Extension Foundation Launches Extension Lab! — Leadership & Organizational Health Support for our Partners at Land-grant Institutions

The Extension Foundation is proud to announce the launch of Extension Lab (EXL), a new offering designed to strengthen leadership, team performance, and organizational health across the Cooperative Extension system. EXL provides a comprehensive suite of services tailored to individuals, teams, and institutions seeking to lead with clarity, purpose, and long-term impact.

What is EXL?

EXL is a destination for personal, professional, and organizational health. Whether someone is stepping into a leadership role for the first time, guiding a team through change, or shaping long-term strategy, EXL offers trusted support, delivered in partnership with a broad network of experts from higher education, business, and beyond.

Services Offered

Through EXL, Extension Foundation provides two major service tracks:

Development of People & Teams

Leadership development via research-based programs, coaching, workshops, and tools.
Team collaboration and performance improvement, including facilitation to build trust, psychological safety, and shared accountability
Change leadership and resilience to help navigate organizational change, reduce resistance, and foster engagement
Practical leadership tools for human relations, influencing without authority, and building emotional intelligence
Individualized coaching for leadership transitions, from emerging leaders to senior executives, with customization based on each person’s needs

Strategic Consulting & High-Impact Engagements

Organizational culture and mission-alignment sessions aimed at ensuring values are lived and teams operate with clarity of purpose
Data-driven organizational assessments to surface hidden barriers to performance, such as inefficiencies or leadership gaps
Executive and management consulting to support operational leadership, decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and growth planning
Vision and growth strategy facilitation: cross-team retreats and planning to co-create bold visions, align priorities, and drive sustainable growth
Flexible support options, from one-time facilitation to multi-year partnerships, designed to support leadership pipelines, organizational change, and community impact

Why EXL Matters

As the needs and challenges facing Cooperative Extension continue to evolve, EXL provides a proactive, customizable resource to build resilient leadership, cohesive teams, and mission-aligned organizations. With EXL:

Emerging and established leaders can grow with purpose, self-awareness, and confidence
Teams can become more collaborative, communicative, and performance-driven
Organizations can more effectively align culture, strategy, and resources

Who Should Consider EXL

EXL is ideal for:

Individuals transitioning into leadership roles
Teams navigating change or seeking improved collaboration and cohesion
Organizations aiming to align mission, culture, and strategy for long-term impact
Extension systems looking for tailored, expert-driven organizational consulting and support

EXL is offered through the Extension Foundation and is available to Land-grant institutions whether or not they hold current membership.

How to Get Started

Interested organizations or individuals are encouraged to schedule a discovery discussion to explore how EXL might meet their unique needs.

For more information about EXL, its offerings, and how to get started, visit the Extension Foundation website: https://extension.org/exl/