1. Alignment with LEAD Brevard’s Mission
Projects should demonstrate clear alignment with the mission and values of LEAD Brevard – “Working together to strengthen our community by inspiring people to lead.” Successful submissions will clearly articulate how the project supports leadership development and community engagement in Brevard County. Projects must be action-oriented and result in meaningful value to the community upon completion.
2. Defined Outcomes
Proposals must include clearly stated goals and expected results. These outcomes should be specific, measurable, and achievable. Clearly define what success looks like for your project, and how you will evaluate or assess impact. A strong proposal will also include:
- An outline of the resources required (materials, funding, labor, etc.);
- A plan for securing those resources; and
- A mechanism for evaluating project success.
3. Opportunity for Leadership Development
Your project should provide Leadership Brevard participants with meaningful opportunities to lead, collaborate, solve problems, and grow. Strong proposals include roles and responsibilities that allow participants to take initiative and experience real-world leadership challenges. Projects must identify opportunities for leadership development beyond teamwork and community contribution.
4. Significant Community Impact
We are looking for projects that contribute meaningful and lasting benefits to the Brevard County community. Please describe the community issue your project addresses, the stakeholders involved, and how your project will positively impact individuals, groups, or systems within the community. Projects should ideally impact a large number of people or serve a population with significant need.
5. Feasibility Within the Project Timeline
The project must be realistically achievable within a fixed 8-month period. Keep in mind:
- Month 1 is for team orientation and introduction to the organization.
- Months 7–8 are reserved for preparing final presentations.
- This leaves 5 working months (Months 2–6) for project execution.
Your proposal should be appropriately scoped to fit within this time frame. Proposals that are too large or complex to complete in this window will not be considered.
6. Sustainability & Ownership
The project must have a clearly defined end—whether it concludes entirely or transitions to a permanent program or is handed off to a designated entity. LEAD Brevard, the Leadership Brevard class, and/or Leadership Brevard alumni will not assume ownership or operational responsibility for the project after the class year concludes. Project sustainability beyond class involvement must be addressed.
7. Governance & Nonpartisanship
Projects must be non-partisan and may not support political groups, candidates, or positions. Each proposal must:
- Have the approval of the appropriate governing body;
- Designate a by-name staff liaison who will interface directly with the project team;
- If applicable, include the name of at least one representative from the organization’s Board of Directors (for 501(c)(3) nonprofits).
- Projects may not be fundraising in nature. Class members may not engage in fundraising or use the LEAD Brevard or Leadership Brevard name/affiliation for fundraising efforts. Any required funding must be secured solely by the nonprofit or municipal entity involved.
