EDI promotes its philosophy that community involvement is not an option for leaders, it is a fundamental responsibility and key leadership competency. Through the important mind set of giving back, participants experience the rewards of making a real-time impact to worthy causes through teamwork and innovative leadership.
Overview:
One element of the program that reinforces the learning around community involvement and team building is the completion of a community project for a non-profit agency whereby the participants can make a difference for a non-profit organization while practicing their skills in a safe learning environment. Participants also begin to learn about non-profit organizational structures and the differences and nuances of community-based organizations versus for-profit or bottom-line driven corporations.
Each program year EDI accepts project proposals from non-profit agencies to be considered for the team projects. Over the past 18 years, EDI participant teams have assisted 78 non-profit agencies and worked on over a 100 projects for these agencies.
Qualifications:
To be considered for a project, the non-profit agency must meet the following criteria:
- The non-profit agency is a charitable organization with an IRS 501(c)(3) designation.
- The non-profit agency mission serves people of color and/or those disadvantaged.
- The project scope is realistic and obtainable in a 5-month period of time as a volunteer commitment.
- Preferably, the project at the outset is flexible and somewhat undefined allowing participants to strategize and innovate.
- The non-profit agency commits one or more senior staff members, Board Directors and/or founder to act as the liaison between the agency and the EDI Project Team.
Submit a Proposal:
We are now accepting proposals for our 2012 Program. Click here for proposal guidelines. Proposals must be submitted to by January 31, 2012.
Project Timeline:
- January 31, 2012: Request for proposals due to EDI
- February 2012: Selected non-profits are notified by EDI
- March 2012: Participants are assigned to a non-profit organization
- April 2012: EDI Team meets with non-profit
- May 2012: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between non- profit & EDI team is due
- May – Sept 2012: EDI Team works on project with assistance from non- profit
- October 2012: Final deliverables/presentation by EDI team to the non- profit
- November 2012: Team will display their projects at graduation. Non- profit representatives are encouraged to attend the graduation ceremony.
EDI Partnered with the following Non-Profits in 2011:
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN NETWORK OF OREGON (APANO) • CASA LATINA • KIN ON • MICRO ENTERPRISE SERVICES OF OREGON (MESO) • MORNING STAR KOREAN CULTURAL CENTER • NIKKEI CONCERNS • NOT FOR SALE • SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT & RESOURCE ALLIANCE (SAWERA) • WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK (WCFB)
