WLMP Benefits

Mentees have a chance to: get career guidance from experienced nonprofit leaders; build the skills necessary to take their careers to the next level; expand their professional networks by connecting with women who are guiding and transforming the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors in Chicago and beyond; and gain access to exclusive workshops and networking events.

Mentors have a chance to: “pay it forward” by sharing their expertise with emerging and mid-career leaders; enrich their own perspectives on the nonprofit sector and learn new skills and approaches by exchanging ideas with their mentees and fellow mentors; and develop new contacts and lifelong relationships by getting to know the diverse group of WLMP participants.

Eligibility

The WLMP strives to engage a racially and ethnically diverse group of participants from a variety of fields with different types of job responsibilities, professional experiences, and career goals.

WLMP: EMERGING LEADERS

Mentees: Young women in the early stages of their nonprofit careers (five years or fewer of work experience) who have specific needs in areas such as goal-setting and career planning, skill-building, networking, or navigating an employment or educational transition. Both CWIP members and non-members who meet these criteria are welcome to apply.

Mentors: CWIP members who have at least eight years of experience and/or senior management experience in the
nonprofit sector and a desire to support emerging women leaders in the nonprofit sector.

WLMP: mid-career leaders

Mentees: CWIP members who are at or reaching the mid-career stage of their professional development with over seven years of experience. Issues that could be addressed with a mentor include developing high-level communications skills; finance for the non-finance executive; board development and management; managing “up, down, and sideways;” and maintaining work/life balance.

Mentors: CWIP members with senior management experience and a desire to nurture the next generation of
executive-level women in the nonprofit sector.

Expectations

Both mentees and mentors are expected to commit to two to four hours per month to the WLMP for one program
year (October-August). This commitment includes:

Setting jointly agreed-upon mentorship goals with your partner
Participating in an Orientation and Goal-Setting session
Monthly meetings with your mentoring partner (virtually or in-person)
Participating in two professional development sessions
Participating in two peer-to-peer sessions
Participating in the evaluation process, including the completion of online surveys and periodic phone check-ins with
committee members

WLMP Co-Chairs  

Bridget Hickey
WLMP Co-Chair

Michelle Patterson
WLMP Co-Chair

Shruti Saxena
WLMP Co-Chair