Overview:
Leadership Cumberland seeks to partner with nonprofit organizations within Cumberland County to provide Community Engagement Projects for their fellows.
Selected organizations will benefit from a project collaboratively completed by a team of Leadership Cumberland Fellows throughout the 2021-22 program year. Three to five projects will be chosen to be completed in an six-month time frame. This page contains a Request for Proposal (RFP) that aims to guide you in preparing a compelling project proposal for the Leadership Cumberland to review.
Completed Proposals are due by June 30, 2021.
What Makes A Good Project:
The most satisfying project for both our nonprofit partners and our class members are those that fulfill an outstanding strategic need for the nonprofit organization and/or address a core challenge. As high-potential leaders, our class members want to contribute something of intellectual and practical value to your organization. Examples of good community engagement projects might be program analysis, research projects, marketing opportunities, etc. Projects that require fundraising or physical labor (painting, gardening, etc.) to be completed will not be considered.
Due to COVID-19, most of this year's projects should be able to be completed remotely in case our fellows aren't always able to meet in-person.
Past projects include:
- Volunteer Management Plan for Safe Harbour
- Research opportunities for students to serve the community from Saint Patrick's School
- Distributing over 600 books in local schools to increase awareness for Autism in the Classroom
- Assisted The Salvation Army with a business plan to make their Family Thrift Store profitable
Eligible Organizations Must Be:
- Recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 organization.
- A public or private not-for-profit school, service organization, faith-based organization, community or civic group.
- Registered with the PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations (if applicable).
- Located in and/or serving Cumberland County.
- Available to present project need at our Orientation Class on Friday, September 17, 2021.
- Available to meet your assigned team on Thursday, October 21, 2021.
Community Engagement Project Partner and Contact Person:
The community project partner is an integral partner in the execution of the project and is a high-level individual within the organization who can and will provide information about the organization, the project, issue, needs, etc. The community project partner is responsible for managing the project for the applicant organization, to communicating and coordinating project activities with class member project leads, meeting with class project members, and must be authorized to make decisions on behalf of the organization.
Community Engagement Projects Should Aim To:
- Provide a civic engagement opportunity for the class members to collectively learn about and address a critical community need.
- Provide an opportunity for class members to develop deeper relationships with each other through teamwork and to gain experience leading in a team setting.
- Provide an opportunity for class members to learn about how nonprofit organizations address community needs.
- Provide value-added support and consultation to a local nonprofit which assist it in achieving its mission.
- Provide class members with a leadership skills development opportunity.
Timeline and Required Meetings:
Organizations submitting proposals must be able to meet the following timeline.
- June 30, 2021: Proposals due by email to Nicole Deary at director@leadershipcumberland.org.
- August 13, 2021: Leadership Cumberland Curriculum Committee will select class projects and notify organizations of their acceptance.
- September 17, 2021: In-person presentation of project by nonprofit at Leadership Cumberland Orientation (location TBD).
- October 21, 2021: In-person meet and greet between Leadership Cumberland students and nonprofit project leaders (location TBD).
- April 21, 2022: Leadership Cumberland students present project findings to class and nonprofits (location TBD).
