The Murdock Trust offers several coaching and leadership development opportunities through the peer cohort model. Being a leader presents unique joys and challenges, yet many leaders don’t have a chance to regularly gather with those in similar positions. In our Peer Cohorts program, leaders from across the Pacific Northwest are invited to create community around shared experiences while receiving coaching and mentorship from experienced cohort facilitators.   

Cohort Overview

The upcoming cohorts for this program are:

•  Excelling Beyond the Beginning: This cohort, launching Fall of 2024, is designed for executive director leaders who are in their 3^rd – 6^th year in their executive director role.  
•  Executive Director Leaders of Color: This cohort, launching Spring of 2025, is designed for Leaders of Color who serve in an executive director role. 

The cohorts are led by seasoned facilitators who support participants in connecting on topics that are top of mind. During each gathering, cohorts engage in honest reflection, supportive feedback, and coaching as they learn and grow together. Participants benefit by having others walk alongside them on their leadership journey. 

Facilitators

Peer cohort facilitators focus on providing insight around key leadership issues, leading deep discussions on timely and relevant topics, providing resources, and presenting emerging practices in leadership and organizational development as participants gather and grow together. Facilitators often take on the role of mentor, helping participants navigate leadership challenges with integrity. They will stay in contact with cohort members for the entire two-year program, offering support during and in-between each cohort meeting.

Learn about the individual facilitators here.

What to Expect

Each cohort will meet over the course of two years: four times in person at the Hilton in Vancouver, WA, and three times virtually.  

Excelling Beyond the Beginning

In Person 

• November 13-14, 2024 
• April 9-10, 2025 
• October 16-17, 2025 
• April 8-9, 2026 

Virtual

• January 2025 
• June 2025 
• January 2026 

Executive Director Leaders of Color

In Person 

• April 9-10, 2025 
• October 16-17, 2025 
• April 8-9, 2026 
• November 4-5, 2026 

Virtual 

• June 2025 
• January 2026 
• June 2026 

*Exact virtual dates to be determined by each cohort, with consideration for participant availability  

Cohort Criteria

In order to participate in one of our cohorts, we ask that our applicants: 

• Reside in the Murdock Trust’s geographic focus area (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) 

• Are able to commit to 100 percent attendance for the in-person and virtual meeting dates 

• Meet the participant criteria for the cohort they are applying to join (i.e. are in their 3-6^th year of an executive director role or are an executive director leader of color) 

Participation Fee and Requirements

• A one-time fee of $500 is due upon registration that follows acceptance into the cohort. This fee ensures your spot in the program and covers the cost of all session materials, meals, travel to and from Vancouver, Washington (in accordance with Murdock expense guidelines), and hotel costs for the entirety of the cohort. While we ask that each participant contribute $500 towards their cohort experience, the actual cost of the program is heavily subsidized by the Murdock Trust. 
• Cohort members must participate in the full program, including attendance at all four in-person gatherings and each of the virtual meetings, as well as completion of evaluations and surveys. 

How to Apply

The application period for the Excelling Beyond the Beginning cohort has closed. When future peer cohorts become available, we will proactively reach out to those on our waitlist. To be added to the waitlist, please sign up using this link.

Applications for the Leaders of Color cohort are open from March 1, 2024, through November 1, 2024. Space is limited to 12 individuals per cohort. Once your application has been received, our Peer Cohort program team will contact you on or before the application deadline with next steps in the application process. Apply or nominate a potential cohort participant today!

To learn more about Peer Cohorts, contact peercohorts@murdocktrust.org.