Community Projects FAQ
What are Community Projects?
One component of Leadership Tomorrow’s Flagship Program is taking collective action in the context of a current regional challenge or opportunity via Community Projects. Community Projects are 6-7 month long initiatives to further racial equity and social justice in our region that are undertaken in partnership between cross-sector teams (also referred to as Lab Teams) of 7-8 working professionals in Leadership Tomorrow’s Flagship Program and nonprofit or public sector organizations or groups in the region.
What can a team do for my organization?
Teams of volunteers help by providing strategic advising on organizational issues or project design and implementation for your area of need. Participating organizations may come away with improved operations, increased exposure, or more strategic focus, all while connecting with potential board members and volunteers.
Past projects should not constrain what’s possible this year! However, if it’s useful, you may review summaries of 2021-2022 projects by visiting this page HERE.
Is my organization eligible to submit a project proposal?
If your organization is a nonprofit, public sector organization (division, unit, department, etc.), or community organization or group that serves the Puget Sound region, your organization may apply.
Please review LT’s mission, vision, and values. Your organization does need to be in complete alignment with these statements, but to be eligible to participate, your organization should not be at odds with them.
Is working with a team just like hiring a consultant to undertake a specific project?
Not quite. This is a volunteer group of leaders with varied professional expertise devoting time outside of their job and other Leadership Tomorrow Flagship Program commitments to work on your project.
In addition, teams may discover hidden issues or limitations in the original proposal or approach. In this partnership model, LT teams are encouraged to bring concerns, new ideas, and input to their partnering organization. Community partners are encouraged to considering a change in course even if it deviates from the original issue or plan.
What is my organization’s role in the partnership?
Having a team working with you is only successful if the team is supported by your agency. Someone specific in your organization must be available as an ongoing liaison between the agency and the team. Teams that have the most success are teams that have the best communication with their partnering organization. This will require time and energy on the part of the organization to attend meetings, return emails, take phone calls, and make decisions in a prompt manner. If the team is not given direction and feedback from their partner, they will have difficulty moving forward and achieving success.
In February 2023, you will be contacted by the Leadership Tomorrow staff for a status update and feedback. In June 2023, evaluations of project experience will be required from all parties.
How are proposals selected?
Between September 23 and October 1: Leadership Tomorrow’s Director of Learning Design and Equity and Curriculum Committee Chair and Vice-Chair will determine which projects will be presented to LT Teams. On October 1, organizations that submitted a proposal will be notified whether they are moving forward in the process.
Decisions regarding which projects are selected to move forward will be based on the following criteria:
The degree to which the proposed project is aligned with LT’s 2022-2023 curriculum theme and program outcomes (see below).
How well the proposed project meets the project guidelines (see next question for guidelines).
Theme for LT’s 2022-2023 Curriculum Year
This year’s program focuses on collective leadership and is organized around two questions:
What can systemic changes toward racial equity and social justice in our region look like?
What does collective leadership in pursuit of a more resilient and equitable region look like in practice?
Program Goals:
Community and Belonging: Build a diverse multi-sector learning community in which participants can find belonging, inspiration, and support for action during and after the program year.
Regional Challenges and Opportunities: Introduce a range of regional challenges and opportunities through the lenses of equity and antiracism; envision and explore examples of policies, institutions, and systems that promote equity.
Leadership: Build a toolkit of leadership skills for individual and collective action so that organizations, communities, and the region may thrive.
On November 17, 5:30-7:00 p.m.: Each proposing organization will give an in-person (virtual on Zoom) pitch to Leadership Tomorrow Lab Teams. This will consist of a brief presentation about the project and a short Q&A session to help Teams better understand the proposal. Following this session, Lab Teams will rank their preferred projects. Then LT will match organizations with teams.
Note that because we receive more proposals than there are teams, not all organizations who make an in-person pitch will be matched.
What are the guidelines for project proposals?
The project must be realistic in scope and be able to be completed in the given time frame (6-7 months between December 2022 and the end of May 2023). Projects that are flexible in scope which can be narrowed or expanded in collaboration with a Team’s capacities will be most successful.
The project should produce sustainable results, allowing your organization to better serve the community, and be strategic, structural, operational, or organizational in nature.
The partnering organization should be able to explain how the project connects with LT’s overall curriculum theme or advances LT’s program goals.
The partnering organization must be open to new and innovative ideas that the team will provide.
The partnering organization must have the capacity to communicate with the team regularly, meet with the team regularly, and work with them to make decisions quickly regarding the direction of their project.
Make sure your submission is clearly written so the teams can understand exactly what you are asking.
Projects may not be partisan or religious in nature nor have fundraising as a primary focus.
What are the key dates to know?
September 23, 2022 – Project proposals are due.
October 1, 2022 – LT contacts all proposing organizations about whether they will move forward in the process or not.
Mid-October 2022 (date TBD) – Proposing organizations attend an optional info session. Goals of this session are to ensure proposing organizations understand Leadership Lab guidelines and how the Lab process fits into LT’s overall curriculum and to clarify expectations of both LT cohort members and partnering organizations. We recommend attending to help prepare for November 17 pitch night.
November 17, 2022, 5:30-7:00 p.m. – Proposing organizations attend a required “Lab Night” and pitch their project to LT Lab Teams.
December 2, 2022 – LT contacts organizations and teams to announce partnerships. Organizations that were not selected will also be notified and thanked for their interest.
February 2023 – Partnering organizations complete a check-in survey.
May 31, 2023 – Leadership Lab Teams produce project executive summary and resource list.
June 8, 2023 – Leadership Lab Teams complete their projects and present results at LT’s final curriculum event of the year.
June 30, 20223– Partnering organizations submit lab project experience survey.
If my organization’s project is not selected, is there another way to work with LT?
Maybe! If your project is not selected and you are still interested in exploring a partnership with Leadership Tomorrow, you may contact LT’s Director of Alumni Impact and Equity, Rebeca Rivera, to discuss possibilities.
I want to submit a proposal. What are the next steps?
You may submit a proposal now through September 23, 2022. To submit a proposal for a Leadership Lab Team, complete this short survey.
If you have questions in the meantime, you may contact Tamara Myers at tamara@leadershiptomorrowseattle.org or call (206) 389-7234.
We’re excited about offering this opportunity to our region and hope you will submit a proposal!