Benefits to Participants

The American Express NGen Fellows program is a chance for young nonprofit leaders to strengthen their capacity for future impact. Fellows will collaborate with other talented young leaders, interact with established mentors, and participate in Independent Sector's work on nonprofit leadership. The program's benefits are clear in its two major components.

2009 IS Annual Conference
American Express NGen Fellows will receive free registration for and lodging at the 2009 IS Annual Conference in Detroit. In addition to attending the main conference program and NGen: Moving Nonprofit Leaders from Next to Now events to be held November 3-6, fellows will also:

• Participate in a pre-conference retreat, tailored to the interests and experience of the fellows cohort;
• Be recognized at the Annual Conference Opening Plenary;
• Have special opportunities for interaction with IS's key leaders and partners before, during, and after the conference;
• Contribute as key members of conference FutureLab discussions about the trends and issues influencing the future of the nonprofit community; and
• Engage in a post-conference strategy session to develop plans for the fellows cohort's ongoing work in 2010.

See below for more about the fellows' conference schedule.

Fellows Project
Fellows will create a six-month project that advances their leadership skills and engages emerging nonprofit and philanthropic leaders on sector-wide issues. The content and format of this project will be determined by the fellows in conversations before and during the 2009 conference, with the final product delivered by March 31, 2010.

Potential projects may include contributing to IS strategic planning efforts around the future of the nonprofit community or developing ways to highlight the voices of young leaders, such as a speakers bureau. Participation in the project may take the form of conference calls or online collaboration, with a time commitment of roughly 5 hours per month. While this project will be selected and directed by the fellows, IS staff will provide administrative and content support.

Other contributions
Fellows will participate in related Independent Sector initiatives, as appropriate, to serve as an important resource in providing feedback on IS work on leadership, diversity, and effectiveness.

In short, the NGen Fellows program offers dedicated young professionals a rare opportunity to magnify their impact and accelerate their careers while serving as spokespeople for an emerging generation of nonprofit leaders.

Fellows Schedule at the Annual Conference:
In addition to attending all relevant conference events (including FutureLab sessions, described in the full schedule) and all NGen sessions, the Fellows schedule includes: