Program Spotlight: NextGen on Board
Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF) believes youth voices are vital to the success of a community and its organizations. In a world where fresh perspectives and innovative ideas drive progress, it’s critical to engage the next generation of leaders in intentional ways. In 2021, with the support of Dave and Jeanne Olson (Olson Family Fund), SCF launched NextGen on Board – a leadership program designed to recruit, train, and place young community leaders on local nonprofit boards.
To get this program off the ground, SCF partnered with Youth Leadership Institute (YLI), a community-based organization that operates youth empowerment programs across California. YLI CEO Patty Barahona and their team provide individual coaching for all NextGen fellows and convene the cohort monthly for virtual trainings on key areas of nonprofit governance, including strategic direction, fiscal management, and compliance.
But the program doesn’t stop there. The fellows are also matched with local nonprofits (based on their interests/skills and the needs of the organization) where they serve as official board members for a term of at least two years. Additionally, they are paired with a mentor from the nonprofit board they are serving on, providing them with further guidance, motivation, and role modeling.
For Adriana Sanchez, participating in NextGen on Board was the perfect opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. With her educational background in psychology and child development, she was matched with Sierra Vista Child & Family Services – a nonprofit that provides resources and services in behavioral health to youth and families. She serves as their Treasurer, hoping to one day serve as Chairperson.
Adriana shared, “It fills me with pride to be able to occupy this role. I am able to advocate for those that sometimes may feel unheard – being able to ensure that our programs are not just new rules and policies set in, but that they're actual solutions that resonate with the realities of the people that we're providing services for. The experience has not only empowered me as a leader but also strengthens the connection between Sierra Vista and the community we aim to support.”
For Sierra Vista Child & Family Services, the NextGen on Board program was a solution to their ongoing efforts to recruit a younger leader to their board. Andrew Timbie, CEO, said, “I’m always actively looking for board members, and I’m big into leadership development and succession. For us, it was an opportunity to get the next generation involved, and I wanted to make sure that we played a part in that. It was like a really cool thing that I was already trying to do, and this provided that opportunity for us.”
Andrew shared that Adriana, and Sierra Vista’s other younger board members, played a critical role in updating their mission statement during the organization’s recent rebrand. He said, “The younger population of the board came from the perspective that the mission needs to be in touch with and in partnership with the community. We wouldn’t have those forward-thinking conversations if it wasn’t for people like Adriana.”
Programs like NextGen on Board are vital for cultivating the next generation of leaders and changemakers. By equipping young people with the skills and opportunities to serve, they not only enrich the boards they join but also help to create a more inclusive and innovative nonprofit sector. Since 2021, the program has trained 27 fellows and partnered with 25 local nonprofits. To meet the first two cohorts, visit stanislauscf.org/nextgen-on-board. Stay tuned for information in 2025 about opportunities to participate.