AFP NL, Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter Spotlight: Mentorship Program
The AFP Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter initiated a mentorship program to connect emerging professionals with experienced leaders to foster growth, confidence, and career development. The mentorship program was a success, and to spotlight the initiative, we wanted to share the story behind its creation, its goals, and the impact it’s had on both mentors and mentees in the chapter.
Q: Why did you decide to create the mentorship program?
A: Our chapter created the Barbara McInnes Mentorship Program to honour the legacy of Barbara McInees, who passed away in 2021. Barbara worked tirelessly to enhance philanthropy for almost four decades. Her warmth, wisdom, and generosity inspired countless professionals, and her deep connection to Newfoundland and Labrador made her impact especially personal to our chapter. This program is a way to carry forward her spirit—by fostering relationships, sharing knowledge, and building a stronger philanthropic community in her memory.
Q: What is the objective or primary goal of the mentorship program?
A: The primary goal of the Barbara McInnes Mentorship Program is to foster professional growth by matching an emerging fundraiser, with 3 years or less experience, with a seasoned fundraiser for coaching. The one-on-one mentorship empowers mentees to focus on specific skills they want to cultivate and give mentors a meaningful way to give back and help strength the fundraising profession in our province.
Q: Why was this initiative important for your chapter’s membership and/or community?
A: This initiative was important because it gave our members the opportunity to experience the true value of their membership. We consistently hear from members that they are looking for more opportunities to network with their peers and build relationships and this mentorship program directly fits that need. It’s been a powerful way to strengthen the bonds between fundraising professionals across our chapter.
Q: Who was involved with creating the program, and what was the creation process like for the chapter?
A: Our Member Relations Committee led the development of our mentorship program by creating materials that would honour Barbara’s legacy and outline the program. We featured this on our website and social media to bring awareness.
From the start, we found it was key to set clear expectations—for both mentors and mentees, as well as what participants could expect from our chapter. We shared the materials with our membership by email and created a process to kick off the program each year as well as to wrap it up, which includes providing recognition to the mentors.
To ensure we had ongoing engagement and accountability, our chapter checks in with all participants mid-way through their match and we provide a way for us to receive feedback at the end of the program.
Q: Were there any challenges you encountered, and how did you address them?
A: One of the main challenges we encountered was ensuring that mentor-mentee matches were compatible. In our first year, we created a survey for the application process, and we have refined it each year based on feedback. We now ask participants to indicate preferences such as meeting in person versus virtually, and whether they prefer to meet during or outside of business hours.
We also realized it was essential to be specific when asking about areas of interest. By having participants prioritize the topics they want to be mentored in—or mentor on—we’ve been able to create stronger, more meaningful matches.
Q: Did you meet your goals, and if so, were there any key strategies that you employed that made the program a success?
A: Yes, we have not only met, but exceeded, our goals each year with the Barbara McInnes Mentorship Program. In our first year, we aimed for five matches and achieved six successful pairings. The program has continued to grow, with seven mentees participating this year—meaning 14 members actively engaged in mentorship, representing over 25% of our chapter’s membership.
We feel that hosting a welcoming kickoff event in a relaxed, social setting to help mentors and mentees connect early on has contributed to this success. Also, we hold a celebratory wrap-up breakfast, which has become a highlight of the program. It provides a space to recognize mentors and allows mentees to express their appreciation, reinforcing the value of these relationships. The consistent, positive feedback we receive underscores the deep and lasting impact this initiative has had on our members.
Q: Do you have any advice for other chapters interested in hosting a similar program?
A: We would absolutely recommend creating a mentorship program. Even a small program can have a tremendous impact on the individuals involved and the sector. You can start by getting feedback from anyone who has benefited from a mentorship—that insight can help grow the program.
Learn more about our program by checking out our website.
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