Greater Worcester Community Foundation Celebrates First Local Cohort of “Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders
WORCESTER, MA — November 25, 2025 — The Greater Worcester Community Foundation recently marked a milestone for local leadership development with the graduation of Worcester County’s first cohort of Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders (NTL). The program, brought to the region for the first time this year, equips participants to serve as effective nonprofit board members while promoting diverse and inclusive leadership across the county.
Originally founded more than a decade ago by The Gifford Foundation in Syracuse, NY, NTL has graduated over 250 leaders nationwide. Worcester County is now the second region in the country to offer the program.
“I am thrilled we were able to bring Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders to Worcester County,” said Pete Dunn, President and CEO of Greater Worcester Community Foundation. “We knew this region was ready for a program that not only teaches the mechanics of board service, but also builds confidence, community, and a shared sense of purpose.”
NTL was created by Sheena Solomon to address ongoing gaps in nonprofit board representation. “We did not want to keep having conversations with boards about diversifying. We wanted to create a solution,” she said. “Never would I have thought NTL would be duplicated in other cities, but we are thrilled to see this successful program grow.”
The inaugural Worcester cohort reflects diverse professional and personal experiences, from human services and public health to technology, arts, and culture. Participants explored topics such as group dynamics, nonprofit lifecycles, conflict resolution, and effective networking, with guidance from local experts.
At the graduation event at Girls Inc., participants, family members, and nonprofit leaders gathered to celebrate the cohort’s achievements. Participant Kelly Daige described the program’s impact:
“Purpose deepened, confidence blossomed, leadership rooted. Those six words really capture what this experience has meant to me. I expected to learn about board governance. What I did not expect was how much it would shift the way I see myself and the kind of leader I want to be in this community.”
Graduates are now prepared to bring their skills, experience, and commitment to nonprofit boardrooms throughout Worcester County. The Greater Worcester Community Foundation plans to continue offering NTL annually for those interested in board service.
See Full Press Release Below.
Greater Worcester Community Foundation Celebrates First Worcester County Cohort of Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders
WORCESTER, MA, November 25, 2025
Greater Worcester Community Foundation is proud to announce the successful completion of Worcester County’s first cohort of Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders (NTL), a proven leadership development program brought to the region for the first time this year.
Designed to prepare participants to become effective nonprofit board members while helping increase diverse representation on boards across the region, the pilot cohort marks an important step in strengthening inclusive leadership throughout Worcester County.
Founded more than a decade ago by The Gifford Foundation in Syracuse, NY, NTL has graduated more than 250 leaders and built a strong track record of preparing residents for meaningful board service. Worcester County is now the second region in the country to offer the program.
“I am thrilled we were able to bring Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders to Worcester County,” said Pete Dunn, President and CEO of Greater Worcester Community Foundation. “We knew this region was ready for a program that not only teaches the mechanics of board service, but also builds confidence, community, and a shared sense of purpose. Seeing the program succeed in Syracuse, I knew NTL would be the right fit for the Worcester region.”
Sheena Solomon, creator of NTL, launched the program to address a persistent gap in nonprofit board representation. “We did not want to keep having conversations with boards about diversifying. We wanted to create a solution,” she said. “Never would I have thought NTL would be duplicated in other cities, but we are thrilled to see this successful program grow.”
NTL promotes board leadership that reflects the communities served, with attention to race, ethnicity, socio economic background, age, gender, geography, sexuality, education, lived experience, physical and cognitive ability, and religious beliefs. Worcester County’s inaugural cohort also brings a wide range of professional experience to the table, from human services to technology to arts and culture and public health.
During the graduation event, participant speaker Kelly Daige described the personal impact of the experience: “Purpose deepened, confidence blossomed, leadership rooted. Those six words really capture what this experience has meant to meI expected to learn about board governance. What I did not expect was how much it would shift the way I see myself and the kind of leader I want to be in this community.”
The program was supported by local experts and covered topics including group dynamics, nonprofit lifecycles, conflict resolution, and effective networking. The cohort celebrated their graduation at Girls Inc., joined by friends, family, and nonprofit leaders from across Worcester County.
Graduates of this first cohort are now ready to bring their skills, lived experience, and commitment to nonprofit boardrooms throughout Worcester County. Greater Worcester Community Foundation looks forward to offering the NTL program annually to those interested in board service. To learn more, visit Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders or subscribe to our NTL mailing list.
Media Contact
Melody MacLean
Senior Director of Communications
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
About Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Greater Worcester Community Foundation is central Massachusetts’ leading community foundation, employing its expertise and resources to address the region’s most urgent needs. Since 1975, it has worked in partnership with donors to build a $200 million endowment composed of more than 600 named charitable funds and award over $167 million in grants that have helped transform communities and build a strong and vibrant region. For more information on the Foundation’s programs and how to give, please visit www.greaterworcester.org.
For more information about the program or to subscribe to updates, visit Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders.
About Greater Worcester Community Foundation:
Founded in 1975, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation is Central Massachusetts’ leading community foundation. The Foundation manages over $200 million in charitable funds and has awarded more than $167 million in grants to strengthen the region. For more information, visit www.greaterworcester.org.
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