Mentorship Program

AFP NEW BRUNSWICK CHAPTER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Exciting new mentorship program – available exclusively to Chapter members.

For mentors, it is an opportunity to give back to the profession by helping to develop and retain new talent – fostering the growth and professional development of future sector leaders.

For mentees, it is an opportunity to make new connections in the sector, learn from senior leaders and gain skills to help you advance your career.

Our goal is to offer AFP New Brunswick Chapter members a supportive partnership that is mutually beneficial for both parties to continue to learn and grow professionally and enhance overall career development.

This is your opportunity to share your skills and knowledge or gain one-on-one professional support from your peers in the sector.

Here are a few of the topics you may decide to cover:

What skills you’re currently trying to develop
What education/certification is helpful in meeting your goals
How you can move up in your career
How to prepare to take on new roles in your charity
How to seek a new role in another charity
Finding a work-life balance that propels your career without burning you out
How you can mentor other employees to help them grow
How you can introduce more responsibility and creativity in your role
How to manage-up with your executive leadership and/or your board
Setting long-term and short-term goals and what you need to do to achieve them

"Engaging in long-term frank discussions with a mentor has helped me re-shape my entire approach to fund development.

As a result, my organization made a decisive shift from transactional, retail-type fundraising to creating a culture of philanthropy within the organization. Everyone on the team is learning how to be an ambassador for philanthropy and fund development - both in the organization and in the community. That means we're more effective at fundraising and fulfilling our mission."

-Stephen Tobias, Executive Director, Saint John Theatre Company

A SUCCESSFUL MENTOR IS:

People-Oriented – genuinely interested in people, with a desire to help others develop and grow.
Motivational – give encouraging feedback, to support through challenging assignments.
An Effective Teacher – assess needed skills for mentees role and assist in goal creation to achieve success.
Genuine – bring your authentic-self, so you can genuinely celebrate accomplishments.
Respectful – demonstrate respect for another’s well-being and of their perspective.

Click here to apply to become a mentor

A SUCCESSFUL MENTEE IS:

Eager to learn – strong desire to learn new skills and elevate level of expertise.
Collaborative – willing to contribute as much as possible to the mentoring relationship
Patient – build long-term goals, understanding that career advancement doesn’t happen overnight.
A Risk-Taker – move beyond mastered-skills and accept new and more challenging experiences.
Positive– should be hopeful and enthusiastic about learning.

Click here to apply to become a mentee

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM GUIDELINES

The AFP New Brunswick Chapter Mentorship Program is a recommended minimum 6-month commitment (October to March) on behalf of both the mentor and the mentee. The purpose of the relationship is to share knowledge, answer questions and be an encouraging and supportive partner. The aim is for the partnership to be mutually beneficial for both parties for continued personal and professional growth and development.

The mentor is to provide the mentee with advice and information. The advice will be limited to work-related and/or specific fundraising and non-profit sector advice to be used to enhance the fundraising program and non-profit management of the charitable organization with which the mentee is currently associated. The relationship is meant to be position or employment specific and is not to be used or construed in any way as a consulting relationship or career coaching. We recommend that both partners advise their employer if they intend to participate in this program.

TIME COMMITMENT

The partnership is recommended to last for 6 months, with the option to continue in the program on an annual basis. The time invested is dependent on each party but should be a minimum connection of one hour per month, either by phone, video conferencing, or in-person meeting.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications for both mentors and mentees are due on Tuesday, August 15 at 5:00 PM AST. Matches will be notified of their successful application and next steps early September in time for a late-September program orientation session.

MATCHING PROCESS

The AFP New Brunswick Mentorship Committee will be facilitating the match between mentor and mentee based on the information collected on the Mentorship Program Application Form(s). Key criteria for matching partners will be based on the areas of expertise the mentor has, and the area of learning identified by the mentee.

Please note that only a limited number of participants can be facilitated at this time. Participants will be notified by e-mail of their successful application and next steps in early September, in time for a late-September program orientation session. All other applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Christine Gilliland, Chapter Director, at (506) 343-5154 or at chapterdirector@afpnb.org