OUR WORK
We Don’t Just Study Hope.
We Build It.
The Center for Hopeful Leadership is a think-and-do tank. That means we are equally committed to advancing the science of hope and to rolling up our sleeves alongside the organizations and leaders who are ready to put it into practice.
OUR APPROACH
Hope is Not a Program. Hope is a Practice.
A practice that is built into the way an organization actually operates.
Most leadership development stops at inspiration. A great keynote, a powerful workshop, a book that changes how you think — and then Monday morning arrives, and nothing has changed. CHL is different. We work at the intersection of research and implementation, helping organizations move from understanding hope to actually living it.
Everything we do is grounded in the same three pillars that define Hopeful Leadership: Goals that are clear and compelling, Pathways that are strategic and flexible, and Agency that is cultivated at every level of the organization.
– Jess K. Lewis, Founder, Center for hopeful Leadership
“We meet organizations where they are — and walk with them toward where they want to be.”
FOUR AREAS OF WORK
How We Show Up
CHL’s work spans four interconnected areas — each one essential to building a field, not just a brand.
Research and Field Building
01 – RESEARCH AND FIELD BUILDING
Advancing the Science of Hopeful Leadership.
Hope Theory has been studied for decades — but its application to organizational leadership, systems change, and cross-sector practice is still emerging. CHL is building that field.
We conduct and curate research, publish accessible frameworks, and contribute to the growing body of evidence that hope is not just a personal virtue — it is an organizational strategy.
- Applied Research
- Framework Development
- Publications
- Partnerships
Training and Education
02 – TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Learning Experiences That Actually Change How You Lead.
CHL delivers training that goes beyond information transfer. Our learning experiences are designed to shift mindset, build skill, and create the conditions for lasting change — in the leader and in the organization.
From keynote presentations that open a room to new possibilities, to multi-day leadership institutes that go deep — we meet leaders where they are and take them somewhere new.
- Keynote Speaking
- Leadership Institutes
- Team Facilitation
- Executive Coaching
Organizational Implementation
03 – ORGANIZATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION
Embedding Hope Into the Way You Actually Operate.
Understanding Hopeful Leadership is one thing. Building it into your culture, your strategy, and your systems is another. This is where most organizations need the most support — and where CHL does some of its most meaningful work.
We partner with nonprofits, public agencies, and educational institutions to assess their current hope capacity, identify the barriers, and co-create a roadmap for sustainable change.
- Organizational Assessment
- Strategic Planning
- Culture Building
- Board Development
Youth Leadership Development
04 – YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The Next Generation of Hopeful Leaders Is Already Here.
Through fellowships, mentorship, and certification programs, we invest in young people who are ready to lead — and in the adults and institutions that surround them. Our goal: certify 100 youth leaders in our first five years.
Young people are not the leaders of tomorrow — they are leaders right now. CHL’s youth programs are built on the belief that goals, pathways, and agency are not adult concepts. They are human ones.
- Youth Fellowships
- Mentorship Programs
- Youth Certification
- Adult Ally Training
HOW WE WORK
Every Engagement Follows the Same Commitment.
Whether we are delivering a keynote or co-designing a three-year organizational strategy, our process is grounded in the same values: listen deeply, build together, and leave the organization stronger than we found it.
1
Listen & Assess
We start by understanding where you are — your goals, your barriers, your culture, and your capacity for change.
2
Design Together
We co-create an approach that fits your organization — not a generic program, but a strategy built for your context.
3
Implement & Support
We walk alongside you through implementation — providing facilitation, coaching, and real-time problem-solving.
4
Measure & Sustain
We help you track what’s changing, celebrate what’s working, and build the internal capacity to sustain it.
OUR COMMITMENT
Built for Impact. Designed to Last.
CHL is a national think-and-do tank — which means we hold ourselves accountable to both the quality of our ideas and the depth of our impact. Here is what we are working toward.
100+
Youth Leaders Certified by Year 5
50+
Organizational Partnerships in Year 3
7-10
Cross-Sector Experts on the CHL Team
1
Field-Defining Book: The Hopeful Leader
PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES
Knowledge That Belongs to Everyone.
The Hopeful Leadership Framework is open source. Our research, tools, and frameworks are designed to be shared — because the more leaders who understand and practice hope, the better the world gets.
FORTHCOMING BOOK
The Hopeful Leader
CHL’s flagship publication — a practical, research-grounded guide to leading with hope in mission-driven organizations. Written for the leader who is ready for a better way.
FIELD GUIDE
The CHL Field Guide
A companion to the book — a hands-on, practical resource for teams and organizations ready to apply the framework in their day-to-day work.
BLOG AND LEARNING HUB
The Hopeful Leader Blog
Insights, research summaries, and practical tools for leaders who want to build hope in their organizations — one week at a time.
WORK WITH US
Ready to Build Something Hopeful?
Whether you are an organization ready to transform your culture, a funder who believes in this work, or a leader looking for your next step — we want to hear from you.
Partner with CHL
Bring Hopeful Leadership into your organization through training, implementation, or a long-term strategic partnership.
Support Our Work
CHL is building a field. Funders and donors who believe in the power of hope can help us reach more organizations and more young people.
Stay Connected
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