Overview

 

The purpose of the Leadership Incubator: Innovative Mentoring + Networking program is to provide emerging Black advancement/fundraising professionals with the opportunity to enhance their professional experience, expand their network, and obtain career guidance from global seasoned leaders within advancement.

 

Program Goals

For centuries, mentors have provided valuable advice and wisdom at critical points in a professional's career - in its simplest, yet impactful, form of growth, and leadership development. This mentoring and networking program is designed to foster formal, facilitated group mentoring connections to assist emerging Black leaders advance their careers in a peer-to-peer cohort environment. The goals of the program are as follow:

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• Provide practical advice, encouragement, and support to Black professionals

• Increase their understanding of the philanthropic dynamics and landscape

• Navigate career development and growth

• Promote and cultivate professional networks

• Increase the number of Black senior leaders in philanthropy

 

How does the program work?

The initiative will begin again in March 2022 with a series of very engaging Zoom mentoring sessions conducted throughout the year. Each session will be led by a group of Black faculty mentors and 45 mentees (the cohort). Mentor faculty leaders will co-facilitate the virtual sessions with break-out conversations, once a month with the mentee cohort. Virtual topics include: things I wish I knew when I started, career guidance, leadership skills, building your brand, and much more. 

 

Who can apply to become a mentee?

The Leadership Incubator is designed for emerging Black professionals who aspire to be an AVP, VP or President.

 

What is the commitment to participate in this program?

Mentees must commit to attending all of the sessions which will occur once a month on a Wednesday at 6pm EDT/3pm PDT.​

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How can I apply to participate in this free program?

Click here to complete an expression of interest form before the 2/18/22 5pm EDT deadline.

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The Leadership Incubator Program Committee​

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• Jacquie Patterson, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Community Relations, Salus University (Co-Chair)

• Angelique Grant, Ph.D. Senior Consultant + Principal, The Inclusion Firm (Co-Chair)

• Lishelle Blakemore, Associate Vice Chancellor, Development, UC Berkeley

• Gregory S. Perrin, AVP for Development and Alumni Relations, St. Edward’s University

• DeShanna K. Brown, Ed.D., DKB Consulting

• Floyd Akins, Vice President for University Advancement, The University of Toledo

• Dexter Bailey, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations, Caltech

• Timothy Minor, Chief Development Officer & Executive Vice President of the V Foundation for Cancer Research

• Kim Nyoni, Assistant Vice President for Development at The University of Florida (Equity Pledge Chair)