Young Emerging Leaders Pilot Program

ICL’s Young Emerging Leaders Pilot Program (seed funded by Norton Insurance and Financial) is an interactive and innovative program that prepares and launches young emerging leaders to successful nonprofit board and committee leadership roles in Maine. With this pilot program, launching in September of 2010, ICL hopes to reverse national statistics that suggest only 6 percent of board members nationwide are 35 and under with a multi-pronged program that will provide leadership development, mentoring, matching, transitioning and following-up to Maine’s 20-and-30 somethings eager to become more engaged in their communities. In return, program participants make a commitment to serve on a nonprofit board or committee in Maine for a minimum duration of six months to three years (depending on the assignment they are matched to). Studies show that young leaders who are actively involved in their communities are two to three times more likely to stay and contribute to those communities.

The pilot program goals are as follows:

  • To identify, recruit, train and match young emerging leaders to board and committee leadership positions with nonprofit organizations.
  • To create a network of talented and resourceful young emerging leaders who will establish strong and lasting civic relationships that are personally and professionally beneficial.
  • To increase awareness for nonprofit agencies and professionals of the talent and knowledge of this under-utilized group by showing the value in having a diversity of voices at the decision- making table.
  • To develop young emerging leaders sustained commitment to their communities so that they are more likely to stay and contribute to the economy.

The program will prepare participants for leadership roles on nonprofit boards by providing three months of leadership development training led by ICL’s Director of Training, Laura Moorehead, and two co-facilitators, and then carefully matching the interests and skills of participants with the needs expressed by boards in our communities. The program will feature a number of integrated components including:

The Leadership Development Component:

Leadership training that includes leadership skills and concepts as well as essentials for understanding boards and committees and the responsibilities of serving on them. Led by ICL’s Director of Training, Laura Moorehead, and two co-facilitators, the training will run from September 10 through December 14 and include three full-day sessions, five evening sessions and inter-session practicum work.

The Mentoring Component:

The opportunity to partner with a mentor to share leadership perspectives and gain valuable insights. ICL will match program participants with volunteer mentors based on information provided in the initial application process and follow-up communication. Together, participants and their mentor will negotiate mentor partnership agreements based on their mutual needs and styles.

The Matching Component:

Participants’ interests, skills and experience will be matched with needs of nonprofit boards or committees with the intention of creating win-win outcomes for both parties. Participants will commit to serve on the board or committee they are matched to for an agreed upon term (typically a minimum six month commitment for committee service and a three year commitment for board service)

The Transition Component:

Information and education to help ensure a successful transition for program participants and welcoming boards and committees.

The Follow-up Component:

ICL will check in with program participants to ensure their roles with the nonprofit organizations are progressing. Additionally, ICL will assess programmatic learnings to benefit future efforts

The pilot program is generously seed funded by Norton Insurance and Financial and sponsored by Wright Express, Fairchild Semiconductor, the United Way of Greater Portland, the Maine Community Foundation, Maddy Corson and other individual donors. Partners include Unum, Rippleffect and the Portland Symphony Orchestra.

The cost of the program is $2,500 per participant, but thanks to funding from those supporters, participants will pay $250 which includes all training sessions and board and mentor matching. Organizations may be able to help their employees with some or all of the cost of the program, and ICL encourages prospective participants to begin those conversations with their employers as soon as possible.

To request an application for yourself or to suggest a potential participant(s) for the program, please contact Samantha DePoy-Warren at swarren@civicleadership.org or 773-3254 (ext. 107). Applications will be due by Friday, June 25 with all applicants being notified of their acceptance status by Friday, July 30. The $250 program cost and signed letter of commitment will be due to the Institute for Civic Leadership no later than Friday, August 20 with the first training session scheduled for Friday, September 10.

If you are a nonprofit board interested in accepting a program participant to serve on your board or committee, to request information, please contact Suzanne Austin at saustin@civicleadership.org or 773-3254 (ext. 106). For inquiries about serving as a mentor to participants in the program or supporting ICL’s Young Emerging Leaders Pilot Program and all other inquiries, contact ICL Executive Director Steve Schuit at sschuit@civicleadership.org or 773-3254 (ext. 105)

Please follow the links below for more detailed information on the program.

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