Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving, with potential to impact the education sector and how organizations operate. Through our year-long learning and action network, Bellwether will work directly with education and youth-serving organization leaders to prepare for an AI-driven future.
The Cohort
AI has potential to reshape how organizations operate, deliver programs, and engage communities. For education and youth-serving organization leaders, AI represents both an opportunity and a challenge: it can accelerate impact, streamline operations, and expand reach, but it also demands new skills in data literacy, thoughtful change management to build team trust, and a nimble strategy to adapt to rapid technological shifts.
Bellwether’s AI Cohort for Education and Youth-Serving Organization Leaders is designed to:
- Build capacity to understand, evaluate, and responsibly use AI tools
- Develop confidence in leading their organizations through AI change management
- Learn from peers by sharing strategies, insights, and lessons
- Access expert guidance on AI strategy, implementation, and use
- Create an actionable AI roadmap tailored to and coherent with individual organizations’ mission and needs
By the end of the cohort experience, participants will have concrete plans to responsibly and effectively put AI into practice across their organization, and they will have strengthened their skills to navigate AI implications as the technology continues to evolve.
The Details
Bellwether is seeking education leaders who are committed to leading through AI change. Ideal organizations are those who:
- Have leadership commitment from a leader who is prepared to champion and dedicate time and resources to AI adoption throughout the organization
- Are AI-curious, as this is best suited for organizations that have begun exploring AI but are ready to move from experimentation to strategy and organization-wide adoption
- Are education or youth-serving organizations working outside of direct school operations. Bellwether will curate groups such that there are commonalities while also ensuring a collaborative rather than competitive environment within the cohort.
Over ten monthly virtual sessions, starting January 2026, participants will engage in a mix of strategic planning, hands-on practice, and collaborative learning. Key components include:
- Ten 90-minute strategy and skill building sessions, combining collaborative work on shared beliefs, goals, priorities, initiatives, policies, and stakeholder engagement with hands-on practice using and building AI tools (e.g., custom GPTs, Gems, Projects, Artifacts)
- Monthly office hours with Bellwether advisors for tailored one-on-one support and feedback
- A robust learning community to share lessons, troubleshoot challenges, and amplify promising practices
- Guest speakers and expert connections, offering insights on strategy, implementation, and policy
- Curated resources and templates including sample AI policies, surveys, strategy frameworks, and prompt examples to support practical adoption
Apply Now
The cost to participate is $9,000 per organization, covering facilitation, expert advising, and resources. Recommendation of having 2-3 leaders per organization attend sessions.
Interested applicants are welcomed to apply here by Oct. 31, 2025. The application takes approximately 15 minutes to complete!
Want more information? Bellwether will host an optional webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 2:00pm ET. You can register for the webinar here.
For additional information, please email Amy Chen Kulesa at amy.chenkulesa@bellwether.org.
