2. I’m proud that my father served in the United States Army. He was stationed at the Presidio
and retired from this beautiful place. Like so many other men and women in uniform, he
passed through the Presidio gates daily to bring positive change to communities, to the nation,
and to the world.
Service is the lifeblood of the Presidio. I’m honored to have the opportunity to build on this
legacy — the legacy of my family and of so many others.
The Presidio Institute aspires to write a new chapter in the Presidio’s story by reactivating
the Fort Scott campus for a bold, public purpose. We convene thought leaders to share
best practices, learn from one another, build meaningful collaborations, and ultimately solve
complex social challenges.
Our focus is on accessibility and approachability to diverse audiences. Our concentration is
on empowering leaders. Our bias is to move beyond ideas and spur action that will result in
achievable, measurable results.
Join us as we inspire a new generation of
changemakers to create positive impact in
the world.
David B. Smith
Managing Director
Presidio Institute
HOW WE WORK
The Presidio Institute fosters collaboration
among leaders in the corporate, non-profit,
government, and other sectors to make
meaningful impact in the world.
We deliver programs and convene events that
equip “champions for change” who have the
network, skills, and mindset to tackle complex
challenges.
We inspire leaders to work across boundaries,
to include the missing voice, and to take bold
action — in short, to lead in the 21st century.
WHERE WE WORK
The Presidio Institute is located in a stunning
campus adjacent to the Golden Gate Bridge
within the 1,500-acre Presidio, a former
military post transformed into a new kind of
national park.
Our home is a nexus for social change — a
place to gather, learn, and exchange ideas. It is
a place where leaders from across the nation
can find inspiration, learn new skills, renew their
courage, and recharge their ambition.
WE SHAPE LEADERS
TO SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS
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3. Building on the Presidio’s legacy of service, the Presidio Institute
provides transformational experiences that inspire, encourage, and
empower leaders to make positive impact in their communities.
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THE PRESIDIO INSTITUTE
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
— A Customizable Training Program
Introduction to Leadership
(1/2 day)
Participants develop their ability to guide a
collaborative process, build relationships, and
produce results. They practice building clear and
appropriate measures of success for a team effort.
The session includes inquiry, interactive small team
exercises, paired conversation, and reflection.
Leadership Intensive
(1.5, 3, or 5 days)
This program is best suited for executives and
organizations who want a deeper understanding of
collaborative leadership and exposure to cutting-
edge ideas and tools. The Institute can customize
this experience for foundations, companies,
agencies, organizations, and individuals.
Executive Leadership
(15 days)
The executive program consists of three 5-day,
in-person trainings in San Francisco with online
engagement, assessments, and coaching between
each session. Half of the program focuses on
interactive educational exercises, while the other
half is spent visiting best-in-class public, private,
and non-profit organizations to learn from their
innovative approaches.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION
COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS LAB
— A Human-Centered Innovation Experience
Collaborative Solutions is a fast-paced, problem-
solving experience. In a matter of hours, participants
create innovative solutions to internal, business,
or social challenges that they can implement
immediately.
Every lab fosters collaboration and provides
participants with critical skills in problem definition,
creative problem solving, rapid prototyping, decision-
making, and developing an innovation mindset.
The lab provides a platform and a set of
industry-leading tools and practices to help both
organizations and leaders address pressing
challenges.
Presidio Institute and its Fort Scott campus
are the embodiment of service and
leadership. One can’t walk its grounds and
not be humbled by the people who came
before — men and women who defended
their families, their communities, and this
country. As a Presidio Institute Fellow, I
am honored to be a small part of such an
extraordinary institution and tradition.
— Kunal Merchant
Managing Director, Lotus Advisory Ltd.
2014 Presidio Institute Fellow
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PRESIDIO INSTITUTE FELLOWS
This 12-month program exposes mid- and late-
career professionals to multi-disciplinary learning
and leadership development experiences from some
of the nation’s most innovative organizations.
Fellows come into the program with a project or
organizational challenge that could be improved
through a better understanding of the interplay
between corporate, non-profit, government, and
other sectors. Through the program, they develop
a better understanding of how collaboration across
sectors can address societal issues; the knowledge,
tools, and approaches necessary to work across
sectors; and a network of leaders who remain a
lifelong source of encouragement, collaboration,
and support.
Fellows have the opportunity to apply their new
skills, networks, and knowledge to advance their
individual projects.
FELLOWSHIPS
LEADEROSITY
The Presidio Institute has partnered with American
Express, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the
Kresge Foundation to develop this online platform
for leadership development.
Leaderosity is an affordable and approachable
environment in which professionals working to
create positive impact can develop their skill sets,
build their networks, and challenge themselves to
become more adaptable and collaborative leaders.
Through curated Presidio Institute and partner-
developed curriculum, the capacity to collaborate
with other organizations in an effort to impact social
change is achieved.
ONLINE LEARNING
American Express is proud to be a major
supporter of the Presidio Institute’s critical
work to create an online platform designed
to scale leadership development for social
purpose leaders. Leaderosity is a game-
changing venture that will provide social
purpose leaders easy access to capacity
building and developmental training
opportunities right on their own computers
at a fraction of the cost of in-person training.
— Richard Brown
Vice President
American Express Philanthropy
The Presidio Institute Fellows program
has been an incredible experience that has
had an immediate, positive impact on my
career. Exposure to this new network of
professionals in the corporate, non-profit,
and government sectors has really improved
the quality and strength of my work.
— Cyndy Comerford
Planning and Policy Planning Manager
San Francisco Department of Public Health
2015 Presidio Institute Fellow
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MEETINGS, RETREATS, AND
CONFERENCES
The Presidio Institute hosts small-group meetings
for mission-aligned organizations, providing a retreat-
like environment where participants can recharge
and share creative ideas. We facilitate workshops,
meetings, and other gatherings for personal,
professional, and organizational advancement.
We also convene large-group conferences and
events. Topics range from social and economic
innovation to issues such as climate change,
veterans services, and public health.
CONVENING
A VIBRANT TENANT COMMUNITY
The Presidio is home to a thriving community of
tenants. Former military buildings have been re-
animated to accommodate over 3,000 residents
and 200 organizations — including high tech start-
ups, innovative non-profits, and others that offer a
surprising mix of visitor experiences.
The Presidio Institute campus at Fort Scott houses
mission-aligned tenants dedicated to collaborating
on solving social challenges. The environment
encourages organizations to share ideas, work
together on problems, and establish supportive
professional relationships. The campus is the ideal
location both for calm, contemplative thought and
dynamic, inspired discussion.
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Encore.org is thrilled to be a part of the
Presidio Institute tenant community at
the Fort Scott campus. The Presidio of San
Francisco is a special location with some
of the most spectacular views in the
world — it’s a great place for working and
reflecting. Our staff is inspired every time
they step outside.
— Nancy Peterson
Vice President, Encore.org
Presidio Institute Tenant
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Looking always toward the future, we are
continually working to create exciting new projects
and programs that support our commitment to
service and leadership.
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS
The Presidio Institute is developing academic
internships for undergraduates from select
universities. Through this residential program,
students will participate in coursework and real-
world learning experiences that empower them
with critical leadership skills. Students transform
into social impact professionals, equipped to tackle
issues that demand the involvement of corporate,
non-profit, government, and other sectors.
VETERAN PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES
Inspired by the men and women who served in
uniform at the Presidio for generations, the Presidio
Institute is leading a new effort to develop long-
term, substantive programming for veterans. We
will partner with researchers at The Northern
California Institute for Research and Education
(NCIRE) to build resources that reduce stigma,
isolation, and illness, to capitalize on the skills
and leadership inherent in the veteran population.
Our goal is to inform a broader Presidio veteran’s
initiative by 2018.
EXPLORATIONS
As a former Army post, the Fort Scott
campus of the Presidio Institute has a rich
history of military and civilian leadership
collaborating for the common good. Our
country’s next generation of leaders will
build on that model of government and
private sector collaboration here at the
Presidio Institute — a place that is uniquely
positioned to bridge the disciplines of these
and other sectors.
— Lenny Mendonca
Director Emeritus, McKinsey & Company
Presidio Institute Senior Fellow
8. As part of the Presidio Trust strategic
vision, the Presidio Institute will play a
major role in fortifying today’s leaders, and
shaping tomorrow’s. The historic Fort Scott
location — itself steeped in traditions of
leadership and service — is the perfect
place to assemble people from all walks of
life and points of view. It’s an exciting place
to shape young minds, to inspire creative
thinking, and to forge tomorrow’s leaders.
— Paula Collins
Board Chair, Presidio Trust
9. The Presidio Institute is a Presidio Trust initiative.
1201 Ralston Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 561-5477
institute@presidiotrust.gov
institute.presidio.gov
About the Presidio Trust
The Presidio Trust is an innovative federal agency
created to save the Presidio and transform it for a
new national purpose. The Trust became financially
self-sufficient through diverse partnerships, and by
connecting people who were united by the vision of
the Presidio as a national park.
The Trust’s vision is that the Presidio will be forever
a public place: vital to the Bay Area, important to
all Americans, and recognized for achieving broad
benefits for the nation.
The Presidio Trust — itself a model of successful
cross-sector collaboration — has created the Presidio
Institute as a home for change makers across
disciplines and sectors.
