Our Program

Criteria for Participation in the YLC Program

1. Interested in community service and nonprofit work
2. Committed to attending all the training classes
3. Eager to participate in a one-year internship on the board of a nonprofit organization
4. Secured the approval of your manager to miss work for class sessions
5. Have the ability to pay class participation fee, or have your company approval to pay

Program Requirements:

Young Leaders Council strives to maintain a strong cross section of individuals from diverse backgrounds, occupations, and experiences in order to enhance the program and meet the growing needs of our nonprofit community. Preference will be given to those individuals with previous volunteer experience, a demonstrated commitment to making an impact for the Middle Tennessee community, and the ability to fully commit to participating in the full 11-week training program.

Once the application is submitted, all applicants will be required to schedule a Zoom interview with the YLC Executive Director and/or Program Manager.  Email confirmation will be sent to each applicant from the Smarter Select system providing a link to schedule the interview immediately after the application is submitted.  Applicants may also submit a brief letter of recommendation from their immediate supervisor or a YLC alumni to strengthen their application, however, this is optional.  There is a non-refundable program fee associated with participation in the YLC training program. This fee must be paid prior to the start of training unless previous payment arrangements have been made and confirmed with the YLC Executive Director or Program Manager. The applicant is fully responsible for payment of the required program fee. Each applicant is encouraged to consult with their employer regarding the possibility of receiving financial support for the cost of the program prior to submitting their application.

Attendance is required at all training sessions. The participant must notify the YLC Program Manager or Executive Director via email if a session is going to be missed. A missed session may be made up by attending with another cohort for that same topic or the participant may take advantage of their one “missed class pass” for the semester. If two or more sessions are missed without prior approval, the participant will be advised to discontinue the program. Please note that all YLC program fees are non-refundable.

With the exception of members of the Junior League Cohort, all YLC program participant must complete a one-year internship on the board of a nonprofit organization. It is suggested that all training sessions be completed prior to the start of the board internship.

If a participant needs to withdraw from the training program due to an unexpected emergency or life changing event, the applicant will be offered an opportunity to transition their admission to the immediate next semester, however, if the participant is unable to complete training in that semester following their initial admission, this opportunity will be voided and they must restart the application process. Program fees are non-transferable between participants.

We look forward to hearing from you.