About
The Claneil Foundation believes in the power of innovation in the non-profit world as a catalyst for social change. The Emerging Leaders Fund was created to support the critical role that executive directors play in launching and growing early-stage organizations. The Foundation recognizes that these individuals and their organizations face unique internal and external challenges: they devote time and energy to the everyday demands of building an organization while developing new thinking, trying untested approaches and cultivating broader networks.
To provide critical support for these leaders and their organizations, the Foundation awards a four-year unrestricted general operating grant totaling $300,000 to each recipient’s organization and offers the leaders a thoughtful, close-knit support network of peers. In addition, each grantee partner has access to $10,000 in professional development/wellness funds to support its designated leader(s).
Recipients are selected based on their creative vision, leadership capacity, potential for impact, and commitment to innovation and learning in one or more of the following issue areas: education, hunger & nutrition/food system, health & human services, environment. This grant program is focused on early-stage nonprofit organizations located in the New England and Mid-Atlantic states. Organizations have typically been in existence for 3 - 5 years, and have budgets of less than $1 million. Grantee partners are selected based on nominations from a diverse pool of nominators who represent the foundation, nonprofit and business sectors. We typically receive over 100 nominations each year.
How to nominate
If you have an organization that you would like to nominate, please complete the brief ELF Nomination Form. It should only take a few minutes to complete.
We do not accept self-nominations. Multiple nominations do not increase the likelihood of being selected. We ask that all nominations remain confidential.
Important Dates
2026 cohort nominations due: September 10, 2025
2025 cohort finalists selected: December 1, 2024
2025 cohort grantee partners selected: May 30, 2025
Please note: These deadlines do not change from year to year. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will automatically be extended to the following business day.