FAQs

To download this document in PDF format please click here.

General Description
1. What is Alchemy?
2. What is Alchemy's Leadership Seminar?
3. What is Alchemy +?
4. What makes Alchemy different from other nonprofit training programs?

Qualifications
5. Which individuals in the organization can participate in Alchemy?
6. What is the specific time commitment required by the Executive Director, Board Chair, and other Board members?
7. What criteria determines acceptance into Alchemy?
8. If I meet the criteria and am accepted, will I be automatically enrolled in the entire program?

Application Process
9. How do I apply to Alchemy’s Leadership Seminar?
10. How do I apply to Alchemy+?
11. Can I apply to Alchemy if I participated in the Annenberg Nonprofit Leadership Seminar in the past?
12. If my organization is outside of the Los Angeles area and I am willing to meet the attendance requirement, am I eligible to apply?
13. My organization does not have 501(c) (3) status, but I would benefit greatly from this program, am I eligible to apply?
14. Why are there two applications involved?

Cost
15. What is the cost to my organization?

Session Schedule & Location
16. What are Alchemy's Leadership Seminar dates?
17. What are the Alchemy+ dates?
18. Where are the Leadership Seminar trainings held?
19. Where are the Alchemy+ trainings held?

Deadlines
20. What is the deadline for application to Alchemy's Leadership Seminars?
21. What is the deadline for application to Alchemy +?

Grants
22. Will my organization receive a grant for my participation in Alchemy?
23. My organization received a grant from the Annenberg Foundation; will our existing relationship improve my candidacy to Alchemy?
24. My organization was declined for funding by the Annenberg Foundation; will my application to Alchemy receive full consideration?
25. Does my enrollment in Alchemy improve my chances of receiving future grants from the Annenberg Foundation?
26. What is Peer to Peer?

Contact Us
27. How can I contact the Annenberg Foundation if I have any other questions?

1. What is Alchemy?

Alchemy is a free nonprofit capacity building program led by experts in the sector and nonprofit peers. Alchemy is comprised of two phases. Phase one, named Leadership Seminars, offers peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Phase two, named Alchemy+, is the higher-level course for graduates of the Leadership Seminar, comprised of roundtable sessions, learning communities, mentorship, technical assistance and grants.

2. What is Alchemy's Leadership Seminar?
Leadership Seminar is Alchemy’s gateway training program.
Leadership Seminar is the signature course of Alchemy and spans several months. There are three central components of the Leadership Seminar: facilitated sessions, Community Champions, and the Alchemy Anthology.  The seminar is 3 days, with the first two days being sequential full days of trainings, and the last session, known as the Anthology Review Day, occurring approximately 90 days after the first two full days.  The seminar was designed in this fashion so that the participants could take advantage of the 90 days between Day Two and Anthology Review Day to work with their board and key staff members to begin to implement lessons learned.  Facilitators cover critical issues such as effective fundraising, board effectiveness, public involvement, and accountability. Community Champions bring the local practitioner’s perspective to the facilitation team.  They provide support to participants and their use of the Alchemy Anthology between Day Two and Anthology Review Day.  Leadership Seminar requires the full participation of the executive director and board chair, and is offered at no cost to organizations.

3. What is Alchemy +?
Alchemy+ is the second phase of Alchemy.  It is designed as a higher level for Alumni of Leadership Seminar and is geared toward highly motivated organizations that want to and are ready to take a deeper dive into the skills and strategies of effective organizational management, growth, and sustainability. Alchemy+ is composed of four highly participatory sessions offered every other month. Resources include the continued use of Anthology to support longitudinal learning, peer exchange both in the classroom as well as an online community, and small grants up to $10,000.  Sessions are designed to address the specific needs of participating nonprofit organizations and their leaders. The application process is open to alumni of Alchemy Leadership Seminar and Annenberg Nonprofit Leadership Seminar that meet the eligibility requirements. Alchemy+ requires the full participation of the executive director and the board chair and is offered at no cost to organizations.

4. What makes Alchemy different from other nonprofit training programs?
Alchemy's focus is on the working relationship and communication between the Executive Director and the Board Chair, which is why the presence of both parties at all training sessions is required. The alignment of the Executive Director and Board Chair's goals, roles and responsibilities in relation to each other provides the catalyst for change for the entire organization.

5. Which individuals in the organization can participate in Alchemy?
Alchemy is designed to serve nonprofit Executive Directors, or the highest ranked leader, and the Board Chair, specifically. Therefore, in both parts of the program — Alchemy Leadership Seminar and Alchemy+, the full participation of an organization’s Executive Director and Board Chair are mandatory. Organizations are welcome to register a second Board member, a Board Champion, who would also be able to help implement the tools and lessons learned. This third person is optional for Leadership Seminar, but isn’t allowed to attend Alchemy+.

6. What is the specific time commitment required by the Executive Director, Board Chair, and other Board members?
For the Leadership Seminar, both are required to attend three full session days. For the second part of the program, Alchemy+,  both are required to attend four half-day sessions held every other month. The online application process affirms that 100 percent participation of the Executive Director and Board Chair is the main requirement and that you accept this condition when you submit your application.

7. What criteria determines acceptance into Alchemy?
To be eligible for Alchemy, organizations must be qualified 501(c)(3) agencies located within Los Angeles County with a functioning Board of Directors. Although all interested nonprofit leaders can apply and will be considered, the preferred criteria is as follows.
- Your organization has been serving the needs of the local community for at least three years.
- Your Executive Director has served at least two years in his/her role.
- Your organization operates with an annual budget of $5 million or less.
- Your organization supports under-served and under-capitalized communities of Los Angeles County.

8. If I meet the criteria and am accepted, will I be automatically enrolled in the entire program?
No. There are two applications needed. Apply, get accepted and complete the Alchemy Leadership Seminar. Then once you've graduated from the Leadership Seminars, you may apply for Alchemy+.

9. How do I apply to Alchemy’s Leadership Seminar?
Please go to our Apply page. Only online applications will be accepted for consideration for both parts of the program.

10. How do I apply to Alchemy+?
Please go to our Apply page. Only online applications will be accepted for consideration for both parts of the program.

11. Can I apply to Alchemy if I participated in the Annenberg Nonprofit Leadership Seminar in the past?
If both the Executive Director and the Board Chair of your organization participated in an Annenberg Nonprofit Leadership Seminar in the past, you are eligible to apply to Alchemy+. However, if, like many organizations, you have had changes in your Executive Director or Board Chair positions since your participation in the Annenberg Nonprofit Leadership Seminar, we encourage you to apply for Leadership Seminar training.

12. If my organization is outside of the Los Angeles area and I am willing to meet the attendance requirement, am I eligible to apply?
At this time we are only providing this opportunity to organizations located in and/or serving the Los Angeles County region.

13. My organization does not have 501(c) (3) status, but I would benefit greatly from this program, am I eligible to apply?
Alchemy is only open to the thousands of nonprofit agencies and community based organizations in the Los Angeles County region that have obtained their registered nonprofit status with the IRS. If your organization does not have registered nonprofit status, but you would like to find out more, a helpful guide from the IRS can be
found here.

14. Why are there two applications involved?
Prospective participants need to apply for the Leadership Seminar. Graduates of that program can then apply to the second half of the program called Alchemy+.

15. What is the cost to my organization?
None. This is a free program.

16. What are Alchemy's Leadership Seminar dates?
Please click here to view current dates.

17. What are the Alchemy+ dates?
Please click here to view current dates.

18. Where are the Leadership Seminar trainings held?
All the Leadership Seminar trainings will be at the California Science Center, Wallis Annenberg Building (Muses Room).

19. Where are the Alchemy+ trainings held?
Alchemy+ Session 1 will be held at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica.
Alchemy+ Session 2 through 4 will be at the California Science Center, Wallis Annenberg Building (Muses Room).

20. What is the deadline for application to Alchemy's Leadership Seminars?

We have closed the application process for Alchemy Leadership Seminar 2012.  We encourage you to check back with us in September 2012 to learn more about our next cycle of Alchemy Leadership Seminar trainings.

21. What is the deadline for application to Alchemy +?
We have closed the application process for Alchemy+ 2011-2012. We encourage you to check back with us in the summer of 2012 to learn more about our next cycle of Alchemy+ trainings.

22. Will my organization receive a grant for my participation in Alchemy?
There is no grant or other compensation associated with Alchemy Leadership Seminar.  However, for organizations selected to participate in Alchemy+, a small capacity building grant will be awarded if all requirements of the program are fulfilled.

23. My organization received a grant from the Annenberg Foundation; will our existing relationship improve my candidacy to Alchemy?
Alchemy is open to all qualified organizations regardless of their grant history with the Annenberg Foundation. We are not giving any preference to organizations on the basis of past, current, or future funding decisions.

24. My organization was declined for funding by the Annenberg Foundation; will my application to Alchemy receive full consideration?
Yes, you will receive full consideration. Participation in Alchemy is not contingent on grantseeking history with the Annenberg Foundation. If you were declined for a grant in the past, but feel you meet the qualifications for participating in Alchemy, please apply.

25. Does my enrollment in Alchemy improve my chances of receiving future grants from the Annenberg Foundation?
No. Alchemy is not associated with our grantmaking in any way other than the possible award of a small capacity-building grant for our Alchemy+ graduates. However, we hope that participation in Alchemy will improve the ability of your organization to compete for resources from any possible funding source.

26. What is Peer to Peer?
Peer to Peer is an all day celebration, convening, and learning event, hosted by the Annenberg Foundation to bring together alumni of the Alchemy and Annenberg Nonprofit Leadership Seminar to share successes, enjoy one another's company, and learn from experts in the field. For more information on Peer to Peer please click here.

27. How can I contact the Annenberg Foundation if I have any other questions?
Call us at (213) 403-3030 or email info@annenbergalchemy.org.