Overview
The Diversity Fellows and Coaches Program aims to support new grant professionals in Georgia who are currently underrepresented in the grant profession. The program will foster mentorship among participants by pairing each fellow with a coach, and it will provide financial support to fellows for professional development opportunities, including membership in the Georgia Grant Professionals Association (GGPA) and attendance at the annual national GrantSummit held by the Grant Professionals Association (GPA).
During our pilot year in 2025, we plan to pair five fellows with five coaches. Your participation will help nurture a cohort of grant professionals who will help strengthen the nonprofit sector and diversify the workforce.
Program Objectives
In its first year, the program will support five budding grant professionals from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and/or gender identities via mentorship and access to professional development. By the end of 2025, the program will:
- Welcome an inaugural cohort of five diversity fellows and five coaches
- Establish a mentor relationship between each fellow and an experienced coach that increases the fellows’ confidence and competency in the grant profession
- Provide free GPA and GGPA membership to each fellow, with the expectation that fellows will attend at least eight of the monthly GGPA meetings, pending our ability to secure funding
- Provide free registration, travel, and accommodations for each fellow to attend the national GrantSummit in November, pending our ability to secure funding
- Host quarterly meetings for fellows and an end-of-year celebration
Program Timeline
|
Timeframe |
Milestone |
|
October 7, 2024 |
Application opens for fellows and coaches |
|
November 7, 2024 |
Application closes |
|
November 8 – December 6, 2024 |
Diversity Fellows Committee reviews applicants and selects and pairs fellows and coaches |
|
December 13, 2024 |
Committee notifies all applicants of decision |
|
January 24, 2025 |
Kickoff meeting and pre-program surveys |
|
April 2025 |
Quarter 2 meeting/mid-year check-in |
|
July 2025 |
Quarter 3 meeting |
|
October 29 – November 1, 2025 |
GrantSummit and Quarter 4 meeting |
|
December 2025 |
End-of-year celebration and post-program surveys |
Eligibility Criteria for Both Fellows and Coaches:
- Diversity and Inclusion Commitment: Demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in grantmaking or related areas.
- Availability: Willingness and availability to actively participate in the program, attend coaching sessions, and complete assigned tasks or projects.
Eligibility Criteria for Fellows:
- Experience: No more than 3 years of experience in grant writing and grant management
- Professional Growth Objectives: Clear goals for professional development and a desire to enhance skills in grant writing, management, or related areas.
- Openness to Feedback: Willingness to receive constructive feedback and implement suggestions for improvement.
- Communication Skills: Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively engage with coaches and peers.
Eligibility Criteria for Coaches:
- Expertise: Significant experience (5+ years) in grant writing, grant management, or related fields, with a demonstrated track record of success.
- Mentorship Experience: Prior experience mentoring or coaching others, either formally or informally, in grant-related activities.
- Leadership Skills: Strong leadership and interpersonal skills to effectively guide and support mentees in their professional development journey.
- Empathy and Supportiveness: Ability to empathize with mentees and provide support, encouragement, and constructive feedback in a supportive manner.
Apply now!
Applications are open from October 7-November 7, 2024.