Mission
The mission of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute is to nurture the creativity and vitality of proven leaders of philanthropic, civic, and community-serving organizations. The Institute provides a structured, challenging, and supportive opportunity for these experienced community leaders to clarify the purpose of their work and the core values they want that work to exemplify, to enhance their focus and effectiveness, and to increase their sense of fulfillment. The result the Institute achieves is purposeful and effective leadership with a renewed commitment to community service.

History
Ronnie Brooks and Jim Shannon began their work of renewing the leadership of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in 1992 under the sponsorship of the Minnesota Council on Foundations. The first group of Institute participants began the program in 1993. The program became a part of Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in 2002 and was renamed The James P. Shannon Leadership Institute to honor Jim’s life, values, principled career, and commitment to community service. Ronnie Brooks has managed the program since its inception. In 1997, a second monthly group was added. In 2003 the Institute piloted a new quarterly format, meeting the growing interest and demand from nonprofit leaders serving communities distant from Minnesota. There are currently three cohort groups in the Institute’s yearlong program.

The Institute has fifteen years experience serving accomplished nonprofit and community leaders. During that time, no program with the same mission and approach has been found.

James P. Shannon
During his life, Jim Shannon served as a religious leader, college president, and president of both the Minneapolis and General Mills Foundations. Together with other leaders in the Twin Cities, he recognized the need for an institute that was dedicated to the personal and professional renewal of leaders in community-serving organizations.