Nominate a Fellow

ALF Fellows Program Description
The American Leadership Forum Fellows Program builds and strengthens skills for collaborative leadership across differences. ALF is passionately committed to building diverse networks of leaders focused on personal and community transformation to create inclusive and thriving communities.

Each year, the Fellows Program brings together approximately twenty-four leaders from business, government, education, arts, and non-profit sectors with diverse backgrounds and perspectives for an intense one-of-a-kind leadership development experience.

Characterized by its focus on the human capacity for collective intelligence and trusting relationships, the ALF program begins a process of uncovering the principles of a different kind of leadership. When people who represent high achievement in different spheres of influence come together to learn and think, their creative and problem-solving power as a group can lead to highly effective coordinated action. The Fellows Program focuses intensely on supporting each participant to explore how they will be a leader who listens to diverse perspectives and helps chart an inclusive path forward.

Class Timeline and Attendance
The program runs for 12 months from June to May. Class sessions include one Friday per month, a Community Building week in September, and a weekend retreat in January. Class Fellows are expected to attend every class session and should plan vacation, work, and family accordingly.

Applied Learning Initiative
Each Class commits to an effort or activity in which they jointly use their new skills and connections to support or improve an area within the community. There are no rules about what the ALI looks like; the effort is class-driven. This effort may extend beyond the Class year.

Program Costs and Payment
Program cost is $12,000. Each Class Fellow is responsible for the cost of their participation. Employers will often contribute substantially toward the program cost. Nominees are expected to make a minimum personal financial contribution of $1500 towards tuition. Partial scholarships and financing plans are available. Contact the Executive Director for more information.

Nomination Process
    · Nominations are accepted throughout the year. Forms are located on the ALF website.
    · Nominations for a Fellows Class may come from Senior Fellows, or a person may self-nominate.
    · Successful nominees will typically be in a visible leadership and decision-making role within their organization or sphere of influence.
    · A completed nomination packet includes a nomination form completed by the nominator (unless the nominee is self-nominating), a nomination form completed by the nominee, and the nominee’s professional résumé.

Selection Process
Nominations typically close at the end of September for the next Class. The ALF Board Selection Committee meets in the Fall to consider the nominations. The upcoming Class is typically finalized in January and begins their Class year in June.

Candidate Pool
Each class is individually selected to balance a variety of life and professional experiences to create a dynamic learning environment for participants. As a result, candidates may not be selected in their first year of nomination. Nominations remain active in the nomination pool for three consecutive years. Applicants not selected in their first year will be asked to update their Statement of Interest to remain active in the candidate pool.

Senior Fellows Network
The ALF experience does not end with the class year. Graduates of the Fellows Programs become Senior Fellows and continue using the skills and connections from their ALF experience to impact both their community and their work. Local class graduates will enter a network of over 600 local leaders committed to dialogue, deep listening, and finding solutions to community concerns. Senior Fellows are asked to support ALF Tacoma/Pierce County and the community of future leaders with time, talent, or financial contributions.

Complete the form below to nominate yourself or someone you know. 

Note: If you would like to submit any attachments to support your nomination, please email them to
admin@alftacomapiercecounty.org.

Reminder: A completed nomination packet includes a nomination form completed by the nominator (unless the nominee is self-nominating), a nomination form completed by the nominee, and the nominee’s professional résumé.