Lead. Achieve. Grow.
The AdNet Mentor Partnership Program connects experienced community foundation professionals with those who are:
✔ New to the field
✔ Exploring a career change
✔ Seeking guidance and professional development
This structured, four-month program fosters meaningful connections, knowledge-sharing, and leadership development in the sector. Program concludes with a leadership discussion and wrap-up event in November.
2025 Mentorship Program
Space is limited to 15 matches to ensure a high-quality experience and meaningful mentor-mentee connections.
Mentors and mentees meet monthly (via phone, Zoom, or in-person).
Mentors and mentees must be current AdNet members to participate.
Since its launch in 2022, AdNet’s Mentor Program has received an overwhelmingly positive response. Our amazing members have generously given their time and talent to strengthen our community, build new networks, and foster best practices—demonstrating ongoing enthusiasm for the program.
Mentee Commitment
- Meet with your mentor for a minimum of one hour a month for four months by phone, Zoom, or in person.
- Be respectful of all meeting dates and times.
- Identify areas of focus to work on with your mentor.
- Send questions or discussion topic(s) to mentor in advance of meeting.
- Complete a program evaluation form at the end of the partnership.
Mentor Commitment
- Commit to the role of mentor for a minimum of one hour for four months by meeting by phone, Zoom, or in person with your mentee. Mentors will be responsible for requesting and scheduling the meetings.
- Be respectful of meeting dates and times.
- Provide guidance, knowledge and support for your mentee to advance him/her/they professionally.
- Assist your mentee in setting and achieving his/her/their professional goals.
- Maintain confidentiality and establish trust with your mentee.
- Complete a program evaluation form at the end of the partnership.
📅 2025 Cohort Key Dates: 📅
- May 1 – Applications open
- June 2 – Applications close (5:00 pm EST)
- July 1 – Mentorship matches finalized
- July 14 – Participants notified
- July 31 – Mentor/Mentee Orientation & Kickoff
- August – November – Monthly mentor-mentee meetings
- October 24 – Mid-program check-in
- November 14 – Final wrap-up event with guest speaker
2024 Mentorship Participants
Mentees
Mentors
Alycia Bacon | Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Julie Dierker | Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Elizabeth Gagne | The Central New York Community Foundation
Beth Gregory-Wallis | Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Claire English | Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
Lottie Ferguson | Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Lori Martini | GiveWell Community Foundation
Molly Robbins | Berks County Community Foundation
Mary Kerr | Rose Community Foundation
Nicole Jones | Community Foundation of Acadiana
Heather Johnson | North Texas Community Foundation
Tori Hart | Central New York Community Foundation
Jacob Stone-Welch | Hamilton Community Foundation
Alyssa Meyers-Sanonu | Community Giving Foundation
Kerry Tolton | Centre Foundation
Emily Wilson | Community Foundation of Hancock County
Anne Calder | Quad Cities Community Foundation
Bob Eichinger | The Chicago Community Trust
Joanne Cohen | Formerly with The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
Pamela Doherty | San Francisco Foundation
Aurea Gerard | St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Mary Holmes | Cumberland Community Foundation
Eric Hozempa | Longmont Community Foundation
Janell Kaplan | Formerly with The Miami Foundation
Mike Nuno | The New York Community Trust
Maylian Pak | Oregon Community Foundation
Ashley Silva | Community Foundation of the Ozarks
Kay Stine | Hampton Roads Community Foundation
Loren Van Allen | The Boston Foundation
Katelyn Videto | Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Jeremy Wells | St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Kate Wilson | Hampton Roads Community Foundation
Mentor and Mentee Quotes
“My whole job is about building and sustaining relationships, and this was a fabulous chance to do that in a different way. I also broadened my knowledge of the community foundation field even through I was in the mentor role.”
“Incredible way to gain perspective from another CF leader and bring best practices back to our home CF.”
“I gained more knowledge than I could have imagined from my mentor.”
“You’ll get an amazing, experienced mentor and have opportunities to learn cool new trends and ideas.”
“I learned just as much from my mentee as I hope she did from me. It is and should be a mutually beneficial relationship.”
“It actually exceeded my expectations. My mentor and I had robust discussions on relevant topics for each of us.”
“Having some one-on-one time is valuable because we rarely have opportunities to engage in deep listening or have someone totally focused on our needs and concerns.”