Blueprint for Leadership

 

New blog post: 2011 Blueprint grads are now interning on community nonprofit boards.

Are you ready to take your volunteering experience to a new level?  As a nonprofit board leader you can take an active role in guiding the direction of a nonprofit organization and transforming your community.  Leaders are needed who have vision, commitment and the passion to make a difference.  HandsOn Jacksonville’s Blueprint for Leadership puts you on the fast track to becoming that leader. 

Since 1988, more than 800 graduates have been placed as interns on more than 50 boards of directors including The American Red Cross, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Community Connections and Clara White Mission.

Over the years, many of our outstanding community leaders have come through the ranks of Blueprint for Leadership including Florida’s 18th lieutenant governor, Jennifer Carroll; state representative and special assistant to Mayor Alvin Brown, Mia Jones; state representative, Audrey Gibson; First Coast News reporter, Ken Amaro; HandsOn Jacksonville's Board Chair and Campus Director of University of Phoenix, North Campus, Dan Macferran and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, James Richardson, II.  We’d like to be a part of the blueprint for your leadership as well!

When you attend Blueprint for Leadership you can expect to

• Aquire knowledge & skills needed to effectively serve on a nonprofit board of directors
• Build a network of community-minded people
• Gain insights to help improve performance in your professional and personal life
• Experience fun, interactive & thought-provoking learning sessions
• Be eligible for a one-year internship on a local nonprofit board of directors or service as a HandsOn Jacksonville High Impact Project Leader

History of Blueprint for Leadership

A trained, equipped and engaged board of directors can mean the difference between effectiveness and failure for nonprofit organizations. For more than twenty years, HandsOn Jacksonville has mobilized, equipped and deployed leaders as interns on area nonprofit boards. Blueprint for Leadership was launched in 1988 as Project Blueprint in response to a Kellogg Foundation study which indicated a shocking disparity between the percentage of income given by minorities to nonprofit organizations and the representation of minorities on governing boards of the same organizations. "Project Blueprint" was created by HandsOn Jacksonville to identify, recruit, train and place minorities on nonprofit boards. The program experienced such tremendous success that in 1997 HandsOn Jacksonville broadened the mission locally, and it became known as Blueprint for Leadership. With the change came a corresponding movement of inclusion to reflect a true representation of the Northeast Florida population. Since the program's inception in 1988, more than 800 people have graduated from Blueprint for Leadership and have interned on more than 50 local nonprofit boards of directors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is involved in selecting members for the class?
Candidates are interviewed and evaluated on community service involvement, leadership skills and experiences, support/recommendation of employers and professional referrals, and likelihood of remaining in the Jacksonville area. Special consideration is given to ensure that a cross section of companies/organizations and individuals from diverse and minority backgrounds are represented.

What is the cost of the program?
The cost of the training and subsequent services is $2,000.00 per participant. All training materials are included in the cost and breakfast and lunch is provided on each training day. Limited scholarships are available based on need, and many companies sponsor their employees’ tuition. Creative payment plans are also available upon request.

What are the requirements to participate in the program?

• Attend each program day – there are no make-up sessions
• Participate in a class project to enhance community involvement
• Agree to either a board intern placement or High Impact Project Leader internship upon completion of the program days
• Attend board meetings and participate as appropriate
• All tuition fees must be paid and attendance requirements met prior to graduation and/or receiving a board assignment

Who provides training for the program?
Subjects are taught by community and staff professionals via lecture, class discussion and group exercises. Program facilitators consist of business professionals, nonprofit agency directors, corporate CEOs and political leaders.

Where are classes held?
The program kicks off in January at the beautiful Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens. The remainder of the learning sessions are generously hosted by the University of Phoenix.

What are the dates and times for the classes?
The program kicks off on the second Wednesday in January and on the first Wednesday from February – June. As project committees are formed, additional meetings will be required to plan and implement the class project. The class project is conducted on the first Wednesday in June, and graduation is held the third Wednesday evening in June.

How does the board internship benefit the class participants?
The one-year internship allows participants to gain valuable insight into the internal functions of boards and how to participate effectively on them.

What assistance is provided to interns by the boards on which they serve?
Each participant is paired with an experienced board member (mentor) based on common factors such as job-related and/or community service interest. Through periodic contact mentors are able to enhance the participants’ board experiences by answering questions, providing historical background on particular issues and networking with other board members.

How does the board internship benefit the nonprofit agencies?
Nonprofit agencies eagerly embrace the internship concept and are enthusiastic supporters of the program as it provides access to new resources of talented leaders who are able to contribute their time and expertise to their respective organizations.

What is a High Impact Project Leader internship?
Becoming a High Impact Project Leader intern is an alternative to board internship for people who may already be serving on boards or who come from nonprofit organizations where serving on another board may be perceived as a conflict. High Intern Project Leaders commit to one year of working with HandsOn Jacksonville’s Community Engagement Director to develop quarterly projects that solve community problems by leading teams of volunteers to implement the projects.