New Sector Alliance

Leadership development doesn't stop at personal growth. It amplifies voices.

The IFN 2026 Impact Study highlights a powerful outcome of fellowship experiences: leaders gain the confidence to step into the public sphere, advocate for their communities, and influence conversations that matter. 💫

Confidence isn't a "soft skill." It's what enables leaders to communicate change, build trust, and inspire action. When fellows find their voice, their impact extends far beyond their organizations...it reaches communities, policymakers, partners, and the public.

That's the ripple effect of investing in leadership: stronger voices, stronger communities, and greater impact. 👏

Read more in the IFN 2026 Impact Study: https://www.irex.org/resource/impact-fellowships-network-ifn-2026-impact-study

The social sector asks a lot of its leaders. Long hours. Complex challenges. Constant change.

So what helps people stay?

Sometimes, it's not another strategy or benefit. It's community.

The IFN 2026 Impact Study found that one of the most enduring outcomes of fellowship experiences is the network of peers leaders build...relationships that continue to provide encouragement, perspective, and support long after the program ends.

When leaders know they aren't navigating the work alone, they're more likely to stay, grow, and continue creating impact. Investing in leadership isn't just about developing individuals...it's about building the communities that sustain them for the long haul.

Read more in the IFN 2026 Impact Study: https://www.irex.org/resource/impact-fellowships-network-ifn-2026-impact-study

Leadership impact isn't confined to the people who participate in a fellowship...it can reshape the organizations they lead. ⭐

One of the themes that emerged from the IREX IFN 2026 Impact Study is that fellowship experiences often spark institutional change. Leaders don't just change how they work; they influence policies, culture, and governance that create lasting impact across their organizations.

That's the ripple effect of leadership development: when conversations about wellbeing and sustainability move from individual practice to the boardroom, organizations become stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to fulfill their mission.

Explore more insights from the IFN 2026 Impact Study: IFN 2026 Impact Study: https://www.irex.org/resource/impact-fellowships-network-ifn-2026-impact-study

One of the most powerful moments in leadership isn't receiving a new title, it's realizing you've been a leader all along. 🚀

That's a transformation we hear about time and time. The fellowship doesn't hand participants a script or tell them who to become. Instead, it helps them recognize the strengths, influence, and leadership they already possess.

That shift in self-perception doesn't end when the fellowship does. It shapes how participants lead their organizations, collaborate with their communities, and create lasting impact long after the program concludes.

Read more about the transformational outcomes of the IREX Impact Fellowships Network in the 2026 Impact Study 👇
https://www.irex.org/resource/impact-fellowships-network-ifn-2026-impact-study

New Sector is featured in a global fellowship impact study -- and we have receipts! 💫

We were selected as one of 23 programs in the IFN Impact Grant research consortium. Our own evaluation is now part of this global evidence base on what makes fellowships produce lasting change. *Our evaluation engaged 65 alumni, partners and supporters, representing four of our fellowship programs and cohorts spanning 2008-2025.*

Read the full article 👇
https://www.irex.org/resource/impact-fellowships-network-ifn-2026-impact-study

🌱🌍 How do we know when a fellowship is truly making a difference?

That question was at the heart of the conversation when New Sector Alliance's Marcia M., PhD, and Kristen Hecht joined more than 100 fellowship practitioners, evaluators, and funders from around the world at the 2026 Impact Fellowships Summit.

Together, they led an interactive session focused on designing evaluation approaches that go beyond outputs and help uncover the deeper impact of leadership development. Drawing on New Sector's ongoing research, they shared insights into how fellowships create value not only for participants, but also for organizations, communities, and the broader systems they influence.

The summit was a powerful reminder that the strongest fellowship programs don't just measure outcomes—they create opportunities for reflection, learning, and continuous improvement.

We're grateful to IREX, the WK Kellogg Co Foundation, and our fellow collaborators for convening this incredible community of leaders committed to advancing impact around the globe. 💛 🪴

🌟 Fellow Spotlight: Jim Hennessey. Meet Jim, a member of the Leadership Longevity Fellowship 2025–2026 National Cohort and a leader who believes that people-centered strategy can be a powerful force for change.

As the marketing leader at Code Platoon, Jim helps Veterans and military families access life-changing opportunities in technology careers. By combining storytelling, data, and strategic innovation, he has helped expand the organization's reach and connect more individuals with the skills and support they need to thrive.

With more than two decades of experience across the nonprofit sector, Jim has partnered with mission-driven organizations to amplify impact, strengthen engagement, and advance meaningful causes. Whether he's mentoring emerging professionals, building campaigns, or advocating for workforce development, he brings a collaborative spirit and deep commitment to service.

Beyond his professional work, Jim is dedicated to fostering belonging and community through his leadership with organizations including Stonewall Sports Chicago and the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.

Through the Leadership Longevity Fellowship, Jim joins a national network of changemakers committed to sustainable leadership, wellbeing, and creating lasting impact in their communities. 🌿

Learn more about the Leadership Longevity Fellowship: https://www.newsector.org/leadership-longevity

🌍✨ What happens when fellowship leaders from around the world come together? Powerful conversations, shared learning, and new ideas for strengthening impact.

We were proud to have Marcia M., PhD, and Kristen Hecht represent New Sector Alliance at the 2026 Impact Fellowships Summit, joining more than 100 leaders working across fellowship design, learning, and evaluation.

During the summit, they facilitated a session exploring how fellowship programs can measure what matters most...balancing accountability, impact, and continuous learning. The discussion highlighted lessons from New Sector's ongoing research into how leadership development creates ripple effects across individuals, organizations, communities, and systems.

We're grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside peers, share our work, and contribute to a growing global conversation about how fellowships can create lasting change. 💛 🪴

A special thank you to IREX, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and our fellow presenters and partners for making these conversations possible.

Meet Hillery Ross, a member of our Leadership Longevity Fellowship 2025–2026 National Cohort and a leader dedicated to building healthier, more equitable communities from the ground up. 💛

As Community Program Manager at Access Health, Inc. and a founding leader of the How YOU Birth Community Doula Initiative, Hillery works at the intersection of community health, maternal health, economic empowerment, and systems change. Her mission is simple but powerful: ensure that the people most affected by systemic challenges are the ones helping shape the solutions.

From advancing transportation equity and financial empowerment programs to reducing disparities in maternal and infant health, Hillery's work is rooted in trust, belonging, and community voice. She brings a systems-thinking approach to every space she serves, helping create pathways for individuals and families not just to get by, but to thrive.

Through the Leadership Longevity Fellowship, Hillery joins a national network of leaders committed to sustainable impact, collective wellbeing, and lasting systems transformation. 🌿

Learn more about the fellowship → https://www.newsector.org/leadership-longevity.

New Sector was a part of the IREX Impact Fellowships Network Research Consortium from 2025-2026. In addition to conducting our own independent research, we contributed to a consortium-wide report that IREX wrote and is now launching publicly in June. As a research partner, we are showcased on pages 46-48 of the report -- sharing findings from our Ripple Effects Mapping study, which illustrates the impact New Sector's programs have had over the last 25 years on alumni, organizations, communities, sectors, and systems.

Sign up to learn more insights from this study on June 18 at 9 am CT: Insights from Collaborative Research on Fellowship Experiences: Findings from the 2026 Impact Study: https://irexorg.zoom.us/meeting/register/tb0nxRyATSSO3Tdl3CV17Q #/registration

#𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭