Sacramento Business Journal
By Chris Campbell
Story Highlights
- NELP alumni steward over $4.17 billion and hold nearly 430 board seats.
- The program faces funding challenges amid anti-DEI backlash and budget cuts.
- NELP launched a campaign seeking 1,000 monthly donors at $50 each.
The Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program has released its 2025 impact report showing influence across Sacramento’s business, civic, and nonprofit sectors. It also shows a tougher fundraising landscape amid the economic slowdown, shifting corporate priorities, and the national backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Founded in 2009 by developer and entrepreneur Scott Syphax, a recentSacramento Business Journal Inclusivity in Business honoree, NELP was created to close the gap between the region’s population diversity and its leadership ranks.
“You can’t go anywhere within this region at a gathering of leaders, elected, corporate, nonprofit, or academic, and not run into our alumni,” Syphax said.
“We’ve worked to democratize the tables of leadership, influence, and resources within this region.”
According to the 2025 NELP Impact Report, alumni now steward more than$4.17 billion in budgets and oversee over 181,000 employees across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Nearly 430 board and commission seats are held by NELP fellows or alumni, with more than half serving for the first time. The report notes that 82% of alumni experienced promotions or business growth, 84% reported higher earnings, and 41% created secondary income streams following their participation.
“Leadership in this region feels more accessible now than it did before,” said NELP CEO Deneva Shelton, a 2018 graduate who became chief executive in2023. “Our alumni are highly respected in the community, and we can point to actual results in roles and organizations people recognize.”
The program’s 10-month curriculum blends hard and soft-skill development, from negotiation and presentation to etiquette and policy engagement, culminating in a capstone project with a regional partner. Fellows have collaborated with organizations such as the Sacramento Regional TransitDistrict, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, and the SacramentoMetropolitan Chamber of Commerce to address real-world civic and business challenges.
Syphax said civic participation is one of NELP’s most visible outcomes. “When decisions are being made about the allocation of resources or the development of policy, those voices who historically have not been in the room now have a voice,” he said. “The decisions are better and more durable because they represent a broader cross-section of the community.”
However, while NELP’s influence has grown, sustaining its success financially has become more difficult, its leaders say. Shelton said the organization faces “amore challenging environment than in prior years,” as some corporate and philanthropic partners have reduced contributions.
“There’s fear of backlash for support,” she said. “Some organizations have cut training budgets, and individuals are more cautious about self-funding leadership development.”
Syphax linked the issue to both politics and tightening budgets. “A number of(sponsors) have said they’re concerned about their affiliation with diversity-related programs because they’re worried about keeping their ability to do business with the federal government,” he said.
Deneva Shelton, CEO of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program, said the organization continues to expand its leadership impact despite a tougher fundraising environment.
Despite those pressures, Syphax said NELP’s mission remains the same. “For us, diversity, equity, and inclusion have never been about lowering standards or excluding anyone,” he said. “It has always been about expanding the table of opportunity and giving everyone a chance to compete and win on the merits.”
Shelton emphasized that the program is open to all, countering misconceptions that it serves a limited demographic. “We focus on preparing people to lead in a diverse climate,” she said. “Everyone can benefit from those lessons.”
To navigate the current landscape, NELP launched the Fortify the Bridge campaign, seeking 1,000 individual supporters contributing $50 per month.Shelton said that base, roughly $600,000 annually, would stabilize the program’s budget, lower tuition costs, and expand scholarships. The organization is also reviewing hybrid and shorter-term models to align with new professional realities, such as tighter workplace schedules, remote work arrangements, and reduced employer-sponsored training budgets, while preserving its rigorous curriculum.
Darcy Totten, executive director of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, credits NELP for transforming her trajectory.
“The Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program was a game-changer for me,” she said. “As someone who faced deep hardship early in life and never imagined stepping into leadership, the program’s powerful training, unique network, and unwavering support for nearly a decade after graduation helped me rise far beyond what I thought possible. I’m profoundly grateful for the way NELP nurtures bold, resilient leaders who reflect the strength and diversity of ourCalifornia communities.”
Syphax said weakening or defunding programs like NELP would hurt not just equity but competitiveness. “We can’t afford in a global economy to leave any resource or intellectual asset on the sidelines,” he said. “NELP provides talent that’s well-positioned, well-prepared, and ready to create impact. The region is better for our existence.”
Looking ahead, Syphax said NELP plans to expand its model to other cities and scale through technology. “We intend to take what works here and replicate it nationally,” he said. “We are the future not only of Sacramento, but ofCalifornia and the nation at large.”
Shelton added that evolution, not retreat, defines their next chapter. “We’ve been doing this work long before DEI was a term,” she said. “We plan to keep doing it because Sacramento is stronger when its leadership reflects everyone who lives here.”