In 2026, SHARE Greater Lynchburg, a program of the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, facilitated a pilot Young Professionals Board Mentorship Program aimed at identifying and preparing area young professionals for future Board leadership roles in our local nonprofits. mentors, mentees and advisors at kickoff coffee at the Flour District

A true collaborative effort, essential area partners included the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, Young Professionals of Central Virginia, Central Virginia Academy for Nonprofit Excellence, and the United Way of Central Virginia.

Sponsorship from the Al Stroobants Foundation and the Schewel Family Foundation created a high-quality experience for mentees and mentors. 

The inaugural Young Professionals Board of Directors Mentorship Program began in March 2026 and concluded in September 2026 with 17 graduates.

The goals of the program included:

1. identifying young professionals with an interest in community leadership

2. educating this population on essential skills needed to serve on Boards

3. opening the doors of access for this population by introducing them to mentors who have served on local boards for many years.

A key component of the program was pairing talented young professionals eager to serve our community with community leaders and stakeholders as mentors.

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"I think this program is a great way to broaden community participation, so that we are not seeing the same people always on the same boards," said Jim Richards of PDLR Law. "I hope the program will broaden and even grow."

Local businesses and organizations represented by mentors or mentees included: 

Academy Center of the Arts
Alcova Mortgage
City of Lynchburg
CloudFit Software, LLC
Comparion Insurance Agency
Delta Star, Inc.
English Construction
FIVE18 Family Services
Framatome
Genworth
Lynchburg Community Action Group, Inc (Lyn-CAG)
PDLR Law 
Talks with Terri, Inc.

Components of the pilot program included:

  • A kickoff coffee reception with mentors and mentees at The Flour District in Lynchburg. 
  • One-on-one meetings with mentors and mentees. 
  • Attendance at mentors' Board meetings, when possible. 
  • In-person classes, 2.5 hours each, facilitated in partnership with Central Virginia Academy for Nonprofit Excellence and covering fundamentals and expectations of nonprofit board leadership: 
    • Board of Directors Best Practices 101
    • Board of Directors Best Practices 102
  • A meet-and-greet event with 20+ open nonprofit board of director positions at a meet and greet
  • A graduation reception and ceremony at The Virginian Hotel in Lynchburg. 
  • A formal analysis of program outcomes based on participant surveys. 

"The most valuable part of the program was seeing the investment in young professionals and having people speak into us and the things we have to offer," said graduate Liz Mahan, who works for FIVE18 Family Services in Lynchburg. "I felt so valued and grew a lot in my confidence through the program. Also, having the nonprofits at our meet and greet was so helpful and made approaching a nonprofit not at all intimidating."

To learn more about this program or to partcipate, please contact Megan Huffman, Director of SHARE Greater Lynchburg and Director of Community Outreach for the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, at 434-845-6500.