Rising Leaders

 2016-17 Rising Leaders applications are now available! 

2015-2016 Rising Leaders Graduates

Rising Leaders is an eight-month long program, sponsored by Friday Staffing and Lenoir-Rhyne University Asheville, designed to develop the next generation of community leaders and board members for Henderson County nonprofit organizations. Henderson County nonprofit leaders have expressed a desire to connect with a diverse group of individuals who are interested in and well-prepared for long-term volunteer opportunities. In response, United Way of Henderson County has created the Rising Leaders program to educate the next generation of community leaders and give them the tools and connections to become key volunteers with our community partners and other nonprofits in Henderson County. 

Program participants will commit to attend an Introductory Team Building Session as well as five of six monthly Educational Sessions that will be held during lunch throughout the year. These interactive sessions will cover the fundamentals of board service and nonprofit management- the essential knowledge and skills that agency directors have asked us to share with prospective board members. The topics covered within these sessions include: a Community Snapshot, Nonprofit/Board Basics, Life Cycle of a Nonprofit Organization, Financial and Legal Responsibilities, Fundraising 101 and Parliamentary Procedures, and the last session covers the Importance of Advocacy and Reflection.

In order to successfully complete the program, participants will also be required to complete at least ten hours of volunteer service in the community between August 2016 and March 2017. We will also hold several social events to introduce participants to agency directors and community leaders. As part of the graduation event held each spring, class members participate in a "speed-dating" session with Henderson County nonprofit representatives.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship by Friday Staffing and Lenoir-Rhyne University Asheville, the Rising Leaders Program is free of charge for all participants. Space is limited each year. Graduates are already making a strong impact in our community, as many of them have been recruited to serve on committees, boards of directors and in other key roles of local nonprofit organizations. 

 

Take the next step in becoming part of the 2016-17 Rising Leaders Program-- APPLY NOW! Click here to download the application.

Return applications by June 30 to Kristen Freeman at RL@liveunitedhc.org or PO Box 487 Hendersonville, NC 28793.