
Executive Director Learning Circle
About the Learning Circle
Since 2015, this program has provided space for learning and peer dialogue specifically among nonprofit executive directors. Serving as a nonprofit executive director is a great privilege and a particular challenge. You wear many hats, from holding your organization's vision, to minding the daily details, fostering partnerships, and generating financial support. Join this series to connect with fellow directors for support and engagement. Session topics have included board diversity, federal tax changes, organizational growth, marketing, finance, and personal resiliency.

Series co-facilitators, Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney, offer a wealth of experience to share.
There is no charge to attend.
Please register for one or all sessions here.
In 2023, sessions will take place on the third Thursday of the month at 9:00 am. Meetings are offered as a hybrid, allowing participants to join in person at the Santa Fe Higher Education Center (HEC) or virtually over Zoom (see registration). There is free parking onsite at the Higher Education Center.
From the Old to the New...
with Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney
Executive Directors from around northern New Mexico come together to reflect back on 2022 and look forward to 2023.
Connecting Conversations
with Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney
Facilitated by Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney, this session offers a dialogue for longstanding and newer executive directors to share their experiences and learning.
Succession Planning: The Big Elephant in the Room
with Marsie Silvestro, Ross Chaney, and Rachel Exposito
Succession planning is a critical tool for your organization’s healthy growth and sustainability. Facilitated by Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney, this discussion will be an opportunity to share experiences and consider approaches for your organization.
Health Insurance: Possibilities for the Nonprofit Sector
with Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney
We all need access to great healthcare and providing it for our staffs is a significant challenge. Facilitated by Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney, this session will review health insurance activity in the 2023 New Mexico legislative session and discuss whether there may be shifts for our sector.
Staying Relevant in a Changing World
with Marsie Silvestro, Ross Chaney, and Rachel Exposito
Whether you are the founder of the organization you lead, or a newer Executive Director, change will happen. Join Marsie Silvestro, Ross Chaney, and guest speaker Rachel Exposito to explore thoughts, challenges, successes, and ideas of how to lean into change.
Investment Strategies for Nonprofits of Different Sizes
with Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney
We will be joined by Drew Tulchin, a capital raising expert, to talk about ways to raise investment, what types of investment exist and what best fits different organizations. We will also explore the conditions needed to prepare for investing and hear from those who have success stories and lessons learned.
Salary and Compensation Conversations
with Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney
Facilitated by Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney, this session will center around compensation and include ideas addressing how to frame the information in job descriptions for potential employees. Transparency is a shift and can be a way to attract the right applicants to your organization at the right time.
Funder Panel – A Conversation with New Mexico Philanthropic Leaders
with Marsie Silvestro and Ross Chaney
This session will be a facilitated conversation between local funders/foundations and nonprofit organizations.