Leadership Program
GIVEN Catholic Young Women’s Leadership Program
The GIVEN Leadership Program is designed to assist young adult Catholic women (ages 21 – 35) with a heart for mission and an aptitude for leadership identify their particular gifts and find practical pathways to put them in the service of the Gospel. Acceptance to a GIVEN cohort includes a week at The Leadership Forum, followed by a year of one-on-one accompaniment with a GIVEN-trained mentor in support of leadership development and implementation of a personal Action Plan.
Next Steps:
The Catholic Young Women’s Leadership Forum
The GIVEN Leadership Forum is a weeklong formative event that, in part, launches each cohort’s journey. In the months leading up to the Forum, participants and mentors take part in leadership formation, opportunities to meet one another, and ongoing support. These early encounters help build community and prepare everyone for a transformative week together.
Before the Forum participants engage in:
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Formation sessions that introduce GIVEN themes and prepare hearts and minds for the experience.
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Opportunities to meet one another and begin building relationships within the cohort.
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Meetings with Action Plan Strategists made up of women in the GIVEN Network for Action Plan support and refinement.
At the Forum, participants can expect:
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Talks, panels, and leadership sessions led by lay and religious Catholic women leaders.
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Opportunities for prayer, the sacraments, and spiritual direction
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Networking with peers and leading Catholic women who will inspire and equip them to live out their unique call from God.
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Identification of your particular gifts and strengths
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Support and guidance to implement an
After the Forum
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Participants continue their journey through one-on-one mentorship for one year.
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With the guidance of their mentor and the support of the GIVEN Network, they grow in leadership and take concrete steps to bring their Action Plans to life.
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Alumnae stay connected through ongoing resources, gatherings, and a nationwide sisterhood of Catholic women leaders.
Who can attend the GIVEN Forum and receive mentorship?
Young adult Catholic women, ages 21-35, seeking leadership training, faith formation, and mentoring to better understand and pursue their particular mission and vocation.
Why Participate in the GIVEN Leadership Program?
As a participant, you will:
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Receive personal mentorship from an established Catholic woman who will walk with you for one year.
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Gain practical leadership formation through keynotes, leadership sessions, and small groups at the Forum.
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Develop an Action Plan—a concrete initiative to put your gifts in service of the Church and the world.
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Build lifelong friendships and join a vibrant network of Catholic women leaders across the country.
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Grow in the integration of your faith, interpersonal relationships, professional life, and vocation.
When is the next Forum?
The next GIVEN Forum will take place at the Catholic University of America from June 24-28, 2026. Follow us on social media and subscribe to our mailing list for the latest Forum updates, including application deadlines for young adults, mentors, and volunteers.
By subscribing, you’ll also receive updates on regional events (including GIVEN Gatherings & retreats) that will take place across the U.S.
What do past participants say about the GIVEN Leadership Program?
“There were so many examples of women in the Church living vibrantly through different vocations. As a single woman with a career in business, being present at GIVEN opened my eyes to see that God can do anything with your ‘Yes’ if you give it to Him.”
“I had been discerning a vocation to the religious life for a few years before attending GIVEN, and although not expecting it at all, it was at GIVEN that God clearly called me to Himself. I went to the forum simply looking for leadership skills and networking opportunities with other Catholic women, and I left joyfully accepting God’s call to be totally His. I am now applying to a religious order!”
“GIVEN helped me to reexamine what I always felt was a tension between the vocation of a wife and mother with professional aspirations. It helped me to understand better the many fruitful ways that women live out their vocations in an integrated way.”
Frequently Asked Questions
GIVEN offers the young women accepted to our Leadership Program formation, resources, and a supportive community to help them grow in faith, leadership, and mission. Through the love, guidance, and example of other sisters in Christ, each woman is strengthened and equipped to respond boldly and faithfully with the unique gifts God has entrusted to her. The two flagship elements of our Leadership Program are:
GIVEN Leadership Forum: A week-long experience of formation, prayer, and friendship with faithful Catholic women of all ages, vocations, and walks of life. An outstanding line-up of women leaders in the Church delivers keynote addresses, panel presentations, and guided prayer experiences rooted in GIVEN’s three core pillars. These experiences focus on the discovery of personal gifts and the practical wisdom to activate those gifts for mission. Daily Mass, Reconciliation, spiritual direction, and small group discussions foster fellowship and make this a truly transformational week.
Art of Accompaniment Mentoring Program: Following the Forum, participants are accompanied for a year by experienced Catholic women (ages 36+), trained by GIVEN to journey with them in faith. Mentors provide encouragement, guidance, and wisdom as each woman develops her personal Action Plan.
The GIVEN Institute welcomes young adult Catholic women to apply for the Catholic Young Women’s Leadership Forum between the ages of 21 and 35, who have significant leadership experience or leadership potential, who are engaged in their Catholic faith, and who desire to cultivate their gifts to enrich the culture, the Church, and those in their care. Women enrolled in OCIA programs may also apply. Young women from all vocations are welcome to apply and mothers are welcome to bring infants under 1 year to the Forum.
Participants are required to fully engage in the year-long program, beginning with virtual preparatory formation sessions before the Forum. These sessions orient participants to GIVEN’s pillars, introduce them to their cohort, and provide initial tools for discerning their Action Plan. Following the Forum, participants journey through the program with ongoing support. They:
- Meet with their mentor at least once a month for a minimum of 30 minutes
- Participate in monthly check-ins and quarterly virtual gatherings
- Work with GIVEN Action Plan Strategists for additional guidance, accountability, and resources as they design and implement their plan
- Develop and carry out their Action Plan with the encouragement of both their mentor and GIVEN staff
- Submit both a mid-year and final evaluation
An Action Plan is a personal initiative to activate your God-given gifts in service of the Church and the world. As a participant, you commit to creating and carrying out this initiative over the course of the program. GIVEN provides all the formation, guidance, and resources you need, including mentorship, structured check-ins, and access to the GIVEN Network, so you are fully supported as you bring your Action Plan to life.
After the Forum, mentees and mentors are prayerfully matched based on professional expertise, personal interests, and the skills most helpful for supporting you in the development of your Action Plan.
The GIVEN Institute will welcome 100-200 participants and mentors to participate in the Leadership Program.
Through the generosity of benefactors and philanthropic foundations, the GIVEN Institute has been able to subsidize the cost of the leadership Forum and ongoing programming. Participant contribution to the program includes a registration fee of $700 and the cost of travel. Your registration fee includes food and lodging as well as Forum programming and dedicated one-on-one mentorship.
Yes, a limited number of scholarships are available for participants in need of assistance.
We encourage participants to seek support so they can fully engage in the program and bring their gifts back to their local communities. Participants can:
- Request support from their diocese, parish, friends, and family
- Explore workplace or diocesan sponsorship
- Share their vision for their Action Plan and participation to inspire potential supporters
Many past participants have successfully combined these approaches to cover program costs and at the same time building a network of encouragement and accountability.
Yes! Past participants have come from many countries, including Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Singapore, and the Philippines. International applicants should note that they will be responsible for traveling to the Forum and coordinating any necessary documentation.
After completing the GIVEN Leadership Program, participants are invited to remain connected through the GIVEN Institute Women’s Network. You can continue to grow in faith and leadership, support new cohorts, collaborate with fellow alumnae, and share your gifts to serve the Church and your community.