NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program

How Much Time It Will Take

Successful candidates must invest significant time and effort toward achieving their organizational challenge over the 18 months of the program. Don't think you have the time? Read one participant's testimony to finding the time. [PDF]

The time commitment includes real work by yourself and others in your organization against your identified challenge. You must commit to making your challenge one of the top priorities for yourself and your organization.Expect to put your challenge in your operating and strategic plan, to commit to your staff, your Board and possibly others that you and your organization will take on the challenge and make a performance impact.You should also expect to work on your challenge regularly through conference calls, online chats, and one-on-one conversations with your coach and your peer group of colleagues several times each month.

The sixth clas of Achieving Excellence (2012-2014) has already begun. In planning for a seventh class of AE, proposed time and days away would include:

• September/October 2014: Approximately one week at Harvard
• "Chicago meetings": One day in November or December 2014
• February/March 2015 Approximately one week at Harvard
• One-day meeting during summer of 2015
• September/October 2015: Approximately one week at Harvard
• February/March 2016: Concluding Forum and Graduation at NeighborWorks Training Institute
• Ongoing coaching calls, assignments, support from peers

It's important to keep in mind as you consider participation in the program that this is an intensive program and the real time commitment is not so much in the time away from your office, but the time you put in to making progress on your challenge.

For additional information about Achieving Excellence, call (800) 438-5547 or (202) 220-2454, or e-mail training@nw.org.