Staff report

WARREN — Ten local nonprofit organizations have launched the Nonprofit Mentoring Network, an effort by the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley to foster collaboration, professional development and alignment among the Mahoning Valley’s nonprofit agencies.

The yearlong pilot program pairs established nonprofit organizations with smaller groups that are looking to take their work to the next level. Over the course of the program, matched organizations will share information, best practices and potential solutions to challenges.

The paired organizations are:

YWCA Mahoning Valley and United Returning Citizens;

Ohio Urban Renaissance and Northeast Homeowners and Concerned Citizens Association;

SMARTS and Honeycomb Arts and Wellness Collective;

Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership and the League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown; and

Alta Care Group and MyPath Mahoning Valley.

“This program will really be led by the participating organizations,” Josh Medore, community relations and engagement coordinator for the Community Foundation, said. “Our role is simply to bring together Valley nonprofits and give them space to learn from each other. What work will be done and what knowledge will be shared is up to the organizations themselves.”

Over the course of the program, Medore and Community Foundation staff will check in on the pairings to collect feedback and gather information on how to adjust it for a potential broader launch next year. Two networkwide meetings with all participants will take place to share experiences and ask questions of the group. Participants are expected to offer input at least once per month and partner on projects when it makes sense for them to do so.

To compensate organizations for their time, energy and knowledge, selected organizations will receive a $5,000 stipend to put toward improving their nonprofit.

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