News release
WICHITA — The Kansas Leadership Center has selected 37 new organizations across Kansas — two from Hays — and 50 returning organizations to serve as 2022 Leadership Transformation Grant partners, making this the largest group of LTG partners in the history of the program. The grants will help the partner organizations create a culture that embraces change, tackles problems and seizes opportunities.
“The Leadership Transformation Grants are our primary vehicle for transferring the gift of the grant from the Kansas Health Foundation (our core funder) to organizations across the state. We’re proud to see this program grow every year since we started offering these grants eight years ago to civically engaged organizations around the state,” said Ed O’Malley, president and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center.
The new 2022 Leadership Transformation Grant partners from Hays are Jana’s Campaign Inc. and the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts.
Organizations who receive a Leadership Transformation Grant will establish a core team of three to six individuals to take on the responsibilities of the grant. Organizations chosen will have one year to participate in KLC’s dynamic program experiences and utilize KLC resources and consultation.
“The Leadership Transformation Grants allow participation in the KLC Path, a three-step sequence which teaches that leadership is an activity—not a position—and that anyone within an organization can exercise leadership effectively. These programs offer a framework by which organizations can share a common language and skills to approach their challenges and empower employees to mobilize others to create progress in their organization and communities,” said Katy Weidner, KLC program manager.
KLC’s own research center indicates that leadership development at all levels of an organization leads to a more engaged workforce in the non-profit sector, with employees more committed, more hopeful for the future, and more satisfied with their job. Among high-tech employees, it yields an adaptive mindset, collaborative problem-solving, and better listening and communication. And ORS Impact, funded by a third party, interviewed over 50 of KLC’s past grantees to learn the effect of leadership training on an organization. The research indicates a strong link between increasing leadership behaviors among employees, positive change to culture and greater progress on key challenges facing the organization.
Applications for Leadership Transformation Grants are accepted between June and August each year. See the complete list of 2022 partners.