The Coaching Project

Who We Are

The Coaching Project is dedicated to assisting leaders in nonprofit organizations. To this end, we provide individual and group coaching to executives and their teams from national and international nonprofit organizations. The Coaching Project has evolved over 15 years of providing coaching and training to organizations. This work is done through The Brande Foundation that was started in 1987.

Dave Ellis, president of The Brande Foundation, and the coaches he has trained have provided executive coaching and staff development workshops to many world-renowned organizations. Leaders we have coached include Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank; Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS and the Microcredit Summit; Anne Goddard, President of Child Fund International; Alex Counts, President of Grameen Foundation USA; Lynne Twist, co-founder of The Pachamama Alliance; Maria Otero, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs and former President of ACCION International; and Sam Worthington, CEO for InterAction.

Dave Ellis' individual and group coaching approach produces measurable changes. He has trained hundreds of coaches who have a proven track record in providing effective results-oriented coaching. The Coaching Project team is committed to helping you create clear long-range strategic plans, solve problems, innovate, and achieve your goals. Our approach is both collaborative and empowering. Our purpose is to help you create new ways to promote the mission of your organization.

 

About Us

More information about the work of Dave Ellis can be found at www.DaveEllisLeadership.com. All profits from the consulting and product sales from Dave Ellis Leadership are contributed to The Brande Foundation to fund The Coaching Project.

Coaching and Consulting Staff

	Dave Ellis President, Executive Coach Dave Ellis began facilitating national workshops and started training coaches in 1983. He assists organizations to create long-range strategic plans, increase innovation, and improve group effectiveness. He specializes in coaching leaders of nonprofit organizations. He is the founder and president of Breakthrough Enterprises, Inc. and The Brande Foundation. All profits from his company are donated to his foundation. Dave has written seven books that have sold over five million copies. They include: Creating Your Future, Human Being, Falling Awake, Becoming a Master Student, and Life Coaching.
	Bill Rentz Vice President, Master Certified Coach Bill Rentz has worked with Dave Ellis for over 25 years. He is vice president of both Breakthrough Enterprises, Inc., and The Brande Foundation. Bill is an executive coach and has been awarded his MCC from the International Coach Federation. He is responsible for developing and operating The Coaching Project. Bill is also responsible for much of the day-to-day operation of our organizations. He lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota and is a dedicated husband for over 24 years.
	JoAnne Bangs Director of Training, Executive Coach JoAnne Bangs began a coaching practice 22 years ago while raising two young children and since then she has been coaching individuals, business owners, couples, and leaders of nonprofit organizations. She has spent years working with Anne Goddard, President of Child Fund International; Melanie Macdonald, President of World Neighbors; and Yolanda Richardson, Past President of Center for Development and Population Activities. After a major health challenge in 2000, she transformed all aspects of her life such that her life is now vibrant, accomplished, and joyful. Her goal is to assist her clients to achieve the same through her coaching and our trainings.
	Peter Chandonnet Executive Coach In addition to being a coach, Peter teaches yoga at the Yoga Studio in San Francisco. Peter has a great love for coaching and yoga, because these two forms of transformation have brought great love, abundance, purpose, and passion to his life and to the lives of others. His purpose is to be an inspiration to himself and to others and inspire others to their greatness. It is Peter's dream that we live in a world that is environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling. He feels coaching and yoga have the potential to create such a world.
	Francine Campone Executive Coach Francine Campone, Ed.D., PCC coaches leaders in education and nonprofit organizations, organization teams, and mature professionals making significant transitions in life and work. Her coach training is complemented by experience in humanistic mediation, group dynamics and facilitation, Constructive Living Practice, and 30 years of experience in higher and adult education. A member of the founding faculty of University of Texas at Dallas' graduate coaching certification program, Francine developed and teaches an introduction to research practices for coaches. Dr. Campone is active in the International Coach Federation's research arena and the Foundation of Coaching in the development of a repository of coaching research.
	Rick Ingrasci Executive Coach Rick Ingrasci, M.D., M.P.H. is a psychiatrist, author, and teacher in the fields of integrative medicine, community development, organizational learning, and holistic education. Rick has a rich background in psychiatry, holistic medicine, and personal and social transformation. He is a graduate of Cornell University Medical College and the Harvard School of Public Health. He is the co-author of the best-selling book Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life. Rick is a co-founder of the American Holistic Medical Association and Physicians for Social Responsibility.
	Stan Lankowitz Executive Coach Stan Lankowitz, M.Ed., L.P.C., dedicates his career to helping leaders in nonprofit organizations and businesses resolve problems, explore new possibilities, design and implement strategic plans, and achieve success. The coaching he has provided for over 30 years help people improve the quality of their lives in both personal and professional domains.

 

How to Apply

The Coaching Project accepts applications from leaders of nonprofit national and international organizations.

To qualify for a full scholarship, an organization must meet the following criteria:

1. A CEO available to participate fully in the process
2. A staff of 50 or more
3. A minimum annual budget of $5 million
4. Programs that do not promote a particular religion or spiritual practice

Full Scholarship Award

Full scholarship award valued at $25,000 includes:

• 4-6 hours of one-on-one coaching per month for one year for one to four executives
• A one to two-day executive retreat or customized staff development workshop where Dave Ellis provides group coaching and visioning
• Access to all of Dave Ellis' workshops offered throughout the year (For details on the workshops click here.)
• Access to the weekly virtual gathering of The Falling Awake Support Community
• A copy of the book Falling Awake and access to all DaveEllisLeadership.com online resources
• (Travel expenses are not included in this scholarship.)

Partial Scholarship Awards

The Coaching Project offers partial scholarship awards to organizations that meet the following criteria:

1. A top level manager available to participate fully in the process
2. Programs that do not promote a particular religion or spiritual practice

For the partial scholarship, you may customize your award. The cost will be based on the selections below. The Coaching Project will pay for half the actual cost.

Partial scholarship awards may include:

• 4-6 hours of one-on-one coaching per month for six months to one year for one to four executives
• A one to two-day executive retreat or customized staff development workshop where Dave Ellis provides group coaching and visioning
• Access to all of Dave Ellis' workshops offered throughout the year (For details on the workshops click here.)
• Access to the weekly virtual gathering of The Falling Awake Support Community
• A copy of the book Falling Awake and access to all DaveEllisLeadership.com online resources
• (Travel expenses are not included in this partial scholarship.)

Application

To fill out our application, click here.

 

Contributing to The Coaching Project

The Coaching Project provides scholarships to leaders of nonprofits. All profits from Dave Ellis Leadership workshops and coaching directly support The Brande Foundation's primary initiative - The Coaching Project.

Up until recently, Dave has been the sole financial support for this project. In order to expand our program and offer hundreds of scholarships, we seek individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants in support of our work.

If you would like to contribute to The Coaching Project, please contact JoAnne Bangs at .

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Coaching confidential?

Although executive coaching is not counseling, you can expect to receive that same level of confidentiality.

Why is there no charge for this service?

Although Dave Ellis has given away over a million dollars in direct contributions, he believes that an even more effective way to assist nonprofit organizations is to provide their leaders with individual and group coaching. Through his own experience of coaching others, Dave has noticed that when the quality of life for leaders of nonprofits improves, the effectiveness of their organizations improves as well.

Is The Brande Foundation religiously affiliated?

No. The Brande Foundation is a private operating foundation with no religious affiliation. The coaching services are provided by people from a wide variety of religious and spiritual backgrounds to a religiously diverse group of people.

What’s the training & experience of the life coaches?

Almost all of our coaches have a Masters Degree in counseling or a closely related area. They have all been trained by Dave Ellis using the techniques outlined in his seven books, which include Life Coaching, Falling Awake, and Creating Your Future.

What if I start using the service and don’t like it?

Within a month or two, if you do not notice a dramatic improvement in your life and your work, we will either assign another coach to work with you or agree that this service is not right for you. Of course, you can stop using this service at any time.

Is this coaching limited to my work?

No. We believe that when you handle challenges at home or in your personal life, your professional effectiveness will also improve.