Mission Elevation: Frequently Asked Questions
Read through the questions below to learn if Mission Elevation is right for you.
I’m in a nonprofit or a quasi-governmental agency, but not sure if I meet the requirements for this program. Is Mission Elevation right for me?
Mission Elevation is specifically designed for a pair of senior nonprofit leaders to work together over the course of the program to address and work through their organization’s challenges to meet their goals supporting community development and revitalization. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place.
What kinds of challenges is the program designed to address for my organization?
Mission Elevation is here to help you work through 1-4 challenges to reach your performance goals. Typical challenges may include:
Capacity issues
Financial challenges
Organizational transitions
Debt payments
Succession planning
Re-tooling business models
Generating better revenue sources
This program sounds great, but I don’t have the time or the money to add it to my schedule. What should I do?
Mission Elevation shouldn’t be seen as an addition to your workload. Mission Elevation provides you with the tools and support to help you to work smarter and with greater impact focused on your highest priority challenge.
Tuition for this 14-month experience is $2,000. For that price you will receive an investment valued at $25,000, made possible by the generosity of our sponsors. We believe that price shouldn’t be a barrier, and if tuition costs are a deterrent for your organization, let’s chat to see how we can accommodate you.
Who are the program Coaches?
Sheila F. Maith, PCC: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilafmaith/
Sheila is the president of Maith Consulting based out of Washington, D.C. With over 25 years of experience, she has done extensive work as a peer group leader, trainer, facilitator and strategic advisor to clients who are seeking to realize their personal and developmental goals. She draws upon her experience as an executive, a funder, an advocate and a board member to deliver high value services to her clients. Sheila has also served as a coach and peer group leader in the Achieving Excellence and Mission Elevation programs. Prior to launching her consulting practice, she held positions at the Federal Reserve Board, the Fannie Mae Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and on Capitol Hill. Sheila earned a joint degree in law and public policy from Harvard Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and earned a certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University.
Roger Lewis: Roger.lewis5@gmail.com
Roger Lewis is the principal coach/consultant of Roger Lewis & Associates based out of Boulder, CO. Roger has over 30 years of professional experience in innovative housing and community development initiatives. Since 2012, he has worked with community development leaders across the country in fields including housing development and finance, homeless services, community land trusts, and lending (CDFIs) to further their institutions. He also provides executive coaching, training, and consulting services to clients who are leaders seeking to enhance their personal and team capacity. Roger has been a coach with the NWA Sustainable Business Initiative, Achieving Excellence/Harvard Program, and worked with VCDC to develop and coach the award-winning Mission Elevation program. Prior to his coaching and consulting work, Roger completed community development work overseas in the Peace Corps, serving with an inner-city nonprofit and leading a national organization. Roger earned his BS in Management Engineering from the University of Vermont.
I’m interested in the program. When should I start thinking about the next cohort?
Start looking out for information about Cohort 7 on our website around January 2024.
Still on the fence? Hear what some of our alumni have to say:
"This program was crucial in transforming our organization which was on the verge of folding less than 2 years ago. We have come out with a strong and sustainable foundation and are looking at significant growth moving forward."
- Brad Stephens, REACH
"One of the best professional programs I've done in my career! This program forced staff and board to think in new ways and gave permission to dream big about our future."
-Mary Kay Huss, Habitat Richmond
"Mission Elevation assisted our Agency to better align our mission with our funding strategies. It helped us to properly identify target markets that will help us to fulfill our goal to assist the most vulnerable in our footprint. This is a program that provides sustainable strategies for nonprofit leadership."
- Hope Cupit, SERCAP
VCDC envisions vibrant communities that benefit everyone and believes nonprofits are the driving force of change to make that happen. The Mission Elevation program is an extension of VCDC's commitment to support nonprofits and quasi-governmental agencies who are serving communities by providing a platform to help build the ability needed to spark internal change for increased mission impact.
For over 30 years we have worked tirelessly collaborating with many like-minded partners working not only to build quality affordable housing but to lift entire communities up. We believe in a people centered approach that puts collective good above the bottom-line.
