Susan Landis Youth Philanthropist Program Mentor
General Description:
Program Mentors interact with student participants in multiple roles including facilitator, coordinator, teacher and coach. They fulfill these roles primarily within a team of students. Mentors ensure that each member of his or her team participates in all aspects of the program during sessions and in activities between sessions. Mentors help students develop leadership skills and qualities such as critical thinking, teamwork, active listening and self-awareness. Working closely with the Program Coordinator, mentors assist with the preparation and planning for learning sessions, communication with students and ongoing program evaluation.
Minimum Qualifications:
Desirable Experience and Qualities:
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
Time Commitment:
Program Mentors interact with student participants in multiple roles including facilitator, coordinator, teacher and coach. They fulfill these roles primarily within a team of students. Mentors ensure that each member of his or her team participates in all aspects of the program during sessions and in activities between sessions. Mentors help students develop leadership skills and qualities such as critical thinking, teamwork, active listening and self-awareness. Working closely with the Program Coordinator, mentors assist with the preparation and planning for learning sessions, communication with students and ongoing program evaluation.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Possesses general knowledge of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
- Currently resides in a community served by the community foundation.
- Able to devote sufficient time to the program for the entire school year.
- Demonstrates satisfactory results of a background check.
Desirable Experience and Qualities:
- Prior experience working with teens and/or serving as a volunteer program leader with teens.
- Demonstration of a commitment to philanthropic activities and civic engagement.
- Good writing and speaking skills, well organized, effective management abilities.
- Excellent communicator, sense of humor, flexible, efficient, task oriented.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
- Read, absorb and prepare for the delivery of the junior cohort program curriculum: attend pre-school year planning meeting with other mentors.
- Participate in the student applicant interview and selection process.
- Prepare for and attend the student/parent orientation session at the onset of the school year.
- Be well-prepared for and attend program sessions, site visits to nonprofit organizations and all other program activities as described in the curriculum.
- Maintain contact with your student team members between sessions as advised or requested.
- Archive program documents received from the Program Coordinator including curriculum, lesson plans, student information, session documents and related materials.
- Advise and assist your student team members in planning and carrying out service projects: participate with the students in the delivery of such activities.
- Participate in the continuing evaluation of the program.
- Assist in the planning and delivery of the year-end Capstone Ceremony.
- Support the program with an annual gift.
Time Commitment:
- During the 9-month school year, mentors would need to commit approximately 3-4 hours a month to the program which includes a 2-hour monthly student learning session.
- In addition, mentors will need to commit time to attend site visits and engage in their team's service projects which could range from 12-15 total hours during the school year.
- A 3-hour mentors retreat evaluate the program and plan for the next year is typically held in the summer and all mentors are encouraged to attend.
