The Collective 2025
A professional development experience for purpose-rooted leaders
September 30–October 3, 2025 | San Diego, CA
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A Different Kind of Leadership Space
Right now, leadership spaces aren’t just helpful—they are essential.
The pressures on social justice leaders are growing. Political attacks are escalating. Workloads are unsustainable. And the complexity of leading with integrity—while still delivering impact—has never been higher.
Across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, leaders are navigating:
Burnout: 1 in 3 experience it often or extremely often
Overwhelm: 95% are concerned about staff burnout; workload demands are rising while capacity shrinks
Disconnection: 75% of nonprofit executives say it’s impacting their organization’s ability to meet its mission
(Sources: CEP, YMCA WorkWell, National Council of Nonprofits, 2024)
In this moment, what we need isn’t more training, more webinars, or another big conference.
We need a new approach to leadership development—one that:
Refocuses your energy and attention on what matters most
Sustains you for your work to meet this moment, and into the long term
Connects you with an active network of justice-rooted peers
Amplifies your vision for meaningful, systemic change
The Collective is that space.
A three-day, in-person experience blending strategic clarity, community connection, and true replenishment. It’s a space to pause, reflect, and recalibrate your leadership with purpose.
Why the Collective?
Leadership in today’s world asks a lot. Especially for those of us leading from values rooted in equity, justice, and liberation.
The Collective is a space to step away from the noise—to breathe, reflect, and realign with your purpose.
It’s not a conference. Not a training. Not a DEI 101.
And it’s not a party or vacation.
This is a purposeful gathering of peers designed to support the kind of leadership we need now: integrated, sustainable, and strategic.
This experience is created because:
You’re often holding a lot, for many.
You’re building while resisting.
You’re constantly navigating exhaustion, grief, uncertainty, and urgency—and still dreaming of what’s possible.
The Collective exists to meet you in that tension. To nourish the parts of you that are tired, sharpen the parts that are ready, and connect you with a community who gets it.
What’s included:
Pre-Retreat Coaching
Each participant begins with a 1:1 coaching session with Bina to set intentions, clarify focus areas, and begin the work before we ever gather in person.
Values-Aligned Network Building
Leadership doesn’t happen in isolation. The Collective fosters meaningful relationships between values-aligned leaders who continue to learn from and support each other long after we end our time together.
Clarity & Focus
Facilitated sessions support visioning, strategic planning, and aligned leadership practices. You'll leave with tangible tools, ideas, and momentum to bring back to your organization or community.
Rest & Replenishment
This space was created with sustainability in mind. You’ll be invited to slow down, recalibrate, and reconnect with yourself through embodied practices, reflection, and space to simply be.
What makes this leadership experience different…
Small & intentional: We keep the group between 10–20 participants to foster intimacy, depth, and real connection.
Rooted in anti-oppression: The facilitation and coaching builds on foundational justice frameworks. We’re not starting at 101—we’re going deeper.
Cross-sector, values-aligned: Participants come from nonprofits, philanthropy, education, consulting, and social impact spaces. What unites us is a shared commitment to justice, care, and community.
Time to plan and organize: Our time together includes action planning and organizing for next steps— you don’t do this on the flight home or on the weekend. Arrive back to work refreshed and ready with a plan in hand.
Holistic & integrated: Strategy, leadership development, and nourishment don’t live in silos here. We hold space for your whole self—vision, wellness, uncertainty, and all.
Grounded in purpose—not performance: This isn’t a party or a vacation. It’s a purposeful gathering where presence, care, and reflection matter. We’re not here to escape—we’re here to engage with intention, build skills to navigate the currents we face, and to leave resourced for what’s next.
This is a purposeful gathering.
The Collective is thoughtfully designed to integrate personal wholeness with the practices and principles of sustainable, purpose-driven leadership.
Meet your Facilitator
Bina M Patel
“There can never be no one.”
This guiding belief has shaped Bina’s path for more than 30 years. From an early experience in India that opened her eyes to the realities of systemic harm and collective care, Bina has dedicated her life to building more just, connected, and sustainable futures.
Her work bridges breathwork, neuroscience, and unencumbered leadership with practical strategy, systems thinking, and values-based facilitation. Whether supporting institutions or individual leaders, Bina brings care, depth, and clarity to every space she holds.
Across sectors and across the globe, she has coached leaders, advised organizations, facilitated high-stakes conversations, and helped teams return to alignment, possibility, and purpose. She believes that even in our darkest moments, we are the light for one another. Leadership is never solitary—it’s an ongoing, collective practice. The Collective is a space where that belief becomes practice.
Love from The Collective Participants
Schedule at a Glance
Pre-Retreat (Virtual)
One 60-minute 1:1 coaching session
Group welcome gathering to meet fellow participants
September 30 – Arrival Day
Check in by 4 PM
Opening reception begins at 5 PM
Welcome dinner & connection
Opening facilitation ends by 8 PM
October 1 & 2 – Leadership Immersion
Morning: Shared breakfast & immersive facilitation
Afternoon: Rest, peer connection, and optional activities
One evening: Group dinner provided
One evening: Dinner on your own
October 3 – Closing
Morning sessions focused on integration
Closing ceremony & departure after 4 PM
FAQs
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No. This space builds on foundational frameworks of anti-oppression, equity, and justice. If you're newer to these concepts, this may not be the best fit. The leadership experience is designed for leaders who are already applying these values in their work and ready to deepen, integrate, and refine their approach.
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Mid- to senior-level leaders from across sectors—nonprofits, philanthropy, education, consulting, social enterprise, and beyond. Participants include executive directors, board members, grantmakers, DEI and CSR leads, facilitators, and values-driven entrepreneurs. What connects everyone is a shared commitment to justice and purpose-led leadership.
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Nope. You’re welcome to come with a particular focus in mind, but The Collective is designed to support both clarity and restoration. Whether you’re in a time of expansion, transition, or even burnout, there is room for you here.
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We keep the cohort small—between 10 and 20 participants—to foster intimacy, depth, and meaningful connection.
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Both. Too often, our leadership development and wellness practices are siloed. At The Collective, they’re integrated. You’ll leave not only more grounded, but with clearer direction and stronger relationships to sustain your work.
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A 60-minute 1:1 coaching session with Bina before our in-person time together
A virtual group welcome call
All programming and materials during our time together
Group meals as noted in the schedule
Connection to a thriving alumni network
Travel, accommodations, and some meals are not included.
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Yes—leadership is a practice, not a position. If you're actively engaged in work toward collective liberation and resonate with this space, you're welcome.
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There are a limited number of scholarships available. Please reach out to Bina directly to inquire.
Location & Accommodations
Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego
The Collective 2025 will be hosted at the gorgeous Rancho Bernardo Inn, chosen for its special atmosphere that supports reflection, nourishment, ample space for peer connection, and nature.
The Rancho Bernardo Inn is conveniently located about 30 minutes from San Diego International Airport (SAN), easily accessed by ride shares or taxis.
Reserve your room at the special rate offered to participants of The Collective 2025 directly at the link below. You can also call the hotel reservations agent at 844-226-8262. Ask for The Collective 2025 group rate. If you'd like to inquire about extended stays or need to make any specific requests, please call the reservations agent directly.
The Collective is a thoughtfully curated leadership experience to foster deep professional growth.
Each year of The Collective has sold out—register and reserve your room early!
Registration and hotel booking with our special room block rate closes August 29.
Registration
For organizations with an annual budget of $5 million and up.
$3150
For organizations with an annual budget of $2-4.9 million.
$2550
For individuals or organizations with an annual budget under $1.9 million.
$1850
Your registration includes
✔ Full retreat experience and professional development curriculum materials
✔ Most meals and lots of snacks
✔ Specially curated wellness offerings
✔ One-on-one personal coaching session
✔ Access to exclusive alumni sessions
Travel and accommodation costs are paid by participants.
Refunds are not available, but we know things happen. In the event you need to cancel, please reach out and we’ll do our best to find a way to honor your registration fee for another event.