Sector-wide, one of the biggest difficulties for non-profit is that its leaders are often ill-equipped to do their jobs effectively. Limited funding can lead to an inability to cover operating expenses, thus resulting in permanent financial repercussions for an organization. This factor alone can regularly lead to burnout and frustration. When coupled with inefficient management, the resulting effect can be the loss of sustainability for entire organizations.
While the for-profit sector is very good at succession planning and preparing their new leaders, those in a non-profit sector often spend their first years hoping merely to survive in positions of leadership. Those who manage to survive, who then seek out new roles, will then find themselves limited due to the lack training afforded them. Unlike with the for-profit organizations, non-profit leaders do not seek out, nor take advantage of, relationships that can be, should be, cultivated from those other non-profit leaders engaged in different types of issues and programming. The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) looks to resolve this problematic issue. By way of an application/interview process, YEP will choose 20-25 youths, ages 15-23 yrs, to participate in a semester-long training program. These selected, 'philanthropeneurs' to-be, will learn the techniques and social skills necessary to complete two group projects from which they will glean a more keen knowledge of how non-profit opportunities are run. Upon completion of said projects, each individual then pairs with a suitable non-profit entity. This 100 hour spring internship will be supplemented by monthly meetings used to advance continued networking and learning.
Upon completion, youth graduates will have gained effective and sustainable approach to giving; insisting on accountability, setting up quantifiable goals with which to measure programmatic and developmental success, and trimming the fat when it when it comes to charitable administration.
Christopher Judge is the founder and Executive Director of Aspire, Inc., which was founded in January, 2012. Christopher's social, communal, and philanthropic experience over the past 20 years led him to conclude that while most people able and wanting to make positive contributions to their communities are hindered by a lack of accessibility. With his career based in academia, social work, and community based organizations and initiatives, Christopher has contributed significantly to his own community and has helped to facilitate participation of others. Hailing from Rhode Island, Christopher was a History and Social Studies teacher, with a focus on civic education and engagement. Some of his philanthropic activities include serving as a Vice President for the Rhode Island Alliance, capital campaign advisor to Attleboro Community Theater, serving on the Board for Youth Pride, Inc., and, during 2001-2002, personally raised over $15,000 for various charities throughout southern New England. After moving to Denver in 2005, Chris became a Lifetime Prima Member of the Colorado Ballet Auxiliary, chairing the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Balletto di Gala Live and Silent Auctions. Christopher recently joined the Board of 'And Toto Too', Theater Company, and also volunteers at the Community Resource Center. Christopher founded Aspire, Inc. in response to the well-perceived need to make philanthropy more accessible/recognizable for everyone, as well as to address those leadership challenges that currently exist in the non-profit sector, especially for our youths.
