Speed Mentoring
Entrepreneurs have a way with words: “the Community Foundation of Utah is an organization emerging as a foremost thought leader in the nonprofit space both in Utah and nationally.”
Our first speed mentoring event was held December 2009, in the depths of the Great Recession. As might be expected, many participants sought input on their fundraising strategies. In 2011 we encouraged a different type of fundraising discussion – we asked participants to focus their conversation on social enterprise: ways to increase long term stability of nonprofits and our entire community through earned revenue and creating employment opportunities.
More than 100 entrepreneurs and 120 nonprofits have taken part in this unique blend of speed dating and speed pitching, its fun, fast and loud. Join us next time!
Utah nonprofits get top advice, in 7 minutes
First, there was “speed dating.” Now, there’s “speed mentoring.”
Instead of seeking out life partners, nearly 70 entrepreneurs were matched with nearly 70 Utah nonprofits to offer advice on how the agencies can raise money in these economically troubled times.
The catch? The advice-giving sessions Tuesday at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy lasted only seven minutes.
The idea was developed by The Community Foundation of Utah, an entrepreneurial organization dedicated, according to its website, to “service to the common good through smart philanthropy.”
In those seven minutes, in one-on-one exchanges, participants generated ideas, shared strategies and furthered “the synergy between entrepreneurs and nonprofits,” the statement said.
The session was described as “fast-paced, high impact, visual [and loud].”
The need for such a session, event organizers from the foundation said, was the fact that nonprofits are struggling financially. “Donations have plummeted, and demands for services have skyrocketed — with no sign of slowing down.”
The Salt Lake Tribune
