Peer Groups - The High Center
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Executive Peer Groups

Turn learning into action through the power of peers.

Learning can spark an idea. Trusted peers can help you do something with it. The High Center’s nonprofit peer groups bring leaders together in confidential, facilitated groups where they can talk openly about the challenges they are facing, learn from one another’s experiences, and work through decisions with people who understand the realities of leading a nonprofit organization.

A Group that Understands Nonprofit Leadership

Nonprofit executives carry a unique responsibility. You’re accountable to a mission, a board, employees, donors, funders, partners, and the community you serve—often all at the same time.

Your peer group gives you a confidential space away from those competing demands.

Here, you can bring the issue that’s keeping you up at night. Talk through a difficult board relationship. Think about your next organizational structure. Work through a staffing challenge. Explore a new revenue idea. Prepare for growth or succession.

And instead of receiving a textbook answer, you gain something often more valuable–perspective from leaders who have faced similar decisions themselves.

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Peer Group Benefits

A trusted sounding board

Bring your toughest leadership questions to people who understand the responsibility of leading an organization.

Greater confidence in difficult decisions

Test your thinking before making decisions that affect your people, organization, and mission.

Practical ideas you can use

Learn what’s working in other organizations and bring new approaches back to your team and board.

Hear from High Center Members

“When everything is running smoothly, a peer group invites you to experiment with new ideas and imagine what is possible. It reminds you that leadership doesn’t have to be a lonely experience. But when times are difficult, that same circle becomes something even more important, it becomes a lifeline.”
Cheryl Hiester
Literacy & Learning Success Centers
“The dynamic of the peer groups has probably been the most valuable to me. Finding new solutions. Testing your assumptions and getting feedback from experienced leaders.”
Jack Crowley
Water Street Mission
“When one finds a place to be open, vulnerable, and authentic, it is always special. When a leader finds that space with other leaders, it is life changing. The High Center is one of the places where I have found the opportunity to genuinely connect, reflect, and be real about the ups and downs of leadership and life as we strive to help our organizations thrive.”
Steven Schedler
TrueNorth Wellness

Peer Group Facilitators

Experienced subject-matter experts serve alongside High Center facilitators, bringing specialized knowledge and real-world perspective to peer group conversations. Their expertise helps members explore challenges, consider new approaches, and turn shared insights into practical action.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a High Center Executive Peer Group?

An Executive Peer Group is a cohort of 8-10 High Center members dedicated to helping one another reach their professional and personal goals. Groups meet to share best practices, process real business challenges, and hold each other accountable in a structured, confidential setting. The result is a uniquely safe environment where leaders can be honest, vulnerable, and genuinely open to growth.

What makes a High Center Peer Group different from networking?

A networking group introduces you to new people. A peer group gives you the same 8 to 10 people who know your organization well enough to tell you the truth about it.

  • The room is protected: this enables members to raise issues they cannot raise anywhere else.
  • The meeting is facilitated: it follows the same proven agenda and is led by a trained High Center Managing Director. 
  • You leave with commitments, not just contacts: members leave with clear next steps and are held accountable for them at the following meeting.
  • The relationships outlast the meeting: members form deep bonds that extend well beyond business.
Who participates in Executive Peer Groups?

Executive Directors, CEO’s and key executives from nonprofit organizations. Groups are intentionally structured to provide a range of perspectives while avoiding conflicts of interest. Members from the same organization and direct competitors are not placed in the same group. The groups are designed for people who want to learn, grow, and reach new levels.

How often do Peer Groups meet?

Executive Peer Groups meet every other month in a facilitated, four-hour session and follow the same proven agenda. Each meeting provides dedicated time for members to discuss challenges, share insights, learn from one another, and address issues that matter to their organizations and lives.

How do I become part of a Peer Group?

Peer Group participation is an important part of High Center membership. The process begins with a conversation about your nonprofit. The High Center team works with you to identify the Peer Group that offers the best fit based on factors such as leadership role, organization’s mission and size, and potential conflicts of interest. Reach out to our team today to get started.

Connect with a Peer Group

Connect with nonprofit leaders who understand the challenges you face. Gain trusted perspective, share experiences, and strengthen your leadership. Contact us to find the right peer group.

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