Ignite Louisville:  Make Your Mark Challenge

Ignite Louisville is the Leadership Louisville Center’s leadership development program for young professionals. The Make Your Mark Challenge is an annual opportunity for program participants to undertake a significant development or improvement project for a local nonprofit. 

The competition, a key component of the Ignite Louisville program, challenges class participants to put their newly honed leadership skills to practice. 

Since the inception of the Make Your Mark Challenge in 2004, Louisville’s brightest young professionals have worked with nearly 30 nonprofit organizations to make significant and enduring contributions to these mission-driven organizations. 

In a recent survey, partner organizations stated that Ignite teams remarkably improved the productivity of operations, increased the organization’s outreach in the community and improved the strategic focus of the organization. Over 55% of Ignite graduates have continued their involvement with their partner organization and 37% have served on the nonprofit’s board of directors. Most recently, the Ignite Louisville Class of 2009 directly invested 1200 hours in their Make Your Mark Challenge partner organizations, averaging 150 hours per team. 

How a nonprofit can get involved

Early in their program experience, participants are placed in teams and work directly with a local nonprofit agency. Team members are challenged to combine the principles learned in Ignite Louisville with their professional experiences and expertise to create and implement solutions for making the community a better place. The results are lasting, impactful and impressive. 

If your nonprofit could benefit from Louisville’s brightest young professionals sharing their knowledge and networks, you are invited to submit a proposal for possible projects.  The next opportunity to submit a proposal will be summer of 2010. Contact Jackie Hornstein at (502) 561-5226 or email to learn more.

All projects must meet established criteria to be eligible for consideration. Previous Make Your Mark Challenge partner organizations are not eligible to submit a proposal at this time. 

Learn more about recent Ignite Louisville teams and their projects

2009 Ignite Louisville Make Your Mark Challenge Projects

2008 Ignite Louisville Make Your Mark Challenge Projects

2007 Ignite Louisville Make Your Mark Challenge Projects