Nonprofit leaders across the country are navigating shifting federal policies, changing revenue streams, and deep uncertainty about sustainability for both their organizations and themselves, which is why World Education Services’ Mariam Assefa Fund partnered with Shift Health Accelerator to convene a virtual Executive Directors Circle that created space for leaders serving immigrant and refugee communities to come together, share ideas, and support one another as they respond to the current moment. Designed as a six-session cohort, the Executive Directors Circle was shaped through a thoughtful co-design process that centered participant voices from the start. Leaders identified key challenges such as financial uncertainty, leadership burnout, and an increasingly complex policy environment, and helped translate those realities into a shared learning agenda. What emerged was not just a structured program, but a responsive space grounded in trust, relevance, and immediacy.

From the outset, participants emphasized the need for connection. Many executive directors operate in isolation, carrying the weight of organizational leadership without consistent peer support. The Executive Directors Circle created space for relationship building that felt both affirming and necessary. Through storytelling and small group conversations, participants shared their personal journeys into leadership and the communities that shaped them. These exchanges revealed a deep desire for ongoing connection, not only to reduce isolation, but to strengthen collaboration, coordination, and collective response in times of crisis. As one participant reflected, “I had no idea how much I needed this.”

A central theme of the Executive Directors Circle was the emotional and psychological toll of leadership in this moment. Early sessions focused on healing-centred leadership, inviting participants to explore trauma, anxiety, and the competing demands they face daily. Leaders spoke candidly about the difficulty of balancing personal well being with the urgent needs of their communities, noting that conventional approaches to self care often feel insufficient or disconnected from reality. These conversations underscored a critical truth that for many leaders the work is not just professional, but deeply personal, shaped by lived experience and a profound sense of responsibility.

As the cohort progressed, discussions shifted toward organizational sustainability and financial resilience. Participants highlighted the increasing volatility of funding streams, the challenges of adapting to changing philanthropic priorities, and the strain of maintaining operations with limited resources. Stories of downsizing, reduced support for immigrant-led work, and pressure to form partnerships that are not always feasible painted a clear picture of the current landscape. At the same time, there were glimpses of hope, including grassroots fundraising efforts and community-driven support that reinforced the importance of local engagement and trust.

The Executive Directors Circle also created opportunities to broaden perspective through cross border dialogue. A joint session with Canadian peers highlighted both shared challenges and differing contexts, reinforcing the importance of solidarity and coalition building. Participants expressed interest in deepening these connections, particularly as policy environments continue to evolve. At the same time, the conversation returned repeatedly to a core tension that while networking and learning are valuable, leaders are navigating urgent real time crises that require tangible resources and immediate support. Time, in particular, emerged as one of the scarcest and most precious resources.

Ultimately, leaders identified a range of supports that would help them meet the moment, including flexible funding, access to legal and technical expertise, individualized coaching, and stronger peer networks. There is also a clear opportunity for funders to play a more active role in facilitating collaboration, supporting joint funding strategies, shared learning, and network building that extends beyond a single cohort experience.

The lessons from the Executive Directors Circle point to a broader call to action. Supporting immigrant and refugee serving organizations requires more than programmatic investment, it demands a commitment to the people leading this work. By investing in long term capacity, trust based relationships, and responsive support systems, funders and partners can help ensure that these leaders and the communities they serve are not only able to withstand current challenges, but to build toward a more resilient and equitable future.