Turning Ideas Into Impact: How EIL-NP Transforms Non-Profit Leadership

A woman stands at the front of a classroom giving a presentation titled “Conversation Failures.” The slide on the screen reads, “What causes them? What can we do to prevent them?” Several people are seated at tables, listening attentively and taking notes. The presenter points toward the screen, and another smaller display on the side of the room shows the same slide. The setting appears to be a professional training or workshop, with “Interstates” branding visible on the screen.

Lisa Johnson, Project Manager | November 14, 2025

Excellence in Leadership for Non-Profits (EIL-NP) is a leadership program hosted by Interstates, designed for non-profit leaders seeking to develop and improve their leadership skills. This free, two-day course provides nonprofit leaders with the opportunity to learn about topics such as Leadership Essentials, Communication, Feedback, and Personal Growth. In small-group settings, participants receive essential leadership strategies, tools, and resources to enhance their ability to serve their teams, organizations, and communities effectively. 

The Sioux Falls, SD, Office recently hosted this annual event, with 15 leaders joining to learn, connect, and grow. To celebrate another successful year (and the expansion of EIL-NP into Omaha in April 2026!), Lisa Johnson, Project Manager at Interstates, reflects on the success of this program and shares how EIL-NP first came to fruition. 

What inspired you to start EIL-NP?

Inspiration came from a few areas. It came partially from my experience working in a non-profit during a 2-year break from Interstates. At the same time I returned to Interstates, the Foundation was looking to grow the service project component of our giving. I remember sitting in a work area with Kristi Segar and Scott Peterson, brainstorming ideas, and one of us said, 'We should provide our leadership training for non-profit leaders.' And now, here we are!

Four people stand around a table in a classroom, smiling and collaborating on a team-building activity involving tape and spaghetti sticks. One person is holding up their tall, finished structure with a marshmallow on top
The Interstates Foundation removes the financial barrier by providing high-quality leadership training at no cost to all attendees.

What gap did you see in non-profit leadership development? 

A significant gap is related to accessibility and financial constraints. One can find several business leader training resources. However, non-profit budgets don't allow for travel and the associated fees. When a non-profit considers training for its employees who directly provide services versus training for leadership development, the priority is often given to service training. Interstates Foundation removes the financial barrier by offering leadership training at no cost to attendees. We're focused on our communities in the areas we serve.

How did you decide what topics or experiences would be part of the program? 

The topics covered in our training are the same as those in our internal Excellence in Leadership program. We include sessions in the areas of leading yourself, leading others, and leading operations to provide a well-rounded experience.

What were some of the first steps you took to get the program off the ground? 

Our earliest conversations date back to early 2019, when we began considering which topics to pull from our internal program and how the day would be structured. We sought input from employees regarding the organizations with which they were involved. We interviewed local non-profits, asking if they would find a program like this valuable. We looked internally for ideas and feedback from potential session facilitators. It has truly been a team effort from across the organization.

One of the early tactical challenges of our launch was the COVID pandemic in 2020. We were really getting traction in our plans, expecting to have a Spring 2020 cohort. And then, things shut down. We eventually decided to take the leap and still launched in the Fall of 2020 with a small group abiding by all the local rules imposed at the time. The positive from facing that challenge is that it proved our theory that we should keep cohort sizes small to provide a more comfortable space for people to freely share ideas (or, as we would say in EIL-NP, to foster psychological safety). 

Four people stand together smiling behind a table in a classroom. In front of them is a tall spaghetti-and-tape tower topped with a marshmallow, part of a team-building activity.
Despite obstacles in the beginning, EIL-NP had its first cohort in the Fall of 2020 during the COVID pandemic. It was a team effort from the entire organization.

How has the program evolved since it began? 

We take the feedback from our attendees very seriously and have used it to improve the program with each subsequent cohort. Our most significant changes were made early on to lengthen the program from one day to a two-day event, with about a month between sessions for participants to apply what they learned and report back to their cohort members as accountability. We added new topics, such as 'Issue Processing,' which is more of an operations-focused topic, as well as a 'Leader Q&A Session' where participants have access to executive-level leaders at Interstates in a forum to ask any leadership-related questions they may have.

What impact has EIL-NP had on participants or the non-profit community? 

My favorite part of the program now is reading the post-survey comments. I love knowing that attendees find this program impactful, even career-changing, as they step away from their day-to-day responsibilities and focus on developing their own leadership skills. The fact that we can directly impact so many leaders, who in turn impact their teams and ultimately the community, is truly remarkable. 

Post-Survey Comments

Graphic with a quote that reads: “Motivating and refreshing. Being able to leave with the knowledge to grow myself and bring things back to my coworkers is so exciting and refreshing. I really appreciate this opportunity.” — Shayla Kruse
Graphic with a quote that reads: “This whole program has been such a huge help to me as a leader. The content is tangible, and the opportunity for Q&A really provided a safe space to ask hard questions.” — Jessie Haffner
Graphic with a quote that reads: “This is all information that I’ll be utilizing daily to lead my non-profit. Direct impact on me with today’s topics.” — Anonymous
Graphic with a quote that reads: “I enjoyed the sessions and the people at my table. The sessions and presenters were organized and easy to listen to. The ability to do some networking was great!” — Carla Vande Zandschulp
Graphic with a quote that reads: “This was an excellent experience. I learned so much that is applicable to my role at work and in my personal life.” — Anonymous

EIL-NP Statistics (2020-2025): 

  • 77 cohort participants
  • 53 unique organizations
  • 38 unique session facilitators 

Upcoming Cohorts 

Applications are closed, but you can still stay connected—fill out our interest form and be the first to know when applications for your area open!

Please visit the EIL-NP page for more information!