James P. Shannon Leadership Institute

Community leadership requires a strong sense of purpose and understanding of personal values. Through a structured, supportive environment, the Shannon Institute challenges participants to:

• Redefine the purpose of their work
• Gain clarity of their core values
• Develop strategies to increase their effectiveness
• Identify changes needed to improve their focus, commitment, energy and satisfaction

Cohort Model

Participants go through the Shannon Leadership Institute as a part of a cohort of around 20 people. Each cohort stays together for the full length of the program, allowing relationships between cohort members to deepen over time. Staying together as a cohort helps to create the trust necessary for participants to do the deeply personal work of considering and acting on their values.

Cohorts are constructed to be intentionally diverse in a variety of respects: sector, experience, race, gender, and so on. Participants draw on the diversity of perspectives and experiences that their cohorts offer as they do the deep work of personal reflection and development.

Experienced Facilitators

Participants work with a variety of facilitators, including Shannon alumni, staff, and consultants. Each cohort works closely with a lead facilitator who stays with them throughout the year and is their primary point of contact with the Shannon Institute. Shannon alumni often report that the relationship they create with their facilitator is one of the most important elements of their Shannon experience.

Immersive Retreats

Shannon cohorts spend time together away from their daily lives, giving them space and time to focus on themselves, their values, and their goals. The immersive nature of these retreats helps participants to “embrace the pause” that they create for themselves as they go through the Shannon Institute. 
Participants in the quarterly program go on four retreats together throughout the year; bi-monthly program participants go on two retreats and gather as a group four additional times between those retreats.

Participants can conveniently choose a bimonthly or quarterly program format

• Bimonthly: Four local sessions (two days in length) and two three-day residential retreat; March – December
• Quarterly: Four residential retreats (three days in length); February – December

Each Shannon Institute cohort includes about 20 program participants and is intentionally diverse in regards to experience, race, gender and more.

The full cost to participate in the Shannon is $6,000 for the year and includes: 

• All program sessions and activities
• Shared accommodations (single rooms available for an additional cost) during overnight retreats
• All meals and snacks during program sessions
  • Transportation to and from all program sites

Ask about our flexible tuition program:

We understand that not all participants can contribute the full cost of the program, and we are committed to ensuring that the Shannon Leadership Institute is accessible to all who find value in it. To that end, we offer a flexible tuition program that invites participants and the organizations they serve to contribute between $3,500 and $6,000. For people and organizations for whom the $3,500 minimum contribution is prohibitive, we also have a scholarship pool funded by donations from our alumni. Scholarships are reserved for participants with the greatest need.

If you are considering applying, please do not allow the cost of the program to cause you to hesitate. For additional information about program costs or to start a flexible tuition conversation, please call Shannon Institute Director Damon Shoholm at 651-280-2496 or email him at damon.shoholm@wilder.org.

The Shannon Institute is designed for seasoned community-serving leaders who have demonstrated leadership in nonprofit, public, business and community-serving organizations. We welcome local participants (Saint Paul/Minneapolis metro area) and those from around the US. Participants must have:

• At least five years’ experience in organizational or community service
• A desire to gain greater focus, increased energy and satisfaction from their work
• A willingness to commit to a yearlong renewal process