Nonprofit Spotlight| The LEAD Project and "A Toast to LEAD" Benefit

by Bridget Ulrich
follow me on Twitter: @bridgetmpls

An Interview with Peter Wagner, LEAD Board Member

What is The LEAD Project?

LEAD was founded in 2006 and stands for the Leadership Emergence and Development Project. Our goal is to engage young professionals in the charitable and philanthropic communities of the Twin Cities.

How do you achieve your goal?

LEAD’s goal, and our mission, is to engage young professionals in the Twin Cities nonprofit community. We host various events that are all aimed at creating relationships between the young professional community and the nonprofit community through skills-based volunteer opportunities. We host several different types of events including Board Bootcamps, PhilanthroFairs and large scale charitable events. To learn more about our events click here.

What has been your impact on our local community?

We estimate that LEAD has helped connect over 250 young professionals with Board and other skills-based volunteer positions at local nonprofits. We’ve helped educate over 1000 young professionals on the expectations of being a nonprofit Board of Director through our Board Boot Camps.  We have held 13 large charitable events and as a result have donated over $130,000 back to nonprofits. We have also partnered with over 50 nonprofits in the past two years through our PhilanthroFairs. But we believe our true impact is making philanthropy accessible to young professionals and maximizing the amount that they contribute by donating their time in meaningful ways. 

Tell us about the upcoming LEAD Event.

A Toast to LEAD celebrates our five year anniversary and the 50+ nonprofits we have partnered with.

When: Saturday Feb. 18 (8 pm- 12 am)

Where: Le Meridien Chambers

What:

• An all-night open bar with a signature drink

• Separate party rooms/floors with two DJs

• Access to Le Meridien Chamber's Ice Bar

• Premier silent auction

• A special tribute to all the nonprofits we have partnered with over the past five years

• The chance to vote for which nonprofit the money we raise should go towards including; Project Success, World without Genocide,  People Serving People, Make-a-Wish Foundation and Bolder Options.

Cost: $75 per ticket through Thursday, February 16th (so don’t delay!), then $95 per ticket

Tickets: www.theleadproject.org

For more information about The LEAD Project visit: www.theleadproject.org