periodic touch points with the foundation each year and a final reflection about activities conducted and funds expended over the course of the fellowship within three months of completion of the three-year fellowship award period.
• Fellows will participate in an orientation and retreats with other Fellows from their class, members of the foundation’s fellowship team and with alumni fellows during the annual retreat.
• Fellows will develop a three-year action plan and budget for review and approval by foundation staff.
• Fellows are invited to come together with other fellows during their three-year active fellowship and beyond. These activities are intended to build on their experiences and to foster a sense of community and collaboration among peers through continued exploration of issues and ideas of importance and concern to the nonprofit sector.

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We are not accepting fellowship nominations at this time. Bonfils-Stanton Foundation adopted an new strategic framework in late 2022 which includes a goal to nurture creative, transformational nonprofit leaders and artists. The next Livingston Fellowship selection cycle will begin in summer 2024 to select the Class of 2025 and will alternate every other year with the artist award.

Above is an overview of earlier selection processes. Additional questions and accessibility requests can be directed to program director, Chrissy Deal at chrissy@bonfils-stanton.org.