What criteria are used to select the winning team?

What is my organization's role in the partnership?

Are there guidelines for project proposals?

I submitted a proposal in a past year, do I have to submit one again?

I want to submit a proposal. What are the next steps?

• Agencies who have participated in past years have reported ongoing involvement from their Ignite Louisville teams, increases in strategic focus, improved productivity, and the achievements of specific goals that would not have been possible without the involvement of their teams.
• One team from the Ignite Louisville class will be chosen as the winning team by a panel of business leaders. The agency represented by the winning team will receive a $1,500 donation courtesy of Yum! Brands.
• Agencies from the 2010-2011 challenge were asked to report an approximate value to the work they received, and the average of the responses was over $30,000. 
• The best way to understand how Ignite Louisville teams can help nonprofit organizations is to look at past team projects. Keep in mind that the Challenge is a competition - teams often go above and beyond the requirements of the proposals.

See projects from 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007

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What criteria are used to select the winning team?

• The criteria used to determine the winning team include the application of concepts learned in the class, demonstration of applied leadership competencies, evidence of teamwork, and the lasting contribution and sustainability of the project.
• A panel of business leaders will hear presentations from all teams on the final day of the Ignite Louisville program, and a winner will be chosen on that day.

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What is my organization's role in the partnership?

The best results are achieved when there is good, constant communication between the Ignite Louisville teams and their partner agencies. Here are the requirements for acquiring and working with a team:

• A letter from the Chairman of the Board of your organization must be submitted with your proposal to express that the proposed project has the support of the Board of Directors. Please submit the letter to Leadership Louisville Center via email to Sara Ulliman, sulliman@leadershiplouisville.org, fax to (502) 561-5224 or mail to Leadership Louisville Center, 732 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202, attention: Sara Ulliman.
• The proposal form must be completed thoroughly and in its entirety.
• If your project is chosen, a representative (or representatives) from your agency must be available to present information on the project proposal at the Ignite Louisville Opening Retreat in Henryville, Indiana, on Friday October 28th, to take place during regular business hours.
• The Ignite Louisville teams will confer and choose their partner agencies.
• You’ll be notified whether your organization has been chosen by one of the teams during the week of November 7.
• Organizations chosen should expect to begin working immediately with their team.
• An agency staff member must be available as an ongoing liaison between the agency and the Ignite Louisville team for the duration of the project in order to be an active, collaborative partner who will serve as or have access to a decision-maker in the organization. This person should also present opportunities for the team to access this decision-maker and/or Board of Directors.
• During the project time period (November 2011 through April 2012), you will also be contacted for status updates and feedback by the Ignite Louisville Program Manager.

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Are there guidelines for project proposals?

Please note that at this time we are not accepting proposals from organizations who have partnered with Ignite Louisville teams in past years.

The project must meet these criteria:

• The project must provide the collaborating nonprofit agency/organization with an opportunity to build capacity to better serve our community.
• The project should be developed with support from the Board of Directors of the nonprofit agency/organization.
• The project must have the capacity to make a long term contribution to the nonprofit agency/organization over time.
• The project should encourage lasting involvement of young professionals to the assisted organization or the community at large.
• The project should include the application of concepts learned in the Ignite Louisville program (e.g., team work, creativity, resourcefulness, ingenuity, and leadership).
• The nonprofit agency/organization must provide opportunities for the project team to present to and be engaged with the organization’s Executive Director as well as the Board of Directors.
• The nonprofit agency/organization cannot be the employer of a project team member.
• The team must be able to report quantifiable results upon the completion of the project. 
• The project will run from November 2011 through April 2012.

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I submitted a proposal in a past year, do I have to submit one again?

Yes, please review and make any necessary updates to your proposal for the 2011 Challenge.

Please note that at this time we are not accepting proposals from organizations who have partnered with Ignite Louisville teams in past years.

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• Submit your online proposal by Friday, September 30th. Click here for the proposal form.
• During the week of October 10th, you'll be notified as to whether your proposal will be placed in consideration for Ignite Louisville teams. If it is, a representative (or representatives) from your agency must be available to present information on the project proposal at the Ignite Louisville Opening Retreat in Henryville, IN, on Friday October 28th, to take place during regular business hours. It is suggested that a member of the Board of Directors also attend this event if possible. It will last approximately two hours. Exact start time to be determined.
• Attending this retreat does not guarantee you will receive an Ignite team, as we have a few more presenting agencies than Ignite teams. This allows the teams to choose the project that best fits their skills and passions.
• The Ignite Louisville teams will confer and choose their partner agencies.
• You’ll be notified whether your organization has been chosen by one of the teams during the week of November 7.
• Organizations chosen should expect to begin working immediately with their team.

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