About the Challenge

The Ignite Louisville Challenge is the service-learning component of the program which pairs Ignite Louisville teams with a local nonprofit to execute a project. In return, Ignite Louisville participants gain experience in community leadership, board involvement, and teamwork. At the end of the program year, the teams present their projects to a panel of esteemed leaders who choose a winner.

Since its inception in 2004, Ignite Louisville participants have worked on 160 projects for area nonprofits to plan, execute and sustain new strategies for success.

In July 2013, the Ignite Louisville Challenge received a national award for “Excellence in Innovation” from the Association of Leadership Programs.

Results achieved for nonprofits

Nonprofits, learn about partnering with an Ignite Louisville or Encore Louisville team

  • “Our team brought enthusiasm, perseverance and commitment to excellence. What they developed not only exceeded our expectations but has already had an immediate impact with unlimited potential.”
    Jennifer Hancock, Volunteers of America

  • “The Ignite Louisville team has been amazing to work with. They have done more in six months for Sleep in Heavenly Peace than our team was able to do over the past year. The Ignite team has opened more doors for SHP than we ever thought possible. They have made us excited about the future of our organization and about the impact we will be able to have on children in our community.”

    Kyle Fogg, Sleep in Heavenly Peace

  • “From the time we applied for an Ignite team there was a spark in our organization that grew when we met them and went into a full blaze when they presented to us our new strategic plan for the next three years! The Ignite team has a synergy that worked very well in their planning and execution of their processes to help us look at all parts of our nonprofit.”
    David Benson – Dogs Helping Heroes

  • “The work of the team has transformed our space into a home for our youth, solidified foundational policies, and drastically increased our visibility and reputation in the community. They have helped LYG achieve steps that could have taken years to complete if not for their presence, dedication, and enthusiasm.”   Jason Peno, Louisville Youth Group

  • “Our Ignite Louisville team successfully kick-started our efforts in engaging young professionals by launching the ‘Making History’ community. They provided us with the nucleus of what we envision developing into a vibrant base of long term support.”  Kevin Guthrie, Frazier History Museum

 

Outcomes

In a recent survey, partner organizations stated that Ignite Louisville teams:

  • Remarkably improved the productivity of operations.
  • Increased the organization’s outreach in the community.
  • Improved the strategic focus of the organization.

The Ignite Louisville teams invest an average of over 500 hours in each of their partner organizations. The average value of each team’s work is over $35,000 in the most recent class and many Ignite Louisville graduates have joined the boards of directors of their adopted nonprofit, helping to accelerate a generational change in leadership.

In addition, 97% of Ignite Louisville program graduates reported civic engagement following program participation – 30% give 1-3 hours, 40% give 4-9 hours and 25% volunteer more than 10 hours a month.

An award-winning program

The Ignite Louisville Challenge received a national award for Excellence in Innovation from the Association of Leadership Programs. The program also received the Center for Nonprofit Excellence’s Pyramid Award for the Art of Collaboration.

How nonprofits can get involved

If your nonprofit could benefit from the talents and expertise of a team of young professionals, consider submitting a project proposal for the Ignite Louisville Challenge.

See the list of non-profit organizations that have partnered with Ignite Louisville teams.

See How We Help Nonprofits

For more information, contact Jo Lloyd-Triplett at (502) 561-0458 or email.