Lodestar Center receives grant for Public Allies Arizona
The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation has earned a $543,400 federal grant to fund 44 nonprofit apprenticeships, comprising the 2011-2012 class of Public Allies Arizona.
Public Allies is an AmeriCorps national youth leadership organization that places service-minded young people in apprenticeships in nonprofit organizations throughout the community.
Since Public Allies Arizona’s inception four years ago, the ASU Lodestar Center has been training and mentoring talented young adults from diverse backgrounds and advancing their leadership skills through participation in a 10-month program of full-time, paid apprenticeships in nonprofit organizations, leadership trainings, and team service projects.
“Developing nonprofit leaders is at the very core of our center’s mission,” said Robert F. Ashcraft, executive director of ASU’s Lodestar Center and a professor of nonprofit studies in ASU’s School of Community Resources and Development. “In a time when many AmeriCorps programs are being cut completely, we are proud to have been awarded a large number of slots. It’s a testament to the caliber of our Allies and the high quality of this program,” he added.
This is the sixth year the program has been preparing young people for careers in the nonprofit sector. This year’s class will also include 12 “Second Year Fellows” who are completing a second term of AmeriCorps service and participating in an advanced leadership development program.
More than $2.6 million in external grant dollars have been awarded to the ASU Lodestar Center in support of Public Allies Arizona since the program’s launch in 2006. When accounting for in-kind support, as well as the funds contributed by the nonprofits to have an ally placed within their agencies, the total value of the program and impact to the community is more than $1 million this year and more than $4 million over the past five years.
The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation is recognized as a national leader in undergraduate and graduate nonprofit education, research and technical assistance. The ASU Lodestar Center exists to enhance the quality of life in communities through the advancement of nonprofit leadership practices and provides knowledge and tools to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, professionals, board members, donors and volunteers by offering a selection of capacity building workshops, conferences, classes, and programs. For more information, visit: http://lodestar.asu.edu.