The award-winning Leadership Saratoga program recently completed four impactful projects for area non-profits and is currently seeking project ideas for the upcoming Class of 2024-25.
Sponsored by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, the program is dedicated to the development of leaders who will serve their communities today and in the future. As part of the program, the class assists up to four area non-profit organizations to help enhance or re-envision programs, operations and strategies key to their future success.
The Class of 2024, which recently graduated, completed the following projects:
Saratoga Pride:
Saratoga Pride is an affiliate of the Pride Center of the Capital Region, a 501(c)3 organization. An all-volunteer organization, Saratoga Pride has served the LGBTQ+ community and allies for more than 15 years. Leadership Saratoga class members helped to create a strategy to expand County-wide programs and opportunities for effective partnerships with businesses and non-profit organizations aligned with the mission of Saratoga Pride. Additionally, Leadership Saratoga helped Saratoga Pride expand its public library partnership program in Saratoga County, helping to serve local LGBTQ+ communities and allies.
Our Lodge Foundation:
Our Lodge Foundation’s primary purpose is to support Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609 (F.A. Lodge) – a Black international fraternal organization – in their philanthropic efforts, as well as the sustainment and upgrade of the building, located on Beekman Street in Saratoga Springs. Our Lodge Foundation’s works to support this nearly 100-year-old local organization, while bringing greater visibility and interaction with the Lodge and invigorating Saratoga’s African American community, as well as other groups. Leadership Saratoga helped Our Lodge Foundation with a communications, outreach and development strategy that could be executed by volunteers for the organization, helping Our Lodge Foundation to enhance its capabilities in myriad ways.
Saratoga Sponsor a Scholar:
Saratoga Sponsor a Scholar is a not-for-profit organization that assists students from Saratoga Springs High School in graduating from high school and attending and graduating from college or other technical higher learning programs. As part of the program, each student is provided resources and connections to support their success, including partnering with a mentor from the business community. Leadership Saratoga helped Saratoga Sponsor-a-Scholar to re-envision and update its mentor handbook and provided additional consulting on mentor recruitment.
LifeWorks:
Since 2005, LifeWorks (formerly Saratoga County EOC) has conducted an annual photography workshop and exhibit titled “Estamos Aquí” (We Are Here) and hosted an annual celebration of the photographers and new photos with the goal of providing the resources and platform for self-representation for Latinos in Saratoga. Leadership Saratoga provided research, planning and strategy for LifeWorks for a potential expanded community showcase of Latino art and culture coinciding with the annual reception for “Estamos Aqui.”
The impact these projects have made on the non-profit community for nearly four decades is immeasurable.
Cindy Swadba, volunteer for Saratoga PRIDE, said, “The Leadership Saratoga project team was amazing to work with. Their collective talents helped us to make important strategic decisions and connections to further our cause. We are forever grateful for their guidance and engagement with our volunteers and mission.”
Lezlie Dana, president of Our Lodge Foundation, said, “As a relatively new non-profit, Leadership Saratoga helped us in many ways. The project team really leaned in to make a difference for our mission and we express our sincere gratitude for the insight, guidance and energy. The team helped us to move forward and to make connections that were invaluable.”
Non-profits serving Saratoga County are encouraged to submit a project proposal detailing their organization’s needs for consideration for the upcoming class year, which begins in September.
In past years, Leadership Saratoga groups have successfully completed projects such as marketing assessments, community engagement outreach plans, event planning, educational programming, awareness campaigns and website redesigns.
Proposals are reviewed by a subcommittee of the Leadership Saratoga Advisory Board, which selects up to four projects for groups within the incoming class to complete as part of the nine-month-long program.
An extra perk of the program for selected organizations is being highlighted at the Leadership Saratoga Alumni Breakfast, where four decades of community leaders gather to hear about the valuable efforts of the class in making a difference for the impact sector.
Project proposal applications should be submitted to Leadership Saratoga by Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. Organizations will be notified in early September of their status.
A list of previously completed projects can be found on the Leadership Saratoga website at www.leadershipsaratoga.org/explore-program/previous-projects.
The next Leadership Saratoga class runs from September 2024 to May 2025.
More information about Leadership Saratoga and how to submit a project proposal is available at www.leadershipsaratoga.org.