The ELP Program is powered by Communities Foundation of Texas and is now led by Philanthropy Southwest. The new iteration of this program launches in 2026 and is designed for rising leaders in grantmaking with 3-10 years of professional experience in philanthropy, who are employed at a foundation or grantmaking organization serving the PSW service region (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, or Utah). The goal is for program graduates to emerge prepared to step into senior leadership roles, equipped with the knowledge, resilience, and perspective to lead high-performing teams and drive lasting, transformative change.

View additional details here.

• Visit PSW’s online application portal
• Apply now through December 19, 2025.
• 2026 ELP participants will be notified about the status of their application on or before January 7, 2026.

Questions? Contact Brittany Huber, Senior Director of Learning, at bhuber@philanthropysouthwest.org

• Attendance is mandatory at all program sessions. (One excused absence is permissible in order to graduate from the ELP program.)
• Virtual attendance is not an option at the in-person sessions.
• The program tuition fee is $4,500 for PSW members and $5,000 for non-members.
• Travel is required for 4 of the sessions.

Dates for the 2026 program are below.

Travel Required

• February 5-6, 2026 (Dallas, TX)
• OPTIONAL: March 9-11, 2026 (Washington, DC)
• May 4-6, 2026 – Leadership Retreat (Leakey, TX)
• August 4-6, 2026 (Denver, CO)
• October 25-29, 2026 (Tucson, AZ)

No Travel Required

• March 6, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT
• April 10, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT
• June 5, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT
• July 10, 2026 | 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. CT
• September 11, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT