San Diego Leadership Alliance Institute Quick Facts

What is the San Diego Leadership Alliance? 

• The San Diego Leadership Alliance (SDLA) is a local nonprofit dedicated to building progressive leadership in San Diego.
• The SDLA’s flagship program is the SDLA Institute, a six-month intensive skills and relationship building program for progressive young professionals.
• The SDLA Institute includes the following elements:
  • Personal leadership development
  • Skill building in multiple areas, including policy analysis, political management, messaging, and strategic communications
  • Training on fundraising for politics and nonprofits
  • Application of fundraising skills via organizing a fellows’ fundraiser
  • Spotlight speaker visits from local elected officials and prominent progressive leaders
  • Networking events with the Institute class, the SDLA board, and the larger SDLA network

Who should apply for the SDLA Institute?

• The SDLA Institute is for progressive young professionals and emerging leaders.
• Institute Fellows have a demonstrated capacity to take risks and make meaningful change in the world around them. 
• The SDLA Institute is not just for political professionals, but also for those in business, law, education, defense, and the non-profit and philanthropic sectors.
• Applicants should review the Institute schedule prior to applying, as all Fellows are expected to be present for the entirety of each Institute session.

How do I apply for the next SDLA Institute?

• Application opens September 5, 2023 at https://sdleadership.wufoo.com/forms/2024-sdla-institute-application/
• DEADLINE: Applications are due by 11:59 PM on Thursday, November 9, 2023.
• Applicants must be members of the SDLA ($30) to apply, and there is a $200 deposit to participate. The $200 deposit is returned to Fellows after they complete the Institute.

How do I learn more about the SDLA? 

• Visit our website at https://www.sdleadership.org/sdla-institute for the following information:
  • Details on optional info-sessions for prospective applicants.
  • Read about past Fellows, and past Institute programs.
  • Sign up for the SDLA email distribution list.
• Please contact [email protected] if you have any additional questions!

How else can I help out the SDLA’s mission?

• Nominate candidates for the SDLA Institute at https://sdleadership.wufoo.com/forms/2024-a-sdla-institute-a-nominations/ 
• Participate in a committee
• Host an Institute session or event
• Become a member at http://sdleadership.org. 

Who runs the SDLA?

• The SDLA is a nonprofit, run by local volunteers. 
• The San Diego Leadership Alliance is managed by two co-presidents, Ansermio Jake Estrada and Emily Tran, as well as about 16 other board members.

San Diego Leadership Alliance

2024 Institute Dates

• SESSIONS 1 & 2.  Saturday & Sunday, January 20 & 21  
  • Happy Hour to follow with Fellows only.

• SESSION 3.  Saturday, February 3 

• SESSION 4.  Saturday, February 10

• SESSION 5.  Saturday, March 9

• SESSION 6.  Saturday, March 16

• SESSION 7.  Saturday, April 13  

• SESSION 8.  Saturday, April 27

• SESSION 9.  Saturday, May 4

FELLOWS FUNDRAISER.  Mid-May 2024

• SESSIONS 10. Saturday, May 18

• GRADUATION.  Saturday, June 8

*All sessions run from 9:30 am – 5:30 pm (except Graduation, which is usually scheduled for the afternoon).