Surge Institute

The Surge ahead includes developing, elevating, and uniting more than
5,000 of these leaders by 2030, catalyzing their growth and providing the
tools and connection necessary for us to wreck the nonsense we see and
create the space we need.

The Surge ahead will fuel the expanding vision and efforts of those
leaders, binding them tighter as a collective of changemakers, growing
their knowledge of what it takes to influence change, and providing the
ongoing support it takes to move mountains.

The Surge ahead will influence systemic change, connecting with
forward-thinking leaders and allies to build collective efforts that shift
policies and practices in institutions and organizations to create equitable
spaces for all.

One of the most transformational aspects of our existing programming is
executive coaching. More than anything else, our alumni identify the relationship
with their coaches of color as a real difference-maker, building their confidence
and resolve to pursue their vision for themselves, understanding and aiming their
strengths, and acknowledging successful and unsuccessful patterns. Building a
brand to bring this opportunity beyond just our fellows and community can help
elevate the Surge brand, build the practices of coaches of color, and accelerate
the healing and impact of countless leaders of color.

Our loyal alumni value their relationship with Surge, and look to the program
team and alumni team to help them with career transitions, entrepreneurial
ideas, healing and wellness, and collaboration opportunities across sites and
classes. With sustained financial health and a growing alumni base enable us
to think creatively about how to support our alumni and continue to accelerate
their impact on children, communities, and cities. Their impacts can take them
to elected office, governing boards, start-ups, school and district leadership,
personal development, and more that we never dreamed of. Alumni supports will
scale to connect, support, and inspire our alums.

COVID led us to find new ways of working, and our two latest hires live in Florida
and Pennsylvania, respectively. Carmita is headed to California. Our current staff
has successfully nestled work spaces into their homes, supported with standing
desks, big monitors, and ergonomic chairs. We can save money and invest our
funds differently to become a virtual organization, limited not by cities but
opened to national opportunity.

Transformative programming is our top strength. Our program objectives are Dream Big, Know
the Landscape, Focus Inward, and Make an Impact. With this balance of goals, our programming
engages emerging leaders and helps them build their vision for their communities.

The Surge team. Surge is not your average workplace; we have ambitious goals to improve our
programming and deliver excellent content to our fellows and alums. Our workplace is people-centered, with meeting structures, decision-making methods, and work planning that adapts
with new learning and leaves oppression of corporate cultures behind. We invest in individuals
to meaningfully grow within their roles. Our people are celebrated for their many identities,
valuing differences in race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, family structure, age,
and the countless intersectionalities therein. We value wellness, providing competitive salaries,
supportive benefits, and flexible time off to enable people to take care holistically. We have fun
together, investing in staff retreats, care packages, and social connection, before, during, and
after the COVID pandemic.

Our allies make us better. Surge builds deep relationships with presenters, coaches, facilitators,
caterers, and other partners who represent our values and our identities, and we help them build
thriving businesses with authenticity.

Our alumni have only begun to shine. We have 230 program alumni, nearly all of whom give their
time, talent, and treasure to Surge each year. Some are climbing the ladders of authority and
influence in our cities, districts, and nonprofits. Others are finding a new way for themselves to
create their own consultancies, nonprofits, or companies to make a difference in the world. Many
of them see Surge as the most important alumni network to which they belong, meaning more
than their undergraduate experience or other fellowship programs. As we curate experiences and
facilitate convening, we will see even more connection, innovation, creativity, and impact from
this nationwide group.

Our board is visionary, connected, and devoted to helping our organization achieve greater
levels of impact with individuals, communities, and cities. Their perspectives, with a balance of
experience in foundations, charter school leadership, nonprofit leadership, impact investing and
corporate chops, support our growth, dare us to dream bigger, and keep us grounded in supporting
our people to make sustainable impact.

Our financial status is better than ever. Our team is well positioned to expand to new
communities through the Surge Academy, and our deep partnerships with local and national
foundations have put us in a strong financial position. We have an operating reserve and can begin
to think about building a strategic opportunities fund to expand our impact in new industries and
program styles