Question Title

Participant and Alumni Mixer on day one of VELP 6

Participant and Alumni Mixer on day one of VELP 6
Victoria Emerging Leaders Program (VELP)

12 Full-Day Sessions, 2nd Wednesday of the Month
September 2019 to August 2020


Applications are due by Monday, July 15th. Email Vicki Fernandez (VMFmpa@business.rutgers.edu) for questions about the application period. 

Victoria Nonprofit Emerging Leaders Program is an innovative and transformative approach to leadership training acutely focused on increasing the number of highly effective nonprofit leaders who have the practical knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to lead their organizations and better serve their communities. The program combines time-tested elements and benefits of a structured curriculum, peer mentoring, one-on-one coaching, Emotional Intelligence training, and Life & Career Planning®, a proprietary tool that focuses on personal and professional growth through exploring one’s own values. Emerging Leaders will also receive a 360 Emotional Intelligence Assessment at the beginning of the program.
 
Over a 12 month period, approximately 20 participants go through an intensive, carefully sequenced step building process, which includes individual one-on-one coaching, and is focused on personal growth, leadership capacity, and managerial skills. The program provides professional and safe environments for leaders to share challenges and work together for actionable solutions. Leaders will be guided by training sessions and peer engagement, but they will be anchored to actionable personal and organizational goals, and held accountable to these measurable standards.

Participants must submit a letter of support from their organizations’ CEO and board of directors if accepted. This is a formal letter of support from leaders' organizations' CEO and Board of Directors to participate, which acknowledges they will support time away from the office for monthly sessions and one-on-one coaching.
 
During the program’s convocation event in August, Emerging Leaders will present on the goals they set in the program and their progress. This event will welcome colleagues, friends and family of the Emerging Leaders. At the end of the program, the Emerging Leaders will become part of the Institute’s network of over 300 alumni with opportunities to meet annually for continuing education and peer group sessions.

Materials/supplies and lunch in all 12 sessions, plus one-on-one coaching and the 360 EI assessment, along with other resources, are also included in registration costs. The program is valued at over $3,000; participants or their organization must contribute $850 towards the total cost of this program. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. All remaining fees and other associated costs will be absorbed by the Institute with generous support from our funders.
Important Notes:

Funding and Geographic Focus: Applicants DO NOT need to be funded by the Victoria Foundation or the American Express Foundation to apply to this program. The majority of seats will go to nonprofit emerging leaders working within Newark; a limited number of seats will be available for emerging leaders serving communities OUTSIDE of Newark.

Confidentially and Screening: We encourage you to be open and honest on your application. We do not share applications with participants' organizations. Also, unlike job applications, we are not necessarily screening for the "perfect" professional. In addition to non-profit experience and leadership, we are looking for participants who are ready to be dedicated to their own development and committed to the VELP process for the full 12 months.

Application: Please answer all questions below and submit before the deadline above. If more than one person is applying from your organization, please submit separate applications.

Changes: Although the core of VELP curriculum has been the same for 8 years and will continue to stay the same, some program components may change before September 2019.

Question Title

* 1. Applicant information

Question Title

* 2. Personal Gender Pronouns

Question Title

* 3. Professional/Organization information

Question Title

* 4. How would you describe your primary role or roles in your organization?

Question Title

* 5. Approximate number of full time staff:

Question Title

* 6. Approximate annual budget (in thousands):

Question Title

* 7. What is your organization's primary focus area(s)?

Question Title

* 8. What is your organization’s mission? (Please feel free to copy and paste from your organization's website)

Question Title

* 9. Organization Permission and Support:
I will be able to get formal approval from my organization's CEO and Board of Directors to participate, which acknowledges they will support - and protect - my time away from the office for monthly sessions and one-on-one coaching. I understand if accepted, I will have to provide written proof of this support. (Please initial below in agreement)

Question Title

* 10. Resume:
Upload a recent copy of your resume, preferably as a PDF or Word file.

DOCX, DOC, JPEG, GIF, JPG, PDF, PNG file types only.
Choose File

Question Title

* 11. Is your organization funded by the Victoria Foundation?

Question Title

* 12. Do you have a mentor?

Question Title

* 13. How are you currently addressing your personal and professional development?

  Regularly Occasionally  Have in the past, but not recently Never N/A
Long term development programs (1 year or more) or Graduate Courses
Short term/intensive development programs or certificates
Webinars
One time capacity building workshops
Reading books
Reading articles online
One-on-one coaching
Training and development provided by my organization
Training and development provided a professional or alumni association
Volunteering in role with learning opportunities 

Question Title

* 14. Did someone recommend or nominate you to the program? If yes, who?

Application Questions
Answers to the following questions will help us to select the best mix of participants for the cohort.  To make the writing easiest for you, there are no minimum or maximum word counts, however we encourage you to keep your thoughts brief. Full essays are not required and will not increase your chances of selection.

Question Title

* 15. What is the most attractive aspect or benefit of the program for you and why?

Question Title

* 16. Each VELP participant must set a personal and professional goal to work on during the program. Roughly, what do you hope to achieve or focus on for your personal and professional goal? If selected, we will help you with developing your goal into a SMART goal and with accountability. Are there any additional challenges you are facing or working on?

Question Title

* 17. How do you feel about working in a group? Share one positive and one negative experience you've had personally or professionally while working in a group. How did you react in those situations? What would you do differently today?

Question Title

* 18. What experience, knowledge, traits or characteristics can you bring to VELP for the benefit of your peers and the cohort as a whole? 

Question Title

* 19. Describe the a valuable piece of constructive criticism or feedback you received. How did you respond to it? How did it help your personal or professional growth?

Question Title

* 20. Commitment to Program and Requirements:
Please initial in the box next to the following statements in agreement

Question Title

* 21. Commitment to Nonprofit Sector:
Please initial in the box next to the following statements in agreement

The following questions will not be considered for selection purposes.

Question Title

* 22. How did you hear about this program?

Question Title

* 23. Which of the following topics are you most interested in? Select your top 3.

Question Title

* 24. Are there any other nonprofit management or leadership topics not listed above that you would like to learn about?

Question Title

* 25. Scholarship:

If you have any questions or comments, please contact:

Vicki Fernandez
Rutgers Institute for Ethical Leadership
Rutgers Business School – Newark and New Brunswick
1 Washington Park, 10th Floor, Newark NJ 07102
Phone (973)-353-3488
E-mail vmfmpa@business.rutgers.edu
www.business.rutgers.edu/iel

T