FIA Victoria Launches Pilot Mentoring Program
10 June 2014 at 11:00 am
Fundraising Institute Australia is piloting a structured Mentoring Program in Victoria in 2014-15 based on a highly successful UK model.
Following the success of the Institute of Fundraising South West’s structured mentoring scheme in the UK, the FIA Victoria Executive plans to adapt this model and pilot a program to provide members with the opportunity to obtain experienced support with fundraising and management issues from trained mentors.
The program will be managed by the FIA Victoria Executive and Isobel Michael, Philanthropy Executive at Ardoch Youth Foundation.
“In the UK scheme, mentees found the guidance and support to be invaluable and the mentors found that they benefitted from an opportunity to reflect on their own skills and from supporting the work of another fundraiser and charity. They all benefitted from increased networking opportunities,” Michael said.
“The pilot involves training for mentors and matching sessions to enable mentees spend time talking to all their prospective mentors so that everyone can identify the best matches for their needs and experience.
“FIA Victoria will then support the mentoring partnerships over a full year, ideally meeting around once a month, but many mentoring relationships continue for longer.”
The program will run from October 2014 to November 2015. Recruitment for the program is taking place up to the end of July, with training and induction in October.
“It will be up to each mentoring relationship to decide whether it wishes to continue beyond November 2015,” Michael said.
“The program can accommodate a maximum of 14 mentoring relationships.
“I was involved in the program in the UK as I was involved in the Institute of Fundraising South Region that piloted it and took part as a mentor. Like many of my fellow mentors, I felt I learnt so much from my mentee as well as helping to developing her fundraising skills, knowledge and supporting her development.
“The feedback from the mentees was very positive – they told us that they found the guidance and support to be invaluable, it built their skills and confidence and they extended their networks significantly.
“This is particularly important for those new to fundraising, working in smaller charities or wanting to learn about new areas and develop their skills,” she said.
Isobel Michael is currently seeking registrations of interest from FIA Victoria members only who would like to be involved in the pilot program.
Contact Isobel Michael on 9537 2414 or isobel.michael@ardoch.asn.au for further information.
