Katherine Harvey Fellows Application Process

WHO SHOULD APPLY
APPLY HERE!
COST & DATES
INFO SESSIONS

WHO SHOULD APPLY

IS THE KATHERINE HARVEY FELLOWS PROGRAM RIGHT FOR YOU?

We recognize that it takes the work of people from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives to address community issues. While Katherine Harvey Fellows is designed specially for people working in the private and public sectors – we encourage anyone interested in expanding their impact to the people and issues they care about to apply, regardless of prior leadership experience.

Both seasoned and aspiring leaders achieve transformative learning when part of a community of diverse peers. Thus, we encourage applications from the mix of professions that all play an important role in strengthening our community including business, philanthropic, legal, faith, education, health, government and other professions. We also encourage people with different personal backgrounds and experiences and from all Santa Barbara County communities to apply.

Participants are those who express value in:

  • Collaborative leadership
  • Civic engagement & service to the community
  • Individual growth & development

Specific Criteria includes:

  • Curious personality and open to exploring new ideas
  • Ready to expand how they serve the people and issues important to them in Santa Barbara County
  • Able to make a full commitment to all phases of the program (see commitment below)
  • Reside and/or work in Santa Barbara County

Katherine Harvey Fellows has a limited number of spaces and we regret we cannot accept every qualified candidate. We seek maximum variability among the group which means there is no one “right” candidate. We encourage anyone with interest in the program to apply.

*We encourage people employed in traditional nonprofits to apply for our Growing Edge Leaders, Emerging Leaders or Leading for Community Impact programs. If you have any questions regarding which program is right for you please contact katya@leading-from-within.org.

HOW YOU CAN LEARN MORE

  • Read program description on website
  • Attend an Information Session: these sessions are intended for potential Katherine Harvey Fellow candidates to learn more about program details and to meet program instructors (click here to view dates/locations).
  • Contact our Co-Executive Director, Katya Armistead at katya@leading-from-within.org

Commitment, Fees & Dates

Program Cost

Thanks to the support from our funders and individual donations, Leading From Within is able to subsidize the original program cost down to $4,500 per participant – more details to come. Most commonly, a participant’s employer pays all or part of Leading From Within’s program fees recognizing the opportunity in professional development that benefit their agencies by empowering their employees to be more effective, authentic leaders.

Additional scholarships are available upon request – cost does NOT determine your ability to participate! Leading From Within works to shift the culture across sectors for organizations and agencies to prioritize the development of their people. Therefore, we highly encourage your employer to support you financially with the program fee of $4,500. We are also committed to making the program accessible, and as a result, ample scholarships are available for individuals and organizations with limited financial means. Scholarships are intended to ensure that cost is not a barrier for those who would benefit the most. You can contact our Co-Executive Director, Katya Armistead, with any questions or concerns.

Commitment

Katherine Harvey Fellows is an 11-month experiential leadership-development program. Participants are expected to attend all program sessions in-person at Leading From Within, once per month, the third Thursday, at 12:30-4:30 pm.

This program will include a retreat at the beginning of the program, as well as a Changemakers Celebration at the finish that invites our community members and program alumni in support of the year’s participants. It is important to Leading From Within that our leaders are supported by a strong network to help recognize, leverage, and celebrate the important work that creates meaningful impact.
In addition to attending program sessions, we ask applicants to be fully committed to the program assignments, including:
  1. Spending approximately three hours per month in a variety of ways which may include:
    • Pre-work preparing for sessions such as reading assigned articles, watching videos, and reflecting on material in order to fully participate in panels and workshops.
    • Organized coffee-talk type meetings and discussions with community leaders
    • Outside interviews and group meetings related to project focus area
  2. Attending meetings with mentor, an experienced community leader
  3. Participating in outside project-based work during the second half of program
  4. Engaging in optional opportunities for monthly networking coffee-type meetings

Leading From Within supports each participant in their ability to participate. If personal matters arise, our staff and instructors will do their best to accommodate any personal needs or priorities.

Dates

Our 2026 Cohort 12 is scheduled to begin in the January 2026. It is important upon application that you are able to commit to the following program session dates/times:

Retreat (12:30 – 4:30 pm) lunch provided
Location: Leading From Within, 2050 Alameda Padre Serra, Suite 202, Santa Barbara
January 15, 2026

Half Day Sessions ( 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Location: Leading From Within, 2050 Alameda Padre Serra, Suite 202, Santa Barbara
Session 1 | January 22, 2026
Session 2 | February 19, 2026
Session 3 | March 19, 2026
Session 4 | April 16, 2026
Session 5 | May 21, 2026
Session 6 | June 18, 2026
Session 7 | July 16, 2026
Session 8 | August 20, 2026
Session 9 | September 17, 2026
Session 10 | October 15, 2026
Session 11 | November 19, 2026
End of Program Celebration | TBD

Start the process

Application Process Overview:

We’ve made the application process as simple as possible. Before you start, please review the checklist and commitment details above.

To apply, submit the following via our website:

  1. Applicant Profile (contact info, demographics, etc.)

  2. Current Résumé

  3. Application Questions Form

  4. Recommendation Form from an employer, coworker, or peer who knows your work and/or community involvement.

We look for applicants who:

  • Are committed to fully participating in all aspects of the program

  • Are ready to invest in their learning and contribute to the cohort

  • Demonstrate dedication to Santa Barbara County’s nonprofit and/or social sector

  • Show potential to assume higher leadership roles and make a lasting impact

  • Have the support of their supervisor in their leadership growth

  • Help us build a diverse cohort (geographically, by job function, mission, ethnicity, and gender)

Note: Due to limited space, we can’t accept all qualified candidates. We aim for a diverse group, so there’s no single “right” candidate. Thank you for your interest in becoming a future change-maker!

APPLICATIONS DUE NOVEMBER 4, 2025 at 8 PM.

Katherine Harvey Fellows Application Profile Form

Application Profile Information

  • Application Profile Form

    Please complete the following information in order to continue the second part of your application (questions and attachments).
  • Company / Organization
  • Your position
    Check all that apply.
  • A recommender is a Board Chair or Supervising Manager who acknowledges their full support of the applicant to fulfill the stated program commitments.

  • Thank you!

    Submit your information to continue onward to completing the Application Questions and uploading your resume.
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