ULI Washington achieves its influence through our members’ volunteer leadership and participation on various committees, local initiative councils, and programs that are the foundation of the District Council’s work. Members support and drive our programming efforts, educational forums, public outreach, and the sharing of best practices in responsible land use in the Greater Washington region.  

ULI Washington Professional Development Programming

Young Leaders Group Mentorship (open to members only)– The ULI Washington Mentorship Program pairs small groups of young leaders with industry veterans for the purpose of building relationships and sharing industry best practices. Groups schedule their own monthly meetings and determine their own content, often joining together for project tours or panel discussions. The program also hosts networking events throughout the year as a benefit to participants. 

Leadership Institute, Class of 2024 (open to members/non-members)– ULI Washington’s Leadership Institute is a rigorous experiential professional development and training program that equips future land use leaders with the regional and industry insights, leadership skills, and multi-disciplinary relationships they need to build a thriving, sustainable, and equitable Greater Washington region.  

Throughout this program, participants engage with real estate, land use and other industry professionals from the public, private and nonprofit sectors in hands-on learning experiences designed to strengthen their leadership skills and deepen their knowledge of our region and the complex issues confronting it. 

Pathways to Inclusion Initiative (open to members/non-members)– The Pathways to Inclusion initiative provides 15-20 people of color with scholarships for one year of ULI membership and access to programs designed to serve and support its participants’ professional growth throughout the year. In return, ULI seeks participants who are committed to actively engaging with ULI and supporting ULI’s mission to shape the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.  

WLI Circles (open to members/non-members)– Peers from WLI Circles convene for personal insight and candid dialogue about business and unique challenges and opportunities, education and idea exchange, and self-development and support. Each WLI Circle (group) will include approximately eight to ten women and members who identify as women, including at least one host who is responsible for facilitating and hosting meetings. WLI Circles will meet a minimum of six times over the course of the year.

Committee Opportunities

The Urban Land Institute’s Washington District Council is committed to advancing ULI’s mission to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. Through leadership and participation on our committees, ULI Washington members inform and drive programming, public outreach, and impact and influence in the region. Committee participation is also an important avenue for expanding your network, building leadership skills, and fostering industry relationships. Committees meet throughout the year to plan events, programs, and initiatives that further the mission of ULI and meaningfully contribute to the industry and the region. 

Awards Jury Program – Each year, ULI Washington recognizes two signature awards programs, The ULI Washington Leadership Awards and the Project Awards. For each awards program, ULI Washington convenes a jury of professionals that is representative of ULI Washington’s membership base and who’s backgrounds span the industry to review the applications, deliberate nominations, and select finalists.  

Case Study Committee – The Case Study Committee works together to develop and execute innovative programming that highlights completed or nearly completed projects throughout the region that are of interest to ULI members and includes a panel of key decision-makers/stakeholders and often a site tour. The committee generally plans four programs per year. Each case study provides detailed information about the ideas, plans, performance, and lessons learned for an exemplary and often award-winning development project. 

Corporate Partnership Committee – The Corporate Partnership Committee is responsible for cultivating strong relationships with ULI Washington’s corporate partners, which comprise 80+ companies that support ULI Washington on an annual basis through sponsorship and impact partnerships. The Committee runs an annual campaign to support ULIW’s programming and operations, in addition to working with ULIW staff to find meaningful ways to partner and connect with companies that are active in the real estate industry in our region. 

Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee – The DEI Committee plans programming and initiatives to further ULI’s commitment to improving the environments in which all people live, work and play, and serves as a liaison to all other ULI Washington programs and committees to ensure that ULI’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded in all that ULI Washington does. 

Full Member Engagement Committee – The Full Member Engagement Committee seeks to engage and serve the Washington DC Full Member Community by adding new programs and opportunities to its popular and long-running Executive Conversations program. Its goals are to create more intimate and meaningful opportunities for our Full Members to connect, gain market insights, and create unique opportunities for ULI Washington’s key executives and decision-makers to build relationships. 

Future Forum Committee – The Future Forum Committee consists of ULI Washington thought leaders who are charged with collaborating to plan the 2023 Future Forum. The committee’s purpose is to conceptualize and execute a summit that will engage leaders across sectors in the region to position equitable, transit-oriented communities as a model for inclusive economic growth, housing that is affordable across income-levels, and sustainable, livable communities. This summit will demonstrate how this model represents an alignment of interests, and that such endeavors are possible with the proper planning, partners and resource allocation.    

Leadership Institute Program Committee – The ULI Leadership Institute Program Committee consists of program alumni working collaboratively to inform and design the arc of the Institute curriculum, plan and recruit speakers for individual program days, engage program alumni and participants, and contribute to the continuing legacy of the ULI Washington Leadership Institute Program. 

Membership Committee – The Membership Committee helps build and retain ULI Washington’s membership.  Committee members connect existing and potential members to ULI Washington’s programming including events, affinity groups and industry connections. 

Pathways to Inclusion Committee– The ULI Washington Pathways to Inclusion Committee is comprised of Pathways to Inclusion program alumni who plan programming and initiatives to support ULI Washington’s Pathways to Inclusion current and alumni cohort members.  

Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) Program Committee– The Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) Committee identifies potential TAPs, two-day panels that bring together ULI members to provide guidance on development or planning issues. 

UrbanPlan Committee – The UrbanPlan Committee is comprised of ULI Washington member volunteers who support local UrbanPlan program delivery; conduct outreach to local schools, community organizations, and public officials; and plan programming to recruit and support local UrbanPlan volunteers. 

Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) Steering Committee – This group holds a series of programs, events, and seminars to assist women in real estate to move up the leadership ladder in their companies and within ULI. 

Young Leaders Group Committees – The ULI Washington Young Leaders Group (YLG) Committees are comprised of top-talent young professionals who are actively involved in shaping the built environment and the future of the commercial real estate industry. YLG Committees are responsible for organizing and hosting various education, networking, community service, and social events for the Washington, DC region’s real estate community. 

Councils and Program Opportunities

Local Product Councils are designed to engage multi-disciplinary groups of mid and senior-level professionals involved in specific facets of real estate who commit to meet on a regular basis, develop trusted connections, and share best practices. ULI Washington’s LPCs offer an opportunity for land use experts to participate in 300-400 level conversations on specific topics within the real estate industry. ULI Washington has three Councils focused on Housing, Innovation + Technology, and Prince George’s County. 

NEXT – ULI Washington’s NEXT program engages and supports mid-career ULI members (generally ages 35-50) as their responsibilities and leadership roles grow and as they aim to expand their impact in their companies, careers, and communities while broadening their skillset.