https://bloomerang.co/resources/webinars/ As young professionals who have served both as members and staff managers of these groups, Sarah Willey and Corinne Austin will lead you through the research on Next Gen supporters, challenges to anticipate, and steps your organization can take to start a new young friends board from scratch OR to maximize the potential of your existing group.

1. Young Professionals and
Junior Boards
Beyond the Kid’s Table to Meaningful Engagement

2. 2
Sarah Willey
Founder & Principal, Sarah Willey, LLC
sarah@sarahwilleyllc.com
@sarahnicole838
linkedin.com/in/sarahwilley/
Corinne Austin
Development Manager, Pedal the
Cause (St. Louis, Missouri)
Founder, NWPC St. Louis Young
Professionals
Corinne@pedalthecause.org
@CorinneNorene
linkedin.com/in/corinneaustin/
About Us

3. Goals
Define what a Young
Professionals / Junior Board is
Understand the benefits a Young
Professionals Board can have for
an organization
Recognize what can get in the
way of success
Outline steps for starting a Young
Professionals Board
Outline steps for revitalize and
improve an existing Young
Professionals Board

4. WHAT IS A
YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS
BOARD/
JUNIOR BOARD/
ASSOCIATE
BOARD…?
• A leadership committee focused on
providing opportunities for young people
to engage with your organization in
furthering your organization’s mission.

5. ICE BREAKER
In the chat:
What words come to mind
when you think of engaging
younger people with your
organization?

6. Who are
Millennials?
Born 1981 - 1995; aged 25 - 39 years
Key findings from the Case Foundation*:
They see all assets as equal.
Peer influence is key.
Motivated by the cause, not an
institution

7. “They’re working to fix the problems they see in society using non-
traditional methods without waiting for anyone else’s approval or
participation... Right now, millennials believe in organizations and in
other ways to effect change. Together, millennials and nonprofits can
create solutions. But, if we as nonprofit entities won’t adjust to their
needs, millennials – our new and future constituents – will move on
without us.”
-Derrick Feldmann, Founder, Millennial Impact Project
Source: 2017 Millennial Impact Report

8. Source: 2013
Millennial Impact
Research
Why Do Millennials Get Involved?

9. How do
Millennials
want to
help?
They want to
give…
• Time (47%)
• Money (16%)
• Both time &
money (37%)
Once they get involved, they want
to…
- Advocate for a cause (66%)
- Organize educational events
(61%)
- Volunteer (54%)
- Fundraise (47%)
- Serve as social media
ambassadors (31%)
Source: Top 100 Findings from the
Millennial Impact Project

10. What about Gen Z?
Born 1995 and later; aged 24 or younger
Characteristics of Gen Z
• Globally minded & socially
conscious
• Dedicated problem solvers
• Creative
• Career driven
How to engage Gen Z
- Give them a voice
- Challenge & appreciate
them
- Make room for creativity
- Face to face
communication
- Provide mentorship
Sources:
“Ready or Not, Here Comes Gen Z,” XYZ University, 2018. https://bit.ly/2ToxcBC
“Gen Z: The First Generation of the 21st Century Has Arrived,” XYZ University. https://bit.ly/2TgMJnj

11. BENEFITS OF
ENGAGING
MILLENNIALS
& GEN Z
Diverse perspectives
Increased donations -- today & long-
term
Improved visibility in the community
Higher online engagement
Fresh event ideas (Virtual!)

12. Source: 2013 Millennial Impact Research
& Gen Z

13. Key Challenges
• Resource allocation
(Staff & Funding)
• The Kid’s Table
• Intergenerational
relationship building

14. Ready to Start a New Young Professionals
Board?
• Recruit Leadership
• Building the Framework
Together
• First Event/Broader
Recruitment

15. 1. RECRUIT
LEADERSHIP Start with
who you
already
know
Leverage
peer
influence
Keep
members’
motivation
in mind
Focus on
building
relationships

16. 2. BUILD THE FRAMEWORK
TOGETHER
Write the
mission
statement
Determine
then assign
leadership
roles
Focus on
IMPACT
Create
meaningful
opportunities
Staff provide
guidance,
boundaries,
then
DELEGATE

17. 3. Host a
Launch Event
/ Broaden
Recruitment
• Allow YPB to take the lead
• Make space for creative ideas
• Delegate responsibility (Don’t take over!)
• Hone the call to action

18. Steps in Action: NWPC St. Louis Young
Professionals
• Started with membership list & networks of Board members
• All members asked to make introduction to at least one viable
prospect
• Flyers at major events
• Emails to all members and Facebook group

19. STEPS IN ACTION: NWPC ST.
LOUIS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Tried to force it to be
highly structured but
this did not fit
member’s desires
Started to allow
members to drive
mission moments
Lessened structure.
The only defined
leadership role is the
Chair
With less structure,
membership &
engagement has
grown

21. Ready to Strengthen
Your Young
Professionals Board?
Collect Feedback
Individually
Hold a Group
Conversation with YPB
Initiate Changes

22. Great
Rivers’
Motivation
• Small and aging donor base – desire
to diversify and expand
• Stagnant events and attendance
• Capacity for fundraising and outreach
events (ie., Earth Day)

23. 1. Collect Feedback
One-on-one
conversations
with members
Conduct survey Build
relationships
and community
Listen with an
open mind

24. 2. Hold a Group Conversation
• Review (or write) mission statement
• Set goals for membership and fundraising
• Assess leadership roles; modify and re-assign if needed
• Create a recruitment strategy to keep growing
• Staff provide guidance, boundaries

25. 3. Initiate
Changes
•Implement the ideas from
steps 1 and 2
•Allow the YPB to lead
•Make space for creative
ideas
•Help delegate
responsibility

26. Impact of YPB for
Great Rivers
• Directly raised ~$5,000 in 2018 (out of a
$350,000 budget)
• Responsible for around 200 event
attendees in 2018
• Helped add 355 names to mailing list
through outreach efforts
• Advocated for positive changes to
website and social media presence
• Lent credibility to younger staff

28. FRIENDS OF PEDAL
RESTRUCTURE
RESULT: HIGHER
ENGAGEMENT
Challenges
Small membership base
Low engagement
Heavy pull from staff
Feedback from
Members
Don’t want to be a “Party
Planning Committee”
More accountability
More leadership
opportunities with path
toward Board service
Restructure
Established more
leadership roles
Outlined expectations
clearly
Set goals together

29. Questions/Comments

30. Thank you!