As Lead Now Flint & Genesee gears up for the launch of its sixth cohort, the yearlong leadership development program is seeking proposals for the cohort’s community impact project.
The Request for Proposal (RFP) is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies and should fulfill a specific community need in Genesee County. Projects should:
- Be able to be completed between March and November 30, 2020
- Be large enough in scope for 16 people to actively play a role in the project
- Have the ability for the cohort to develop it further and/or modify the scope during project development with general agreement from the organization
- Be something that the nonprofit would not otherwise have the resources to accomplish or would allow the nonprofit to put their resources to better use
- Be something that, upon completion, the organization will take over and manage as required going forward
- Not be purely fundraising, though the class will raise funds and materials for the project
The project is an important part of the Lead Now curriculum as it allows the cohort members to put what they’ve learned into real-word practice. Examples of past Lead Now projects include creating resources to support local youth organizations and helping the Brownell-Holmes Neighborhood Association install an outdoor library and greenspace.
Most recently, Lead Now’s fifth cohort opted to increase community awareness around NAMI Genesee County, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. To do this, the team worked with the nonprofit’s board of directors to bolster its fundraising, marketing/communications, operations and volunteer recruitment efforts.
“Having Lead Now come alongside us and provide support was a huge shot in the arm for our organization,” says Suzanne Kellom, president of NAMI Genesee County. “It would have taken us years to come up with all of the great ideas they developed, and our fundraising efforts were impacted in a very positive way thanks to the extra volunteers they provided.”
Project submissions for the 2020 RFP will be reviewed by the Lead Now alumni advisory committee and narrowed down to five finalists. These organizations will highlight their project ideas during an open house-style event on Friday, March 13. Following this session, the Lead Now cohort will select one organization to work with for the year.
To submit your proposed project, please complete this application and return via email to by or before Friday, Feb. 14.