Who needs a mentor? Everyone!

Well, at least I do and most of the people I know have needed a mentor at some point in their lives. I certainly wouldn't be able to do all the things I have done without some great guidance and mentorship. With the pending change in leadership, mentorship is more important now than ever. The next generation of leaders need mentors in leadership and a way to learn more from their predecessors. In my research, Preparing the Path to Leadership, survey participants identified mentorship as critical to their leadership success.

The Next Generation Leadership Forum through Craigslist Foundation is exploring mentorship as one of the tools nonprofits can use to prepare the next generation of leaders. Looking to organizations like VolunteerMatch and iMentor will be incredibly useful for their work and others. Mentoring now crosses country lines as well - you could have a mentor from a different city, state, or even country! The benefit of technology is that is helps access people we wouldn't normally be able to access.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has established a mentorship program for emerging fundraisers. Groups like Colorado College's Public Interest Fellowship Program automatically match fellows with mentors to help them navigate their nonprofit work.

I have needed and offered different kind of mentorship at various points in my nonprofit career. I still look to mentors for reflection, advice, and examples. Thank you to some of the wonderful people I have had help guide me in some way:

• Michelle Cramer
• Linda Davis - my mom!
• Nancy Jamison
  
• Dana Kimberly
• Minbdy Lubar-Price
• Richard Male
• Jill McFadden
  
• Anne Summers
• June Twinam
  
• Julie Washnock
• Kirsten Westby
  

I encourage everyone to seek out a mentor and BE a mentor. It's an important job that we need in the nonprofit sector now more than ever!

Your turn...

Who are your mentors? Where can you find mentors? What have your mentors done to support you? What do you need in a mentor?

One more thing...If you are a consultant looking for other consultants to network with, share resources, ask questions, and seek some general guidance, consider joining the EDA Consultants list serv. This list serv is for consultants only. Contact me for more information.