Free coaching, mentoring and peer support for leaders in the nonprofit sector.
You can apply to the autumn 2024 round of the mentoring programme here.
Apply to become a mentor here.
This programme is kindly sponsored by BHP Insurances.
Hear from previous mentees:
“It’s such a fantastic resource. I really enjoy talking with my mentor. Really solid advice even considering that it’s by phone or zoom and not face to face personally. It’s an invaluable resource” -John McCahill, Chairman, Canon Hayes Recreation Centre
“I am delighted I got the opportunity to go on the programme.”-Grainne Berrill, Manager, Louth Volunteer Centre
“My mentor has been a great coach and mentor. I have really enjoyed the process of learning from him and developing my leadership skills and confidence. I would highly recommend the programme.” -CEO, Disability Service Provider
“The mentor sessions are a huge help especially with the fundraising sector going through a transitional period due to Covid. My mentor has a wealth of experience in the not for profit sector and I feel fortunate to get access to his knowledge and advice.” -Sinéad Stafford, Active Retirement
To date, more than 200 nonprofit leaders from more than 140 different organisations have participated in the programme.
Information for Nonprofit Leaders Looking for Support
This programme is open to anyone in a Leadership or Management role in a nonprofit. This includes:
- CEOs
- Managers
- Coordinators of Volunteer Programmes
Often leaders join our programme at a point of transition. This includes:
- Joining an organisation
- Stepping into a new role or new responsibilities
- Taking your organisation or programme in a new strategic direction
- Facing new challenges, whether they are related to strategy, governance, HR, management or navigating the relationship with supervisors/the Board.
Unfortunately, this programme does not have the capacity accept nonprofit Board members and Non-Executive Directors at this time. However, Carmichael’s Board Chairs’ Network, the Wheel’s Group Coaching Programme or Board Match’s Trustees Network provide support for Directors/Trustees of nonprofits.
Your mentor
Your mentor may be a qualified executive coach, a current or former leader from the nonprofit sector or a subject matter expert depending on your needs.
Your mentor will primarily provide a sounding board for you to work out your next steps. They may occasionally be able to share some personal experiences from their current or former roles, or point you in the direction of relevant resources but they will mainly take a coaching and active listening approach.
Mentors will not engage in pieces of consultancy for the client under this programme. Their role is to support the leader, not to take on any of that leader’s workload. The mentor is also not a counsellor, therapist, or mediator. They will not engage with any other members of the leader’s organisation.
The mentoring timeline
- A 1-hour orientation session online to give you more details about the programme and get the chance to meet the programme coordinator, other leaders on the programme and some of the mentors.
- Your first conversation with your suggested mentor will be focused on finding out a bit more about each other and discussing what you’d like to get out of the programme. Both the leader and mentor are asked to feedback to the programme coordinator on whether the match seems right or whether a different mentor might be better able to support the leader.
- 3-6 sessions with your mentor. These may be over the phone, online or in person depending on your and your mentor’s preferences. These are generally no more than an hour long.
- Either the mentor or leader will suggest when they feel the relationship is coming to a close. There should be a final session after this conversation on the timeline for wrapping up.
- Mentoring meetings are generally once per month and will not extend beyond 9 months from the orientation. If the mentor and mentee agree to continue meeting beyond the initial (up to) 6 sessions or 9 months, this will be outside of the mentoring programme.
- Carmichael runs two Leader Support Meetings per year, one online and one in person. The first should take place roughly three months after your orientation. These sessions are an opportunity to meet others who are currently on the programme or previously completed it.
- When the support relationship has wrapped up, the leader will be asked to complete a feedback form and will be invited to join a LinkedIn community group for other nonprofit leaders who have completed the programme.
- Anyone who has completed the programme and sent the feedback form will be welcome to continue to attend the Leader Support Meetings and benefit from this peer support network. They are also welcome to apply to become mentors.
Carmichael’s Nonprofit Leaders Community
- Anyone who has completed the programme and their feedback form is invited to join the LinkedIn community group. This allows you to connect with other leaders in the sector, discuss common issues and share your knowledge.
- All members of this community are invited to our Leader Support Meetings which take place twice per year.
- Leaders who have completed the Leader Support Programme are welcome to join the panel as mentors for future Leaders
Apply now
The Carmichael Mentoring Programme takes applications in the Spring and Autumn. You can apply to the autumn 2024 round of the mentoring programme here.
Information for Those Interested in Becoming Mentors
Our mentors provide pro bono coaching/mentoring for leaders in the nonprofit sector.
We would love to hear from you if you are:
- Working (or have worked) in a leadership capacity in the nonprofit sector
- A qualified executive coach
- A subject matter expert in a specific area (HR, Finance etc)
The Mentoring Style
As a mentor, your main role will be to provide a sounding board to help the mentee work out their next steps. We promote an active listening and coaching approach as far as is possible. However, in some cases, it may be appropriate for you to share some of your own experiences (especially if you have worked in the nonprofit sector yourself), point the mentee towards relevant training or resources or suggest another way the leader might do things.
Mentors will not engage in pieces of consultancy for the mentee under this programme. Your job is to support the mentee, not to take on any of their workload. The mentor is also not a counsellor, therapist, or mediator. You will not engage with any other members of the mentee’s organisation.
The mentoring timeline
- A 1-hour orientation session online to give you more details about the programme and get the chance to meet the programme coordinator, mentees on the programme and some of the other mentors.
- Your first conversation with your suggested mentee will be focused on finding out a bit more about each other and discussing what they would like to get out of the programme. Both the mentee and mentor are asked to feedback to the programme coordinator on whether the match seems right or whether a different mentor might be better able to support the mentee.
- 3-6 sessions with your mentee. These may be over the phone, online or in person depending on your and your mentee’s preferences. These are generally no more than an hour long.
- Either the mentor or mentee will suggest when they feel the relationship is coming to a close. The mentor should always aim for a final session to be had after it is flagged that the relationship is coming to a close. The support relationship may wrap up anywhere from 3 to 6 sessions in. Sessions are generally once per month and will not extend beyond 9 months from the orientation.
- Once the programme has wrapped up, please encourage your mentee to complete a feedback form.
- Carmichael runs two Mentor Check In Meetings per year, generally just before each round of the programme kicks off. These sessions are an opportunity to meet other mentors, discuss common challenges and share your knowledge.
Apply to become a mentor here.
This programme is kindly sponsored by BHP Insurances.