Board Fellows Program

 

The Moritz Board Fellows Program provides law students the opportunity to join the community in a professional capacity. Recognizing that attorneys are frequently called upon to serve as members of nonprofit boards of directors, the program is designed to help students develop essential leadership skills to succeed in these roles.

Board Fellows get an inside view of how nonprofit boards operate, learn how to integrate this participation into their careers, and gain important networking connections with some of central Ohio’s community and business leaders. Students will further develop their problem solving, strategic thinking, teamwork, and law-related skills while serving the community.

If you would like to become a participating board or a student fellow please submit your completed application to:

Participating Nonprofit Boards

— A —

A Kid Again
ACLU of Ohio
Advocacy and Protective Services
Alvis 180 Impact
Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio
American Red Cross Buckeye Region
Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute Foundation
Available Light Theatre

— B —

Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio
Bridgeway Academy

— C —

Capitol Square Foundation
Central Ohio Transit Authority
Children’s Hunger Alliance
Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resource Center
Columbus Chapter National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame
Columbus Children’s Theatre
Columbus Early Learning Centers
Columbus Free Clinic
Columbus Speech and Hearing
Community Refugee & Immigration Services

— D —

Dublin Arts Council

— E —

Equality Ohio Education Fund

— F —

First Tee Central Ohio
Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority
Friends of CASA of Franklin County
Friends of the Columbus Metropolitan Library

— G —

Godman Guild Association
Goodwill Columbus
Graham Elementary and Middle Charter School

— H —

Healing Broken Circles
Homeport
Huckleberry House

— I —
IMPACT Community Action

— L —

Lincoln Theatre
Lutheran Social Services

— N —

NAMI of Franklin County
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation
Neighborhood Services Food Pantry
New Life Community Outreach

— O —

Ohio Access to Justice Foundation
Ohio Energy Project
Ohio Environmental Council
Ohio Family Care Association
Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program
Ohio Victim Witness Association

— P —

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate

— R —

Resident Resources Network
Resurrecting Lives Foundation

— S —

She Has A Name
Social Ventures
South Side Early Learning

— T —

TECH CORPS
The Charles School
The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio
Think Make Live Youth

— V —

Varsity “O” Alumni Society
Voicecorps

—————

FAQ

Each board provides a contact person who serves as a mentor to the student. Prior to the first board meeting, a lead staff member and/or the mentor should provide information on the organization’s structure, operations and mission. The mentor provides background information on the board’s work, introduces the student to the board, ensures communication about meeting schedules, encourages opportunities for student engagement, and is responsible for any supervision of student work.

Students are responsible for attending all regularly scheduled meetings. There is no minimum number of hours that students are required to participate; students are expected to actively participate, depending on the board’s needs and the student’s academic schedule. At the end of their fellowship, students provide Career Development with written feedback about their board experience.

The board fellowship lasts for the duration of the academic year, August through May. If a board requests that a student be matched outside of these parameters, we make every effort to accommodate that request. Students may continue with their assigned board for a second year with mutual agreement from the board.

We begin receiving applications from prospective boards in late spring and early summer, though we welcome inquiries and applications at any time. Boards are accepted into the program upon review of their application and willingness to help students learn about the roles and work of nonprofit boards. Student applications are due to the Career Development Office during spring semester. We place students on boards based on their application materials, expressed areas of interest, and passion for an organization’s mission. Students will be assigned to a board by the beginning of autumn semester.

Students will be given the name and contact information of their mentor. They will then initiate contact with their mentor to introduce themselves and arrange a first meeting. The new Board Fellows are required to attend a mandatory orientation at Moritz, where current fellows discuss ways in which students can contribute and maximize their experience. In addition, Moritz alumni who work with nonprofits explain how boards are organized and the responsibilities of being on a board.

Board Testimonials

“Lauren Sabo became an integral part of the CASA Board through her participation in the Moritz Board Fellows Program. Lauren went above and beyond the expectation of a Board Fellow by volunteering to support CASA’s mission through her service as a guardian ad litem, by providing training for other CASA guardian ad litems and by assisting with fundraising efforts. The CASA Board recognized Lauren’s value and has voted to add Lauren as an official voting Board member following Lauren’s graduation from Moritz.”

Miranda Morgan
Board Member, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Franklin County

“My mentor was great! She was really easy to talk to and made sure I felt included in the meetings. She also provided me with outside opportunities to be more involved in the Komen organization. I was placed on the board’s external affairs committee so I was able to help with ideas such as fundraising and raising awareness in the young professionals community. I have really loved this experience!”

Sandra Moody Gresham
Board Chair, Resident Resources Network

“I know board service is definitely something that I will take with me and I think it’s been interesting to see how a legal degree can serve in that way. I came into law school really interested in public service, but now I’m about to work at a firm and I’ve kind of changed a little bit to probably working in the private sector. I like that I’m still able to use legal skills to give back to the community.”

Morgan Govatos ’19
Kaleidoscope Youth Center Board

“My mentor was great! She was really easy to talk to and made sure I felt included in the meetings. She also provided me with outside opportunities to be more involved in the Komen organization. I was placed on the board’s external affairs committee so I was able to help with ideas such as fundraising and raising awareness in the young professional community. I have really loved this experience!”

Charli Carley ’19
Susan G. Komen Columbus Board