Blueprint for Leadership

Blueprint for Leadership is a six-month (one day per month) training program culminating in a class service project and one-year board internship that will prepare you for service on a nonprofit board of directors. Its mission is to increase community volunteer leadership capacity which embraces inclusiveness and promotes the value of diversity within the nonprofit sector through training and experiential learning.

This volunteer leadership program is designed to identify, recruit, train and place community leaders on nonprofit boards and other governing or advisory bodies in Jacksonville.  The program began as a two-year pilot program in 1988 as part of a national effort to increase minority representation on boards and community leadership positions.  It was originally made possible through a grant from the Jessie Ball DuPont Religious, Charitable and Educational Fund and a special one year grant from the Gannett Foundation.  Blueprint for Leadership is currently funded through tuition fees and scholarships through Jacksonville's Community Block Grant program, participating corporations and Blueprint Alumni.

Participants are professional, business and community individuals whose backgrounds demonstrate leadership and a commitment to serve the community.  Area corporations, government agencies, civic/fraternal organizations and human service agencies are encouraged to refer potential leaders for consideration.

A full day of comprehensive, thought-provoking leadership topics are presented on the first Wednesday's of January through May of each year.  Topics include:

  •  Basic Roles and Responsibilities of Board Members
  •  Legal, Financial and Fundraising Responsibilities
  •  Organizational Self-Assessment and Strategic Planning 
  •  Critical Issues in Jacksonville
  •  Community Trusteeship
  •  Communicating Across Cultures (Cultural Diversity Training)
  •  Volunteering, Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Sector of Civil 
      Society
  •  Communication Styles
  •  Team Building and Effective Meeting Management
  •  Strategies for Success

Part of the learning experience for each class is the selection, planning and implementation of a class project.  The Blueprint for Leadership class of 2008 spent a hot summer day in the sun working with the boys of Safe Harbor Boy’s Home cleaning boats. The young men at this center for high risk boys live on donated boats and work hard to learn skills related to boating including restoring boats and mechanics. On June 4th, the Blueprints class rolled up their sleeves, slathered on sunscreen, and worked side by side with the boys to clean 8 boats. This project was incredibly rewarding for the volunteers as they had the chance to learn about Safe Harbor’s mission and the individual stories of the young men there.

FOR INDIVIDUALS:

If you would like more information on the selection process, program details or would like to be considered for next year's Blueprint for Leadership Class, please click BLUEPRINT FOR LEADERSHIP APPLICATION FORM. Just download the form which is in pdf format, fill it out and mail to HandsOn Jacksonville.

Note that both forms on this page are in pdf format which requires Adobe Reader to view. To download the free reader click the icon:

 

FOR AGENCIES:

You are invited to participate in Blueprint for Leadership classes by providing a one-year board internship for a Blueprint graduate, beginning in June of each year. The following Agency requirements apply:

  • Obtain agency membership with Volunteer Membership
  • Provide the Blueprint for Leadership participant with an agency/board orientation.
  • Provide an opportunity for the participant to serve on a committee and take on an assignment as a member of that committee
  • Provide an opportunity for the participant to attend board meetings and observe activities
  • Identify an experienced board member who can serve as a mentor to the participant
  • Provide HandsOn Jacksonville, Inc. with an evaluation at the conclusion of the internship

If you would like to provide an internship position, please click and download the BLUEPRINT FOR LEADERSHIP INTERN REQUEST FORM , fill it out and mail no later than December 31 to:

HandsOn Jacksonville
Blueprint for Leadership
6817 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 1902
Jacksonville, FL 32216