THRIVING LEADERS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME
Develop your leadership. Strengthen your impact.
Applications Now Open | Free Leadership Development Programme. Applications close 30 October 2026.
Leadership in the social impact sector is rewarding, but it can also be demanding. Balancing the needs of your organisation, your team and the communities you serve often leaves little time to focus on your own development as a leader.
The NCCSI Thriving Leaders Programme is a fully funded leadership development opportunity designed to help leaders working across Ireland's social innovation, social enterprise, charity and community sectors build the confidence, capability and connections to lead effectively and sustainably.
Through a combination of practical learning, expert facilitation and peer exchange, the programme offers an opportunity to strengthen your leadership practice, explore real challenges and learn alongside others navigating similar experiences.
Two cohorts, tailored to your leadership journey
Growing as a Leader
For those building their experience and confidence in senior leadership, developing their leadership style and learning to move from doing and managing to leading effectively through others.
Leading at Scale
For experienced senior leaders navigating greater responsibility and complexity who want to strengthen strategic leadership, build leadership capacity around them and lead more sustainably.
What you'll gain
Three facilitated leadership development sessions between November 2026 and March 2027.
Practical leadership tools and approaches you can apply immediately.
A supportive network of 10–15 peers at a similar stage in their leadership journey.
Six months' access to the Mantra Thrive leadership platform.
An opportunity to contribute to wider learning and recommendations that will inform future support for Ireland's social innovation sector.
Places are limited to 15 participants per cohort, and participation is completely free.
Applicants must currently hold a role with formal responsibility for leading people and be able to attend all three programme sessions. Please review Programme Criteria before applying.
Ready to take the next step?
About the Thriving Leaders Programme & Partners
The NCCSI Thriving Leaders Programme is an initiative of the National Competence Centre for Social Innovation (NCCSI), delivered by Genio, Rethink Ireland and Mantra Strategy, in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The programme forms part of NCCSI's wider work to strengthen Ireland's social innovation ecosystem by supporting the people and organisations driving positive social change. Alongside developing individual leadership capability, the learning and insights generated will help inform future approaches to leadership development, funding and investment across the sector.
Together, we're investing in the leaders who are creating lasting social impact.
