ASI’s MEDAL Program

ASI’s MEDAL (Molding Executives and Directors into Arts Leaders) Program is forging the next generation of WNY arts leaders.

The six (6) month training and mentorship program offers participants, or MEDALists, monthly workshops and presentations, along with resources, networking, and mentorship opportunities related to managing nonprofit arts or culture organizations.

The MEDAL program is similar to other leadership programs found in WNY, but it is the only program in the region that is specifically designed to meet the needs of arts nonprofit leaders.

Participation in the program requires approximately 35 hours of commitment over a six-month period. Sessions will be held the third Thursday of the month between April and September of 2025, excluding June which will be held on the fourth Thursday to avoid the Juneteenth holiday.

Applications for the 2025 program will close on March 12, 2025.

2025 Schedule

Date:	Topic:
March 12, 2025	Application Deadline
April 17, 2025	Orientation / Meet & Greet
May 15, 2025	Leadership
June 26, 2025	Human Resources
July 17, 2025	Governance and Nonprofit Boards
August 21, 2025	Development
September 18, 2025	Closing / Leadership

TESTIMONIALS

“The staff support and engagement was really notable – having so much of the ASI team take time to focus and be present at these sessions was really meaningful!”

2024 MEDAList

“As a young, still relatively-inexperienced arts leader, I treasured the opportunity to talk with some of the industries brightest minds. It has set me up for success in every way and I am so grateful for the opportunity.”

2024 MEDAList

“The program was outstanding, and the wide array of important topics were excellent… Bravo for an outstanding program – ASI rocks, as always!”

2024 MEDAList

“Thank you for all you’ve done for us – I feel so much more secure in my ability to lead my organization and be successful as a new director. Having a cohort of my peers that I can now turn to is invaluable. It’s hard to be lonely as an ED when you’ve got so many people to rely on!”

2023 MEDAList

“I really love the opportunity to continue relationships with colleagues and others in this industry. Having ASI lead the charge for this opportunity is incredible and valued.”

2023 MEDAList

Apply Now

Why choose MEDAL?

Each guest presenter and workshop be presented through a nonprofit arts lens with topics relatable to arts organizations of all sizes.
All presenters have been identified by ASI to be open, communicative, and collaborative to create meaningful and honest experiences.
Create lasting bonds with your fellow MEDALists and build your own support network in the WNY arts industry.
Each cohort receives continued support from ASI and their fellow MEDALists beyond the six-month program period.
ASI’s additional resources are open for your use including templates, access to other leaders, private office space, conference room, open area work space, laptops, iPads, recording equipment, and more.

FAQ’s

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for this program:

Must be in an executive-level leadership* role.
Must be employed at a nonprofit arts or culture organization.
Must be based in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, or Niagara counties.
Must be able to commit to participating in person for all of the listed dates.
Must have reliable transportation or the ability to get to venues located throughout the WNY region.
Cannot be a board member, volunteer, or independent contractor of the organization.

*For the purposes of this program, we consider leadership positions any director level administrative position, including Executive Director, Managing Director, Operations Director, etc. Depending on the size and structure of your organization, positions with the title of “manager” may also be considered.

Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a desire to continue in their nonprofit arts/culture leadership work and who have an innate desire to learn and grow. Applicants should demonstrate strong personal initiative and motivation, and the ability to work well on teams that include varying viewpoints.

How do I apply?

Interested applicants can apply by clicking the purple “Apply Now” button above or by clicking here to submit an application. The application should take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.

For any questions or issues, please contact Holly Grant at [email protected].

What questions are asked in the application?

In addition to providing your contact information, applicants will be asked to answer several narrative questions, provide a resume or CV, and agree to ASI’s MEDAL program attendance policy.

If you wish to prepare your answers before going to the application form, you can view them in a PDF by clicking here.

How are participants selected?

Selected participants will represent a wide range of backgrounds, art forms, perspectives, experiences, and geographic locations. This is intentional to ensure as many perspectives are brought to the table as possible.

Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a desire to continue in their nonprofit arts/culture leadership work and an innate desire to learn and grow. Applicants should demonstrate strong personal initiative and motivation, as well as the ability to work well on teams that include varying viewpoints.

Selected participants are expected to attend every session. We ask applicants to confirm their schedule prior to applying for this program.

How many people will be accepted?

We intend to accept between 10 and 12 leaders into the 2025 cohort.

Cohorts are intentionally kept small to ensure everyone feels comfortable, has their specific needs addressed and supported, and receives adequate attention and time during the learning sessions. We feel people learn best when they feel safe and free to share openly without fear of judgement or retaliation. Participants are expected to treat everyone with respect and to be open to different perspectives and opinions.

What is the time commitment?

Participation in this program requires approximately 35 hours of commitment over a six (6) month period.

Sessions will be held the third Thursday of the month between April and September of 2025, excluding June which will be held on the fourth Thursday to avoid the Juneteenth holiday. Five of the sessions, taking place between May and September, will be six hours each. An opening orientation will be a shorter day, but still requires attendance.

Selected participants are required to commit to every session. Failure to attend a session could result in removal from the program.

Dates & Times

January 27, 2025
Information and Applications released

March 12, 2025 by 5:00 pm
Applications due

By March 28, 2028
Participants selected and announced

Thursday, April 17, 2025 from 1:00-4:00 pm
Orientation / Meet and Greet

Thursday, May 15, 2025 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Leadership

Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Human Resources

Thursday, July 17, 2025 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Governance and Board

Thursday, August 21, 2025 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Development

Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closing – Leadership, feedback, and happy hour/networking

Where will sessions take place?

Each session will be held in a different location. However, we don’t determine the final locations for each month’s session until we know who is in the program. This is intentional to ensure we are being equitable and selecting locations that are close to all of our program participants, so no participant has a far drive every single month.

We do ask that each applicant have reliable transportation or a way to get to any venue (including carpooling) within the five (5) county region of Western New York, as the program is open to leaders in all five (5) counties. Locations will be confirmed by the first session in April.

What content is presented each month?

This six-month program will include orientation, four in depth learning sessions, and a closing event that ties it all together. While there are many things arts and culture nonprofit leaders need to know, we chose the top issues that will make everyone a better leader.

Leadership: includes how to create a positive and inspiring workplace culture. Participants will take DiSC Work of Leaders Assessments that will help them identify their leadership style and better understand their own strengths and challenges as leaders. The goal is to help MEDALists create a happy and healthy culture for their staff and volunteers.
Human Resources: this is one of the most commonly requested topics that impacts everyone. As the majority of nonprofit arts and culture organizations do not employ or contract with a human resources professional, this work is often done by someone in the leadership team. In addition to the basics of hiring, firing, benefits, employment packages, and payroll, participants will learn what is required by law and what is best practice.
Governance: this topic helps leaders understand what is required legally of an organization, including required organization documents and annual filings, and the relationship between the staff and board of directors. Board members from each organization may be invited to join this session and learn how to be better partners to the organization’s executive staff.
Development: raising money is one of the top priorities for nonprofit leaders as it is how the organization stays solvent. The exact areas of development and finance that will be covered will be determined by the needs of those accepted into the program.
Back to Leadership: MEDALists will complete self-awareness and self-exploration exercises individually and as a team to ensure each participant is set up for success no matter what situation they find themselves in.

There is so much that leaders of nonprofit arts and culture organizations need to know. But we also know that leaders don’t have a lot of time they can take away from their work to learn these things. That’s why these sessions will be high-level overviews focused on the most important aspects of running a nonprofit arts or culture organization in the WNY region. To help fill in the gaps, ASI will provide participants with resources and additional opportunities that they can peruse on their own.

Participants will also have the opportunity to connect to past MEDAL participants who have offered to mentor and connect with new cohort members. While the ASI staff are always available for support and questions, we feel that connecting to those who are doing similar work has long lasting and far reaching benefits. This also acts as a networking tool to help strengthen the entire WNY arts and culture industry.

How much does this program cost?

Thanks to the generous support of ASI’s funders, this program is being offered free of charge for 2025. The estimated value of this program is $3,500 per participant.

Depending on available future funding, a small fee may be added in subsequent years.