“This project will address the impending leadership gap that nonprofits have already begun to experience, while cultivating and supporting young women who will emerge as tomorrow’s nonprofit leaders,” said Laura Otten, Ph.D., director of The Nonprofit Center.

            The $5,000 project will include creation of a peer-to-peer learning community for young women currently in secondary management positions in nonprofits, reporting to the executive director.  Built on The Nonprofit Center’s successful peer support program for nonprofit executive directors known as CLEAR Circles, these small facilitated groups will meet monthly for nine months to jointly problem-solve, guide each other and acquire useful knowledge that will serve them as they move forward in their leadership roles.

            The second component of the project involves working with eight emerging females leaders to help them create personal career development plans.  This goal will begin with a workshop to help equip participants with the information they need to develop and implement achievable career roadmaps. 

 The workshop instructor will continue to build upon those lessons in subsequent one-on-one consultations, coaching the participants in refining and finalizing their career plans in preparation for successful implementation.  

“This two-pronged project supports the Valentine Foundation’s Fund for Visionary Leadership,” said Foundation Director Alexandra Frazier.  “Both programs will educate and support young women who aspire to leadership in nonprofit organizations, melding with our goal of supporting leadership training for female leaders in nonprofit organizations serving women and girls.  We feel strongly that we are contributing to the future success of the local nonprofit sector by helping to create tomorrow’s leaders,” she added.

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