More than 50 people came out for the Philadelphia Young Nonprofit Leaders‘ annual holiday happy hour last week at Fado Irish Pub. They collected 15 bags of toys to be distributed to needy children through the People’s Emergency Center and the Philadelphia Police Department 24th Precinct’s toy drive. It was a fitting gesture, considering that’s exactly how the PYNL came to be nearly a decade ago.
Chris Waters, the organization’s leader, was in the middle of his AmeriCorps year when he attended that first toy drive.
“It was the first time that young nonprofit professionals were brought together in one place,” says Waters, now the community development manager for the Lupus Foundation of America’s Delaware chapter.
“Our co-founders saw something there, for young professionals working for nonprofits to connect with others the same age and with the same heart. It was taken from a one-time event to an organization.”
In addition to its annual toy drive and regular monthly gatherings, PYNL is focused on preparing young professionals for their increasingly dominant role in the nonprofit world.
“With technology moving forward at such a rapid pace, you almost need that youth movement,” says Waters. “I think by reaching out to a young philanthropist or volunteer or early career business person, you’re cultivating that person earlier.
“By doing that, they’re dedicated to you and your organization. Technology is a way to break the wall and get to that person a little quicker.”
PYNL’s board training programs works with up to 25 young professionals on how to effectively be a nonprofit board member, covering financial responsibilities, good governance, and mission implementation. The four-month program has trained 125 area young professionals.
“They leave knowing their responsibility of being on a board and how to execute,” says Waters.
Source: Chris Waters, Philadelphia Young Nonprofit Leaders
Writer: Joe Petrucci