You weren’t meant to do this alone

Receive the tools, support, and community you need to navigate the ups and downs of nonprofit leadership and deepen your impact in the world.

Uplevel your leadership without burning out

If you’re an ambitious nonprofit leader who’s committed to making a greater impact in our world, but most days you struggle to find enough time for all of your to-dos - let alone a strategic thought or deep breath…

You’ve come to just the right place

A membership program for nonprofit leaders who are ready to learn a different approach to nonprofit leadership – one that doesn’t require you to sacrifice your wellbeing to create the results you desire.

Here’s what you get when you join Illuminate:

And that's not all!  Inside Illuminate, you'll also gain access to highly-personalized leadership support and coaching through:

  • A support circle of 3-4 nonprofit leaders who you’ll meet with monthly to exchange wisdom, guidance, and resources, and hold each other accountable for your vision and goals (enrolling NOW!)

  • Live monthly Q&A sessions where we answer questions from our members and give you real-time advice on whatever challenges you’re facing.

Hi! I’m Jen Lachman (she/her), and I’m so glad you’re here.

For the past 10 years, I’ve coached and supported hundreds of social sector leaders who are tackling some of the most important issues of our time. And across these relationships there’s one challenge that I hear leaders wrestle with more than any other - how do I meet the demands of today, without burning myself (and others) out in the process?

I created Illuminate as a space where leaders like you can learn and practice - in community with others - a more supportive, sustainable, and joyful approach to nonprofit leadership.

As a former overworked Executive Director, I know what it’s like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.

If you’ve been shouldering more than you can sustain, I invite you to join this incredible (and growing) circle of nonprofit leaders who are redefining nonprofit leadership as we know it.

Illuminate is your one-stop shop for human-centered nonprofit leadership and management training.  With your Illuminate membership, you get immediate access to a growing collection of workshops that teach you the skills you need to overcome the greatest challenges you face right now.  Here are some of our members favorite topics:

Imagine consistently carving out time and space to…

Learn game-changing tools, methods, and strategies that will strengthen your leadership skills and reduce your stress and anxiety

Tap into the wisdom, guidance, and experience of other nonprofit leaders who get you and your challenges and can offer support in an unbiased way

Come into a supportive and regenerative community space that will leave you feeling re-energized and refueled for whatever work or challenge lies ahead

Get out of fire-fighting mode, so you can navigate strategic decisions with greater confidence and clarity

 
 
 
 

You will love this membership program if …

  • You’re the kind of leader who wants to keep learning and growing.  Stalling in your career is not an option for you

  • You crave being connected with leaders outside of your organization - people who will get you and your challenges and be able to offer support in an unbiased way

  • You feel the pulls of capitalism, patriarchy, and white dominant culture and want to stay connected to a community who is committed to leading in a more inclusive, collaborative, and regenerative way

  • Your plate is already overflowing and you’re looking for a way to invest in yourself and your leadership without taking on a huge commitment of time (or money)

  • You see an intrinsic link between investing in yourself and creating meaningful change in the world

Join together with leaders from high-impact nonprofits like:

"For so long as a leader, I put the needs of my team and my organization ahead of my own. Illuminate is an investment in yourself, and we’re all worth that. I’ve grown so much in my leadership thanks to the workshops, community, and accountability that Illuminate provides. I’ve also taken a lot of the lessons back to my team and my organization, so it’s really a win-win."

Jenn Toussaint, Chief of Animal Control Animal Welfare League of Arlington

"Whatever’s right in front of us always feels like the most important thing. Illuminate is a place where I can take a step back, gain new perspectives and ideas, and connect with other nonprofit leaders facing similar challenges. Since joining Illuminate, I’ve taken so much pressure off of myself to try to do it all, and as a result I can focus on my top priorities and showing up as the type of leader I want to be."

Andrea Scallon Director of Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning, Miriam's Kitchen

You could invest in your leadership development in lots of ways…

You could attend a training or a conference that costs hundred or thousands of dollars and may give you lots of information, but with zero support for implementation, often results in little change to how you’re leading

You could work with a coach one-on-one for thousands of dollars, but maybe you don’t have the time or money to invest in this option

You could stick with the school of hard-knocks and try to figure everything out on your own – which can cost you more than both of these options combined.

OR, you can join Illuminate and gain access to game-changing leadership workshops, paired with community, accountability, and integration -- a combination that’s guaranteed to transform the way you lead.

Here's everything you get for just $42/month (or $504/year):

A NEW workshop every month - Learn game-changing tools, methods, and strategies that will strengthen your leadership and management skills

A growing library filled with topics that matter - New content is shaped by your current leadership challenges, and available to watch in your own time

A wise and judgment-free community - Receive guidance and support from peers outside of your organization - folks who really get you and the unique challenges you face

Mini-courses and boot camps - Deepen your skills on topics like people management and change leadership, and receive a certificate upon completion (Coming Soon!)

Management resource center - Access a toolbox of time saving resources (scripts, meeting agendas, checklists) to help you with the most common nonprofit management challenges

A support circle of 3-4 nonprofit leaders who you’ll meet with monthly to exchange wisdom, guidance, and resources, and hold each other accountable for your vision and goals (enrolling NOW!)

Live monthly Q&A sessions where we answer questions from our members and give you real-time advice on whatever challenges you’re facing.

As a nonprofit leader, your job is hard enough -- why not make it a little easier by joining a community of leaders who have your back?

Join Illuminate today and gain access to a generous community of leaders who are ready to support you to be the best version of yourself - without burning out in the process.

 FAQs

  • We plan to increase the monthly fee gradually as we grow the Illuminate community. BUT, when you join now, you’ll lock in the $42 monthly price as long as you stay a member.

  • That’s great, and lots of our members use professional development funds to cover their membership fee. When you enroll, you’ll be asked for credit card information and can use your work card if that option is available to you. You’ll also receive a receipt for your monthly or annual dues by email when the payment runs, and you can use this to provide proof of the charge or request reimbursement from your employer.

  • We’ll deliver content that addresses the biggest challenges you’re facing in your leadership and teaches you how to lead with more impact, authenticity, and ease. We’ll shape our topics with your input and what we’re hearing from others in the field. Some of our members favorite topics include:

    How to Use Delegation to Reduce Your Load and Co-Power Others

    How to Unlock Others Through Listening and Powerful Questions

    How to Give and Receive Feedback

    How to Say No and Set Boundaries

    How to Sustain Your (and Your Team’s) Energy

    How to Manage Power Dynamics

    How to Focus on Your Priorities When Everything Feels Urgent

  • You can cancel your membership at any time and will continue to have access to the membership through the month or year you’ve paid.

  • We currently have 70+ Illuminate members and hope to grow the size of the membership into the hundreds over time. As the membership grows, we’ll continue to offer opportunities for more intimate connections, e.g. support circles and more.

  • Every 6 months (enrolling March 2024), Illuminate members will be invited to join a support circle of 3-4 leaders, with whom you will gather virtually every month (for a 5 month period). Support circles offer a more intimate connection point with a hand-picked group of leaders who are committed to offering their wisdom, sharing resources, and holding you accountable for your vision and goals. When we open up these optional Support Circles we’ll ask you several questions to help us match you with other circle members. If you’re an Illuminate alum, you’ll have the option of staying with the same support circle or switching it up.