Overview:
Leadership Chester County (LCC), a program of United Way of Chester County, offers a unique opportunity for nonprofits to collaborate with emerging leaders in the community. Each year, a selected nonprofit presents a significant board-level challenge related to its mission or strategic development. Over the course of several months, the LCC class, composed of area professionals, works together to research, analyze, and propose actionable solutions to the challenge. This collaborative project provides nonprofits with valuable insights and recommendations while preparing participants for future board service.
Who Can Apply:
- 501(c)(3) organizations serving Chester County.
- Must have a track record of community impact, and a commitment to timely engagement with LCC staff and participants.
Eligible Projects:
- Strategic, board-level challenges critical to long-term organizational development.
- Socially innovative initiatives that seek to address complex community problems with new, transformative ideas.
- Projects involving research into significant social issues impacting Chester County residents.
- Must seek long-term solutions and community impact, not operational tasks or sensitive negotiations.
Benefits for Nonprofit Hosts:
- Independent evaluation of organizational capacity and development opportunities.
- Access to professional expertise and enhanced board engagement.
- Increased awareness of mission and services.
- Potential for LCC-trained individuals to join the board or volunteer.
Nonprofit Host Responsibilities:
- Clearly define a board-level challenge with specific deliverables.
- Allow access to key documents and board meetings and commit to the project timeline.
- Provide necessary information, data, and resources to the LCC group.
- Engage with the LCC class through periodic meetings and board presentations.
- Provide feedback on the project’s value to the organization.
Timeline:
- Submission period ends Friday, September 21, 2024
- LCC staff to review submissions and reach out for more detail, if necessary
- Friday, September 27 – Nonprofit project selected and contacted
- Wednesday, November 6 – Project kickoff to LCC class
- November 2024 through April 2025 – LCC participants work collaboratively with nonprofit staff and board to analyze, research, and develop final project presentation
- May 2025 – LCC class to present final project to nonprofit host and their board