Want to serve on a board but aren’t sure of the responsibilities or skills you need?

Become a more confident & skilled volunteer leader! Participate in our Board Orientation & Leadership Development (BOLD) program to learn more about board service, receive training, and find organizations with board or committee opportunities that match your skills and passions! This education series was created to inspire and equip emerging leaders with the fundamental skills necessary to serve on boards, increase the diversity of boards, and lead positive change within the five-county service area of UWECI.

  • Learn the basic responsibilities of nonprofit boards
  • Understand what is expected of individual board members
  • Broaden your professional networks
  • Influence decisions impacting our community

BOLD Series Details

  • Six 90-minute workshops held January through June led by nonprofit & community leaders.
    • Fundamentals of Board Operations
    • Developing Organizational Strategies
    • Asking for Contributions from Donors
    • Understanding Legal & Fiscal Responsibilities
    • Ensuring Equity in Service
    • Advocating for Your Mission
  • Tuition is $250 and covers training, materials, and food.
    • No refunds
    • Financial assistance available upon request
    • Scholarship available to participants from diverse backgrounds
  • Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the training sessions.
  • To graduate, participants are required to attend at least five of the six regular sessions.

Scholarship Details

United Way of East Central Iowa and the Cedar Rapids NAACP have partnered to provide scholarships to up to four BOLD applicants that are part of diverse communities, such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA, people with disabilities, and other groups who are made to feel like they do not belong. This information will be kept confidential to the selection committee and will not be used without permission. Information about applying for the scholarship can be found within the BOLD application.

BOLD applications for 2024 are open October 3, 2023 – November 3, 2023. If you have any questions about BOLD, please contact Angelica Vannatta at angelica.vannatta@uweci.org

  • Jessica Baxter, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
  • Erin Brokel, University of Iowa Center for Advancement
  • Ashley Burns, Mercy Medical Center
  • Jacob Cournoyer, OPN Architects
  • Carrie Czerwiec, Frontier Co-op
  • Bryce Dake, Neighborhood Finance Corporation
  • Kelli DeVries, Holmes Murphy
  • Maria Gaffney, Hibu
  • Lindsey Graham, Marcus Hotels
  • Britta Grebner, F&M Bank
  • Allison Hecker, Collins Aerospace
  • CJ Hoffman, CRST The Transportation Solution
  • Brian Husemann, UnityPoint Health
  • Jenna Kannegieter, Van Meter Inc.
  • Jayden Knapp, Student
  • Emily Lavery, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll PLC
  • Emily McGrath, Feed Iowa First
  • Anne McLaughlin-Smith, United Way of East Central Iowa
  • Jennifer McNabb, Mount Mercy University
  • Liz Myres, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
  • Ali Palmersheim, TrueNorth Companies
  • Jake Putnam, Grant Wood Area Education Agency
  • Charlie Ratcliff, Collins Aerospace
  • Danielle Rodriguez, Affordable Housing Network
  • Abby Scheitlin, TrueNorth Companies
  • Elizabeth Skaff, United Way of East Central Iowa
  • Ryan Soppe, RSM US LLP
  • Megan Thomas, Informatics, Inc.
  • Kate Thorne, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll PLC
  • Amirah Al-Suleiman, Coe College
  • Amna Altaei, Mount Mercy University
  • Carson Brincks, Kirkwood Community College
  • Cecilia Bwanakweri, Mount Mercy University
  • Christine Bwanakweri, Mount Mercy University
  • Tristan Corcoran, Coe College
  • Max Gorden Mercer, Coe College
  • Lauren Imhoff, Mount Mercy University
  • David Johnson, Kirkwood Community College
  • Fiona Kilgore, Coe College
  • Toby Lister, Coe College
  • Emily Meth, Kirkwood Community College
  • Jennifer Nino, Coe College
  • Lena Osman, Coe College
  • Skyler Stookey, Coe College
  • Justin Allendorf, Holmes Murphy
  • Katiana Arnold, Waypoint Services
  • Trinity Bias, Coe College Student
  • Carolyn Buckingham, CRST
  • Coraima Camacho, Coe College Student
  • Ashley Conde, Coe College Student
  • Mimi Daoud, Coe College Student
  • Elyse De Corah, Securian Advisors MidAmerica
  • Nick Dusil, Iowa Giving Crew
  • Ryne George, United Way of East Central Iowa
  • Mugisha Gloire, United We March Forward
  • Nic Hartmann, Family Promise of Linn County
  • Kristin Kellogg, Great Western Bank
  • Christine Knapp, City of Cedar Rapids
  • Raymond Liu, McGrath Automotive Group
  • Jack Mann, TrueNorth Companies
  • Heidi Marcue, TrueNorth Companies
  • Brooke McLaughlin, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
  • Brian Mrozek, Graham Construction
  • Ashley Osborn, United Way of East Central Iowa
  • Nichole Rinholen, CRST
  • Alison Robinson, Kirkwood
  • Jake Ryan, ImOn
  • Nallely Sanchez, Coe College Student
  • Chanelle Thomas, Cedar Rapids Schools
  • Tara Walker, Iowa Army National Guard
  • Lauren White, Willis Dady Homeless Services

*recipients of the scholarship in partnership with NAACP.

Are you interested in learning more about BOLD?

Are you an agency interested in participating in BOLD?