A key component of our 10-month Signature Program experience is the Community Impact Project (CIP). Running alongside monthly program days, the CIP serves as a hands-on, practical component of the Signature Program curriculum where participants, working in small teams, collaborate with an organization engaged in community-focused efforts to complete a project that builds their capacity.
The CIP process allows participants to develop and apply their leadership strengths, enhance their team-building skills, and gain valuable experience working with a community-focused organization. Concurrently they will expand their knowledge of our community’s environment and critical needs, preparing them for future roles in community trusteeship.
Each year, Leadership Columbus seeks to identify current needs of community-focused organizations through a “Request for Proposal” (RFP) process. Proposals received are reviewed and projects chosen.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 Partner Agencies:
- Buddy Up for Life
- Community Shelter Board
- Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS)
- Little Bottoms Free Store
- Matriots Education Fund
- Franklin County Office of the Public Defender
- Ohio Victim Witness Association
- Student Success Stores
- Treats4theStreets
- WAV (We Amplify Voices)
- Women of Color Retail Alliance
Projects must:
- Address one identified and well-defined organizational challenge/need, something that could benefit from a team of “consultants” in solving; or a project/process or problem you have not yet been able to address due to lack of people and thought leadership resources. Priority will be given to projects that are sustainable and will have a continued, lasting impact on the organization after the Community Impact Project process is complete.
- Present an opportunity for team members to utilize and further develop leadership and project management skills such as planning, communications, organizing, evaluating, collaboration, resource development, etc.
- Provide the collaborating nonprofit agency/organization with an opportunity to build capacity to serve our community.
All proposals for CIPs received will be internally reviewed, and Leadership Columbus will reach out to those whose projects are selected soon after.
Work on the CIPs typically begins in October and will conclude in May, prior to the Signature Program’s completion in June.
Before submitting your proposal, please note the following expectations of your organization in the process:
- The nonprofit cannot utilize the Signature Program project team for strictly fundraising or resource development.
- The agency/organization must be an active, collaborative partner in the project.
- The agency/organization must have an internal champion who is the point person for their project group. This person should be one who can make or obtain necessary decisions in a timely manner and who can dedicate the time needed to facilitate the project.
- There must be clearly defined staff roles versus group project member roles.
- Leadership Columbus welcomes projects from both faith-based and non-faith-based organizations but note that the project itself cannot be one that assumes or requires religious background.
The submission period for the Class of 2025 cycle is closed. Submissions for the Class of 2026 will open in August 2025.
If you have any questions about the Community Impact Project process of the Signature Program and/or the RFP process, please contact us.