the signature programme
PURPOSE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
POTENTIAL DESERVES OPPORTUNITY
Purpose Leadership Institute is a national, cohort-based leadership development program dedicated to multicultural, underprivileged, and underserved high school students in grades 9 through 11. We exist for the student who is striving to be better and to do better — the young leader who just needs the right community, the right mentorship, and the right opportunity to rise.
Through cohorts strategically located throughout the United States, PLI creates a powerful national network of emerging leaders — each one equipped, connected, and inspired to transform their communities from the inside out, regardless of their zip code, background, or circumstance.
“We don’t just prepare students for the future — we prepare them to lead it.”
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
Through structured sessions, our students develop the core skills of exceptional leadership — communication, decision-making, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and servant leadership.
MENTORSHIP
Every student in the Purpose Leadership Institute is paired with a dedicated mentor — a proven professional and servant leader who invests in them personally. Mentorship sessions are held virtually throughout the year, with one powerful in-person session during the Washington State Leadership Trip.
COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS
We equip our students with the tools, guidance, and resources they need to navigate the path beyond high school with confidence — from college applications to career exploration and everything in between.
WHAT OUR LEADERS RECEIVE
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COACHING & LIFE PLANNING
Every student receives personal development coaching designed to help them discover their unique purpose, set meaningful goals, and build a life plan that is entirely their own. Because leadership starts from the inside out.
COMMUNITY SERVICE & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
We believe leaders serve. Our students participate in structured community service projects and civic engagement initiatives that teach them the power and responsibility of giving back.
EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
Two signature leadership trips — to Washington State and Chicago — take our students beyond their communities and into the world, expanding their horizons and deepening their understanding of what is possible.
SIGNATURE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES
Washington State Leadership Trip
Students travel to Washington State for an immersive, multi-day leadership experience that includes cultural exploration, civic engagement, and the program’s one in-person mentor session. This trip is a defining moment in every cohort year — a time when mentors and students come together face to face, build deeper connections, and experience leadership in action.
Chicago Leadership Experience
Students travel to Chicago, Illinois — one of America’s most dynamic and diverse cities — for an experience designed to expand their vision of what is possible. Through site visits, leadership activities, cultural exposure, and direct engagement with the city, our students return home with a broader perspective and a deeper sense of purpose.
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Attend all 11 mentoring sessions (10 virtual + 1 in-person during the Washington State trip)
Participate actively in all program activities, workshops, and sessions
Attend the Opening Cohort Dinner at the start of the program year
Participate in both leadership trips — Washington State and Chicago
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Complete all community service and civic engagement activities
Attend the Graduation Banquet at the close of the program year
Represent the Purpose Leadership Institute with excellence, integrity, and purpose at all times
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PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS
Purpose Leadership Institute is a commitment — and we take that commitment seriously. We ask every student who joins our program to show up fully, not just for themselves, but for every other leader in their cohort.
PROGRAM FORMAT & DETAILS
FORMAT
National, cohort-based program with chapters throughout the United States
SESSION FORMAT
Primarily virtual (10 sessions) with one in-person session during the Washington State Leadership Trip
DURATION
Year-round program
ELIGIBILITY
Current high school students in grades 9, 10, or 11 and in good standing with your school.
ENROLLMENT
Limited cohort size — space is limited and applications are competitive
APPLICATION WINDOW
October 1 – November 30, 2026