Young Leaders Council

What is the core mission of your organization? The Young Leaders Council mission is to train diverse, committed individuals to effectively participate on the boards of nonprofit organizations and make a difference in the community by replenishing the volunteer leadership base.

How do you measure impact and success in your programs? We measure the impact and success of our program by evaluating the number of individuals we train annually, the value our program graduates bring to the nonprofit organizations that we partner with, and whether those graduates identify as feeling more prepared to serve effectively on nonprofit boards after completing the YLC program.

What are your biggest fundraising or outreach challenges? There are over 1,000 nonprofit organizations serving the Middle TN nonprofit community and resources are becoming harder to secure. Corporate sponsorships and foundation grants is not guaranteed, and just like any organization, we are battling higher prices for event space, catering, and almost every resource needed to steward donors and build awareness for our organization.

How do you build long-term relationships with donors and supporters? YLC has been fortunate to have great partners who understand the unique benefits of our program. We work diligently to keep those partners engaged directly with our mission and offer opportunities to attend and sometimes speak at our events or moderate a panel discussion. We always work to identify what their community outreach goals are and find creative and fun ways to ensure that the work they’re supporting for YLC also aligns closely with that goal.

What trends are influencing the nonprofit world today? Nonprofit organizations continue to deal with funding dynamics created by policy changes enacted by the current administration. We also continue to battle public perception due to negative rhetoric about our the value of the programs and services we provide throughout the community. Organizations that were heavily impacted by federal and state funding cuts have had to adjust their operational capacity, and the weight of running a nonprofit organization is not easy right now.

Can you share a story that shows your mission in action? As a young professional in 2007, I participated in the YLC training program. YLC helped me find my voice as a leader and gave me the confidence to step into the nonprofit board room ready to serve. It was during that time that I grew professionally and became more active in the community. I identified my passion and helped make a difference for a nonprofit organization that was helping young, disadvantaged children dream and achieve. Now, nearly 20 years later, I am still serving the community and reaping the benefits of joining the YLC program. Through my work with YLC, I am able to support over 170 young professionals every year – helping them achieve their goals and make a difference through board service. I am able to find creative ways to keep Nashville’s best and brightest become actively engaged in making our community better, and that is something I feel honored to do every day.

What keeps you motivated in this work? I am motivated knowing that the work we do matters to the nonprofit community. It inspires me to do my best and work hard to ensure that our nonprofit partners have access to talented individuals who are ready to help them accomplish their mission. It also inspires me to see YLC alums truly making a difference keeping our communities strong.