Emerging Leaders Council: BBBS Kentuckiana launches young professionals group offering nonprofit leadership experience
The Emerging Leaders Council is more than a volunteer opportunity — it's a seat at the table.
What does it look like when the next generation of leaders puts their skills to work for something bigger than themselves?
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana, we believe young professionals don't just deserve a voice in shaping their community — they deserve a real role in leading it. That's exactly why we created the Emerging Leaders Council (ELC).
Applications are now open for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana ELC — where young professionals are invited to help shape the future of mentorship in Louisville and Southern Indiana.
What Is the Emerging Leaders Council?
The BBBSKY ELC is intended to cultivate the next generation of young professionals seeking meaningful philanthropic leadership experience. The ELC will provide opportunities for engagement and understanding of nonprofit function and mission while serving as an asset to the volunteer recruitment and fund development of the agency. The ELC is designed to expand awareness, increase financial support, and strengthen community engagement in a manner consistent with the organization’s strategic plan.
This isn't a ceremonial title or a once-a-year luncheon. Council members show up, weigh in, and help make meaningful decisions that affect the kids, families, and mentors we serve every single day.
Think of it as a leadership accelerator with a cause at its core.
Who It's For
The Emerging Leaders Council was built for young professionals — typically in their 20s and 30s — who are ambitious, community-oriented, and ready to grow. Whether you're early in your career and hungry for leadership experience, or a few years in and looking for a way to give back that actually challenges you, this council was designed with you in mind.
You don't need a board resume or a corner office. You need a passion for mentorship, a willingness to show up, and a desire to lead something that matters.
What Members Actually Do
Council members aren't just cheerleaders for our mission — they're participants in it. As a member of the Emerging Leaders Council, you'll engage in board-level conversations, contribute to strategic decisions, support organizational initiatives, and help champion the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters across Louisville.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana’s Emerging Leaders Council operates under the authority of the Board of Directors and staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana. A designated staff member and board representative will provide guidance and ensure alignment with organizational priorities. The ELC will not have fiduciary oversight but can recommend ideas and be an ambassador for the agency in the community. All fundraising activities, public-facing events, and communications must align with BBBSKY policies, brand standards, and strategic priorities.
It's the kind of hands-on governance experience that most professionals spend a decade trying to find.
What You'll Walk Away With
You'll build a sharper résumé. You'll add board-level leadership experience, nonprofit governance knowledge, and strategic decision-making to your professional profile. Those things matter, and we won't pretend otherwise.
But what matters most is the community. The relationships formed on this council — with fellow members, with our staff and board, and with the mission itself — will have a way of sticking. People join for the career development and stay because they've found their people.
Here's what current members have to say:
"I came for the résumé. I stayed for the mission."
"I've grown more as a leader here than anywhere else in my career."
"For the first time, my voice shaped something larger than myself."
Why It Matters
Every decision made by the Emerging Leaders Council ripples outward. It touches the mentors who show up for youth in our program. It shapes the resources available to families navigating difficult seasons. It strengthens an organization that has been improving the trajectory of young lives in this community for decades.
When you join this council, you're not just investing in your own growth — you're investing in a child who needs a mentor, a match that could change the course of a life, and a community that's better when its next generation of leaders steps up.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026-2027 fiscal year are open April 1, 2026 through May 1, 2026. If you're a young professional ready to lead with purpose, we'd love to hear from you.
Questions? Reach out to Strategic Volunteer Recruitment Manager Leah Wade.
And if you know someone who would be a perfect fit, share this post with them. The best councils are built by people who invite others to rise with them.