Leadership Program
Amplify Your Environmental Advocacy
Want to learn to lead effective environmental advocacy campaigns? Advance initiatives for environmental conservation, justice, and inclusive public process? Step into leadership roles at nonprofits, public agencies, and community-based groups? Then consider applying for the Green Foothills Leadership Program.
The Green Foothills Leadership Program combines an eight-month training program with an alumni program that supports graduates as they move into leadership roles. Alumni play a role in shaping Green Foothills’ work: informing our advocacy, engaging in local land use issues, and providing valuable perspectives on equitable, inclusive environmental activism.
Since its launch in 2013, the program has trained more than 240 local changemakers.
Applications for this annual program open in late summer and the program starts in January. For information, contact andrea@greenfoothills.org.
Apply for Next Year’s Cohort
Who should apply
The deadline to apply for the 2023 program year has now passed. Applications for the 2024 program year will open in August 2023. The program meets monthly on Saturdays from January through August. Scholarships are available.
Each year we work to form a 20-25 person cohort that represents the ethnic, geographic, generational, gender, and economic diversity of the region. Applicants should live in or serve San Mateo, Santa Clara, or San Benito County communities.
Accepted applicants are distinguished by their:
- Commitment to be a more effective agent of change
- Desire to work toward a vision for the region to be a resilient, equitable place where wildlife thrives, everyone has natural beauty to enjoy, and communities live in balance with nature
- Desire to explore and address systemic oppression to increase the power of historically disempowered communities
To ensure that everyone can participate, no matter their financial means, we offer scholarships to bring our tuition down to a level that is affordable to each member of the class, starting at $100. Requesting a scholarship has no impact on your acceptance to the program. Most participants receive scholarships. Payment plans are also available upon request.
Become an advocate for your community.
Donate to support the next generation of local leaders
About the Eight-Month Program

Through eight monthly classes, participants learn to lead effective environmental advocacy campaigns grounded in social justice. As part of the curriculum, participants work in small groups to develop advocacy campaigns to address current, local environmental issues while integrating racial justice as a key component.
Each Leadership Program graduate can:
- Advocate more effectively for the natural environment
- Develop strategies to influence key decision-makers
- Recognize how bias and systems of oppression play out in local environmental issues
- Identify the next leadership role they will pursue
- Articulate their personal mission statement
- Rely on deep connections and shared experiences they’ve made with their classmates
- Find support in our robust alumni network of 200+ passionate individuals
- Participate in special events and workshops for Leadership Program alumni
The 2023 cohort will meet once a month on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Some sessions will be held online, and others will take place in person in an outdoor setting. Dates are Jan 7, Feb 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 8, and Aug 12, 2023.
Leadership Program scholarships are made possible thanks to Applied Materials Foundation Community Fund, the County of Santa Clara, Knight Foundation, Sand Hill Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Guadalupe Coyote Resource Conservation District, Wildlife Conservation Network’s California Wildlife Program, and Green Foothills donors. Please consider making a donation to support the Leadership Program. Green Foothills appreciates every individual, agency, and foundation who makes our work possible and we are proud to recognize every contributor in Our Donor Community.

“The Green Foothills Leadership Program increased my advocacy skills and knowledge, making me a stronger champion for my neighborhood, the environment, and climate resilience.”
Ever Rodriguez
Co-founder of the North Fair Oaks Community Alliance and Climate Ready North Fair Oaks, Green Foothills Leadership Program Graduate (2021), Resident of North Fair Oaks