BUSH FELLOWSHIP
2024 QUARTERFINALIST MENTORS GUIDELINES
Mentoring: 60-minutes each from November 6-21, 2023
Contact us at 651-379-2237 or kward@bushfound.org
Goal
The goal of Quarterfinalist Mentors is to strengthen Quarterfinalists’ applications as they prepare for Stage Two of the Bush Fellowship application process. Quarterfinalists will be assigned to a Mentor. A mentorship session is optional for applicants, but all applicants will have the opportunity to receive thoughtful feedback from a Bush Fellow, you!
We want Quarterfinalists to receive the best possible experience and welcome a wide range of Mentors across professional sectors, gender, age, ethnicity, race, and the Bush Foundation region (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native Nations).
Who is the ideal Quarterfinalist Mentor?
An ideal Mentor is a Bush Fellow with strong experience listening, asking thought-provoking questions and providing feedback and ideas. The key is to help Quarterfinalists discover new thoughts that strengthen their ability to achieve what is important to them. The ideal Mentor will help Quarterfinalists stretch their vision for leadership growth and community impact.
Approach
The approach is for you to use the conversation guide to ask open-ended questions so Quarterfinalists can continue to stretch their vision for leadership growth and community impact. The sessions are designed to empower Quarterfinalists with thought-provoking questions that inspires them to find new possibilities for action rather than prescriptive advice.
Eligibility
- Available to coach 10-15 Quarterfinalists for 60-minutes each from November 6-21, 2023, Central Time
- Have access to the Internet and a computer to review online applications
- Have access to a scheduling tool to propose meetings to Quarterfinalists
- Watch the Bush Fellowship Informational webinar recording
- Available for two webinar trainings in October 2023.
Selection Criteria and Process
We will review applications and notify those who best meet the selection criteria by July 31, 2023. The selection criteria are:
- Previous experience providing feedback that evokes discovery, insight, and commitment to action
- Strong understanding of what it takes to help a prospective Bush Fellow think bigger and differently about what is possible for their leadership
Responsibilities and Expectations
All Mentors must use a scheduling tool to strengthen the Mentors’ experience. We will provide a subscription to use Calendly or you may choose your own. Mentors are expected to use a scheduling tool that provides a calendar link to your schedule to assist Quarterfinalists with selecting a mentoring session. We will not schedule or manage the sessions for you. Please remember to keep a list of all the Quarterfinalists you mentored, including the date and time. You will need to submit this list for our review so you can receive your stipend. Sessions must be completed between November 6-21, 2023. If you have questions or concerns, please see our contact information above.
In this program, you are expected to:
- Review the conversation script and the Quarterfinalist application materials assigned to you
- Use the conversation script as a starting point to ask insightful questions for Quarterfinalists to reflect on their own vision, talent, and leadership development
- Push Quarterfinalists to think in a way they may have never considered
- Be an active listener
- Be flexible, communicative, and accessible to Quarterfinalists to easily schedule sessions
- See Bush Foundation staff as a resource, seeking advice and sharing challenges or successes with the process
Confidentiality
You will have access to personal and confidential information so hold all confidential information in strict confidence. You should not share Quarterfinalists’ confidential information with any third party.
Compensation
You will receive $100 for participating in the webinar training and a $900 stipend for mentoring 10-15 applicants. We will need a list of all the Quarterfinalists you mentored before issuing your stipend. Please expect a payment within a month of submitting your list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Mentors will be selected?
15. We are selecting around 15 Mentors who will each be assigned up to 10-15 Quarterfinalists.
How long will it take to review 10 applications?
30 minutes on average. You can expect to spend 30 - 45 minutes per application for a total of 5 -7.5 hours of preparation not including conducting the calls.
May I reschedule a call?
Yes. Sessions may be rescheduled and must be completed on or before November 21, 2023
Do I need to use a scheduling tool?
Yes. We will provide you with a Calendly account for October- November 2023. You have the flexibility to determine what scheduling tool to use if you’d like to choose an alternative tool This tool should work best to support you in managing and scheduling sessions.
Will you schedule my calls for me and provide training for scheduling tools?
No. You are responsible for scheduling and completing calls, as well as communicating scheduling changes with Quarterfinalists. We will provide you an email template you can customize to reach out to your applicants.
Do I need to take notes during my calls?
Optional, but not required. This is a confidential process so we will not ask for your session notes. Please remember to appropriately discard your notes to honor the Quarterfinalists’ confidentiality.
When will I get paid?
In December 2023. Please remember to keep a list of all the Quarterfinalists you mentored, along with the date and time of the call. You will need to submit this list for our review so you can receive your stipend. You should expect to receive your stipend within a month after submitting your list.