The WVDO Mentorship Program was initiated in response to strong interest expressed by our members in our Strategic Plan. We heard what you, our members, wanted: more opportunities to develop both personally and professionally. The Mentorship Program is designed to meet that goal.

Mentorship allows professionals (both newcomers and those more seasoned) to come together, become deeply ingrained in the development community, strengthen their networks and connections, learn more about the field, and grow both personally and professionally.

WANT TO APPLY?

WVDO is not accepting new applications until 2012. All mentors and mentees are currently matched and we are evaluating the program to ensure that it is meeting its goals and expectations.


WVDO makes every effort to match mentors and mentees. In the event there is not a mentor or mentee available at the application deadline, your name will be added to a waiting list. Waiting list matches will be made throughout the year.



What are the benefits of participating?
WVDO’s Mentorship program is free to members, but there’s more than just a financial benefit.


If you become a mentor, you will:
•Broaden and strengthen your network
•Earn CFRE points
•Give service to your profession
•Discover new talent
•Learn how to be a better manager or coach

If you become a mentee, you will:
•Broaden and strengthen your network
•Grow toward your career goals
•Be exposed to new ways of thinking
•Be hand‐matched to the most appropriate mentor to fulfill your goals
•Learn from experienced leaders in the community
•Organize and plan your career

Elements of the Program
We are exploring a few less conventional ways of thinking about mentorship, but to start out, we are launching the program with a traditional interpretation: a relationship‐based mentorship program.
In other words, those who want to learn and grow are paired with a professional who is seasoned in an area you want to develop.

Is the mentorship program right for you?

Profile of the ideal mentor:
You enjoy helping people get ahead, you like what you do and you do it well, you are confident and comfortable with yourself, and you are an effective communicator and listener. Mentors need not have decades of experience in a field. Mentors can be anyone willing to share their expertise.

Profile of the ideal mentee:
You enjoy learning and continuous self-improvement, you are open-minded, and you accept and are open to feedback and input.

What we expect you to do
Mentors and mentees commit to meeting with each other, face‐to‐face, at least four times during the year‐long program (or about once every three months), with the responsibility falling on the mentee to maintain the relationship and set appointments.

Mentees should communicate their professional goals to their mentors, so that they get what they want out of the match. Mentees should be open to the tutelage the mentor is willing to offer. In essence, mentoring is a lot like what fundraisers do on a daily basis: listen, ask questions, and cultivate relationships.

At WVDO we are committed to creating a positive, respectful environment for our members. That said, please maintain a respectful mentor‐mentee relationship.

That includes not asking your mentor to be a professional reference for you if you haven’t worked for him/her and not expecting a job offer. That also means that mentors are not responsible for doing work for their mentor. And, we require both the mentee and mentor to keep information confidential.

If, for some reason the match is not an appropriate fit, both parties should let us know when you receive your 1‐month check‐in call from a WVDO representative, or contact the WVDO Office anytime to let us know how we can better match you with a mentor/mentee.

What to expect from WVDO
• You will receive a confirmation from a WVDO Representative soon after you submit your application.
• WVDO will periodically check in with you to hear how things are going.

1-month check-in:
We will check in and see if you have you met with your mentor and help mentees make goals for creating this relationship.

12-month evaluation:
By now, the program is officially over, but hopefully this is only the beginning of your professional friendship. You may be asked to evaluate the program so that we may improve the program for others.



Resources
• 25 Power Questions To Ask Your Mentor
• Wall Street Journal: When Mentoring Goes Bad
• Harvard Business Review: Coaching People: Pocket Mentor Series ($9.95 Via hbr.org)

Books:
• The Elements Of Mentoring By W. Brad Johnson And Charles R. Ridley
• The Heart Of Mentoring: Ten Proven Principles For Developing People To Their Fullest Potential By Robert Tamasy And David A. Stoddard
• The Art Of Mentoring By Shirley Peddy
• Power Mentoring: How Successful Mentors And Protégés Get The Most Out Of Their Relationships By Ellen Ensher And Susan E. Murphy