My Nonprofit Reviews
Anne35
Review for Public Leadership Education Network PLEN, Washington, DC, USA
I am a PLEN Board Member as well as highly active volunteer. PLEN program participants have a life changing experience, and I am so proud to be part of this organization. If you are considering a career in public policy, attending a PLEN program is critical. Not only will you also gain career insights but also learn career jumpstarting, networking and leadership skills. PLEN is also a relevant and cost-effective corporate investment opportunity for any organization that has a Washington, DC office and/or works on policy issues.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
Review for Public Leadership Education Network PLEN, Washington, DC, USA
PLEN, the Public Leadership Education Network, is probably one of the busiest and most effective organizations I have encountered of its size. PLEN seeks to encourage college women to explore public policy careers. It's 3- and 5-day seminars throughout the year expose the students to legislators and their staff, high-ranking executive branch decision-makers, and for-/not-for-profit women impacting public policy. The students are able to see the breadth of public policy career options available to them. Additionally, PLEN provides a summer internship enrichment program that DC-area interns can participate in. I am a Board Member and very active volunteer for PLEN as well as serve as the organization's Advancement Committee Chair. I am an alum of Goucher College, one of PLEN's founding members. I am proud to be part of this small but highly impactful organization. I urge others who do not already know about PLEN to learn more at www.plen.org.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the alumni I encounter. Thousands of women have participated in PLEN's programming in the past 30-plus years and speak about how life-changing their experience has been for them and in the career paths they have chosen.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
have more funds available for our programs and hard-working staff as well as for scholarships for our students in need.
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
How did you learn about this organization?
My alma mater, Goucher College, is a founding memebr of PLEN. A dear friend invited me to attend a PLEN reception a few years ago and I have been volunteering with PLEN ever since.
What is this organization's top short-term priority?
Providing quality programming to as many students as are interested in attending the seminars. This includes making sure we have relevant and interesting speakers, convenient venues for the program, transportaiton, food and housing for our students, and enough scholarship funds to ensre we do not have to turn any student away.
What is its top priority in the long run?
All of the above along with greater finanical stability. We seek to increase the long-term financial commitments of our existing donors, grow our donor base, and create strategic partnerships with other relevant women's organizations to strengthen the mentoring aspect of our mission.
