Knight Foundation supports BVU: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence to connect diverse young professionals with the nonprofit community in Akron, the city where the Knight brothers founded the foundation in 1950. Below, Elizabeth A. Winter, regional vice president for BVU, writes about the center’s development of new leaders. Photo credit: BVU.

If you happened by the Uncorked Wine Bar in downtown Akron last Sept. 24, you would have noticed an unexpected mix of people inside and a contagious energy spilling out onto the sidewalk. BVU: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence hosted an event, called Linking New Leaders, to bring together nonprofit organizations interested in the time and talent of young professionals to serve as board or committee members. 

BVU has a unique line of sight into area nonprofit organizations. Since September 2011, we have met with the leadership of nearly 200 organizations in the greater Akron community to understand their needs around volunteers and leadership development. One message we’ve received loud and clear: Nonprofit organizations understand the value of diversifying the makeup of their boards, including age, race, gender and skill sets, and want BVU to help source qualified candidates to fill their needs.

To further our work with young professionals and minority professionals, in 2012 BVU partnered with Knight Foundation to “develop a high-impact program to smartly train and engage young and minority professionals in the Greater Akron community,” according to Jennifer Thomas, Knight program director in Akron. One way we facilitate this engagement is through our Linking New Leaders program.

Affectionately called “speed-dating,” Linking New Leaders brings 15 young professionals together with 15 nonprofit organizations representing various missions. For example, in September there were nonprofit organizations representing the arts, community beautification, health and human services, and more. We pair each nonprofit with a professional and they spend a few minutes getting to know one another. The pairs switch every five minutes. The goal is to find matches in which a nonprofit and a professional express mutual interest and want to continue the conversation.

Businesses nominate employees to participate in the event because they recognize how the training and the matches help develop leadership skills.

Teresa Conley, a senior human resource specialist at Skoda Minotti, a CPA, business and financial advisory firm, appreciates the many benefits that come from BVU services. 

“We’ve had great success with both Linking New Leaders and BVU’s traditional board-matching program. Our professionals want to serve their community, and BVU provides them with the skills and guidance to do so. Their volunteer service gives them additional opportunities to learn leadership, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that they then can apply to their work in our organization. It’s a win for everyone involved.”

Jeff Wilhite, executive director of Family Promise of Summit County, an organization that helps homeless families find permanent housing, had three young professionals join his board as a result of the September 2013 Linking New Leaders event.

“I was incredibly impressed with the talent and passion to serve among the participants at BVU’s Linking New Leaders event.  It was difficult to choose among the participants; they all could have helped us advance our mission. BVU’s efforts are extremely valuable for the long-term success of our community and our nonprofit organizations.”

Participants in Linking New Leaders come from a variety of sources including BVU business members and professional groups, such as Greater Akron Chamber Young Professionals Network, Torchbearers and United Way of Summit County’s Project Blueprint and Young Leaders Society. Participants are encouraged to attend BVU’s nationally recognized “Role of the Board” training seminar, where they learn more of the responsibilities of nonprofit board service as well as best practices in governance. The seminar is free for Linking New Leaders participants.

According to Brian Broadbent, president and CEO of BVU, “Northeast Ohio has an abundance of talented professionals. We’re grateful for our partnership with Knight Foundation because we’ve been able to expand our efforts and, as a result, we’ve met with well over 100 young and minority professionals to help them discover their passion for volunteering and the joy of helping their community.”

BVU also provides board-matching services for seasoned professionals.

For more information about BVU’s services for businesses, nonprofit organizations and professionals of all ages, call Elizabeth A. Winter at 330-762-9670.