Apply for a Sponsored Leadership Fellowship: Broadbent Institute Emerging Leaders Program 2026 (Value $5,400)

If you’re an early- to mid-career organizer, policy advocate, or community leader in Canada hungry to sharpen practical skills and expand your network, this is the kind of program that changes how you work. The Broadbent Institute Emerging Leaders Program 2026 is a ten-month leadership fellowship that wraps intensive training, monthly virtual learning, mentorship, and two in-person convenings into a package valued at $5,400 — and the Institute covers participation costs for selected fellows. In plain language: they pay the tab so you can show up ready to learn, connect, and take on bigger projects in your community.

The program was launched in 2023 and has quickly become a place where organizers translate good intentions into measurable progress. It’s not a classroom lecture series; it’s practical, hands-on training aimed at people who already have skin in the game — activists, campaign managers, municipal staff, union organizers, nonprofit program leads, and others who are running campaigns, shaping policy, or building community projects. If you want to move from doing tactical work to designing strategy, or if you’re leading a small team and need better tools for policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement, this could be a good match.

This article breaks everything down so you can decide if you should apply, what a competitive application looks like, and how to prepare. Read it as a mentor in your inbox who’s already seen what works and what doesn’t — with concrete timelines, sample tactics for securing organizational sponsorship, and a no-nonsense checklist that will get your application over the finish line.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

The Emerging Leaders Program is built around three pillars: practical skill-building, mentorship, and connection. Over ten months you’ll attend monthly virtual workshops — real sessions with facilitators who have run campaigns, written policy, or navigated government relations. Those sessions aren’t theoretical; they’re toolboxes you can use the week after the workshop.

The real accelerant here is the Director-level, full-day training provided at the two in-person events. The March Progress Summit and November Progress Gala bookend the program and offer immersive learning days with hands-on exercises, scenario planning, and networking with established progressive leaders. Expect exercises that force you to design a campaign plan under time pressure, negotiate stakeholder buy-in in role-play settings, and draft communications that cut through noise. The Institute also provides mentors — people who’ve built campaigns or operated at senior levels in unions, government, or large nonprofits — and those relationships can persist after the program ends.

Participation is covered — travel, lodging, meals, facilitator honorariums, and program coordination are all included. That matters because removing the financial barrier lets participants focus on development rather than fundraising. If your employer can sponsor you, that helps the program grow; sponsorship is optional but encouraged. Full sponsorship is $5,400 and a partial option is $2,000.

Beyond the immediate training, graduates join an alumni network that can be a resource for hiring, co-campaigning, and policy partnerships. If you’re thinking about scaling a local project or pitching for provincial-level funding, having mentors and colleagues who’ve navigated those processes is a short-cut you don’t get from reading papers.

Who Should Apply

This is not for complete newcomers. The program targets people who are already doing meaningful work and want to multiply their impact. If you’re running a community-led housing project, coordinating an advocacy campaign, managing a small team at a nonprofit, or working in local government with an interest in progressive policy, you’re the intended audience.

Think of three concrete examples. First, a municipal policy analyst who has shepherded local climate pilots and wants to learn how to turn pilot results into a province-wide policy pitch. Second, an organizer who runs a grassroots membership drive and wants tools for digital and traditional media strategy, or for government relations to secure supportive ordinances. Third, a program manager at a social enterprise aiming to expand services and needing improved stakeholder engagement and fundraising narratives.

Early- to mid-career here means you’ve likely spent several years in the field and are now responsible for decisions, teams, or major projects. You don’t need a fancy résumé, but your application should show real impact — a campaign you helped win, a program you improved, or measurable outcomes from your work. The selection panel looks for people who will benefit from the training and who will then apply those new skills to strengthen progressive policy and practice across Canada.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Treat this application like you would a strategic campaign: clarity, evidence, and a clear ask. Start by writing a crisp two-sentence summary of your current role and one specific outcome you want from the fellowship (e.g., “I want to design a campaign that establishes a municipal rent control policy by 2028”). That anchor will keep every answer focused.

Be specific about impact. Don’t say “I work on affordable housing.” Say “I coordinated tenant outreach in 800 households, resulting in a municipal motion to study rent stabilization.” Numbers and concrete wins — even small ones — make your contribution believable. The reviewers are practitioners; they want to see that you can get things done, even when resources are tight.

Frame your learning goals as tactical gaps. Rather than saying “I want to be a better leader,” explain which leadership tasks you need help with: managing a 4-person team spread across cities, building consensus among diverse community stakeholders, or developing a rapid-response communications plan. That makes it easier for reviewers to see how the program will change your work.

Talk about scalability. If your work is local, explain how the skills you gain will be applied to projects that could be replicated elsewhere. If you already have a scalable idea, outline the first three concrete steps you’ll take after the program. Reviewers like to fund people who will spread capacity.

Use mentorship strategically. Identify what kinds of mentorship would accelerate your progress. Don’t just ask for mentorship in general terms — suggest mentors who could help (e.g., a former campaign director, a municipal councillor with policy experience, or a communications strategist). That signals you’ve thought about fit.

If you need organizational sponsorship, prepare a two-paragraph pitch for your employer: one paragraph explains what the program provides (intensive training, mentorship, travel covered, alumni network) and the second explains ROI for the employer (improved campaign outcomes, better stakeholder relations, reduced outsourcing costs for communications). Offer to brief leadership after the program and share materials; many organizations will sponsor if they see the direct business or mission benefit.

Finally, polish the small stuff. Proofread, avoid jargon that only insiders will understand, and keep answers concise but revealing. The reviewers are looking for leaders, not philosophers.

Application Timeline

Work backward from the deadline: January 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. Don’t wait until the last weekend.

• 6–8 weeks before deadline: Draft your answers. Pull together any impact metrics and a short supervisor or partner endorsement if helpful. Draft the two-sentence role summary and the specific outcome you want.
• 4 weeks before deadline: Ask a colleague outside your immediate team to read your application for clarity. If you’re seeking employer sponsorship, start that conversation now. Sponsorship discussions can take time with budgets and approvals.
• 2 weeks before deadline: Finalize your application responses, confirm logistical availability for March and November events, and double-check travel constraints with your family or employer.
• 48 hours before deadline: Submit. Online forms get finicky. Submitting early avoids last-minute upload or connectivity disasters.

If accepted, be prepared to commit to both in-person events and the monthly virtual schedule. Book tentative travel time off in advance so you won’t be scrambling for dates if you’re selected.

Required Materials

The program uses an online application form. Typical required materials include (prepare these in advance):

• A concise personal statement describing your current work and why this program matters to that work.
• A clear statement of learning objectives — what specific skills or outcomes do you expect?
• Evidence of impact or experience — short descriptions of 1–3 projects with metrics or outcomes.
• Contact details for a supervisor, peer, or partner who can verify your work (often not a formal letter).
• Confirmation you can attend in-person events in March and November if selected.
• Optional: a short note from your employer indicating willingness to sponsor (if applicable).

Writing advice: prepare answers in a separate document, then paste into the form. That protects you from timeouts and lets you edit. Use simple language and short paragraphs. For impact descriptions, use the formula: Context — Action — Result — Next Step.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

There are three things reviewers reward: clarity of impact, a concrete plan for applying learning, and evidence of collaborative leadership.

Clarity of impact means you can show outcomes, not just intentions. If your application lists a campaign, include how many people you reached, how many attended actions, how the campaign shifted policy discussions, or what funding you helped secure. It’s the difference between “organized events” and “organized five community meetings with 120 participants that led to City Council introducing a motion.”

A concrete plan for applying learning follows your learning objectives. If you say you want to improve government relations, describe the first policy you’ll approach differently after training — what meetings you’ll request, what data you’ll present, and what stakeholder groups you’ll bring to the table. That tells reviewers the training will be used, not filed away.

Collaborative leadership shows you can build and sustain momentum in messy environments. Provide examples where you negotiated competing interests, mentored volunteers, or coordinated cross-sector partners. Programs want people who multiply capacity when they return to their organizations.

Finally, commitment matters. Showing that your organization supports you, or that you have multiple stakeholders waiting for your improved skills, signals that the investment will have broader benefits.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

First, vagueness. Saying you “want to improve leadership skills” without naming tasks makes it hard for reviewers to assess fit. Second, overstating scope. If you’re early in your career, don’t claim national leadership without evidence — instead highlight growth trajectory with concrete wins.

Third, ignoring logistics. If you can’t commit to the March and November dates, don’t apply. The in-person days are core to the program. Fourth, poor proofreading. Small errors suggest sloppiness; reviewers equate care in applications with care in the field.

Fifth, lack of ROI for your organization. If you expect your employer to sponsor you, explain the return they’ll see (better campaigns, less consultant spend, stronger stakeholder relationships). If you don’t ask for sponsorship or explain its benefit, you miss an easy route to get support.

Finally, failing to show follow-through. Say how you’ll share the learning after the program — a team workshop, new campaign template, or revised stakeholder plan — and when you’ll do it. Follow-through plans reassure reviewers that the program’s impact will spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this program partisan?
A: No. The Emerging Leaders Program is non-partisan. It focuses on progressive policy and leadership development without formal party affiliation.

Q: Do I need to be based in a specific province?
A: No. The program is open to leaders across Canada. You’ll need to be able to travel for the mandatory in-person events in March and November.

Q: What does the $5,400 value cover?
A: That figure covers travel, accommodation, meals for the in-person sessions, facilitator honorariums, mentorship support, and program coordination. If your organization wants to sponsor you, full sponsorship is $5,400 and a partial option exists at $2,000.

Q: Can I apply if I’m a student?
A: The program targets early- to mid-career leaders. If you’re a student with substantial organizing or leadership experience and clear responsibilities, you may be considered, but you should demonstrate ongoing community impact.

Q: Will I receive a certificate?
A: The program typically provides documentation of completion and access to the alumni network. The real value lies in skills, mentorship, and connections rather than a formal credential.

Q: What’s the time commitment monthly?
A: Expect one curated virtual session per month — workshops, panels, or Q&A — plus the two full-day in-person trainings and engagement with a mentor. Plan for approximately 4–8 hours per month on average, with heavier time during the in-person months.

Q: Can organizations nominate multiple candidates?
A: The program encourages applications from leaders across sectors. If your organization wants to sponsor multiple people, reach out to the Broadbent Institute to discuss possibilities.

How to Apply

Ready to apply? Don’t procrastinate. Draft your responses in a separate document, get a colleague to read them, and confirm your travel availability for March and November before you hit submit. If you plan to ask for organizational sponsorship, start that conversation early — provide a short benefit summary and offer to share outcomes after the program.

Ready to apply? Visit the official application form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9Iz1NXt8MkxxB_dACZGzmHXc05Bj6e06Dp7UOgivLt4aUDg/viewform

For more program information and to check for any updates, visit the Broadbent Institute Emerging Leaders Program page. Mark the deadline on your calendar: January 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. Submit early, show concrete impact, and explain exactly how you’ll put the training to work — if you do that, you’ll give reviewers a clear reason to invest in you.