SLA is a philanthropic leadership academy for high school students across the Greater Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara areas. Students undergo an intensive 5-week leadership training, build and lead a team of family and friends, and apply their learnings by developing and executing a fundraising campaign strategy to raise the most funds and benefit the mission of The Amalfi Foundation through a 6-week fundraising competition.
Students will receive 1:1 mentorship from an Amalfi Foundation Campaign Manager as they grow into young professionals and philanthropists. Students will have the opportunity to earn significant scholarships, grow their peer and professional networks, and will graduate the program with real-world industry experience and a toolbox of invaluable skills, including financial literacy, social entrepreneurship, marketing, pitching and closing business deals with C-Suite executives, and managing others.
The first half of the program is all about planning, strategizing, and learning new skills! You'll develop your strategic plan & goals; create a team of family, friends, peers, and people from across your community; determine how you're going to share your story; and begin having conversations with as many people as possible to develop momentum and to ensure a strong start once fundraising begins.
The second half of the program is the 6-week fundraising competition, which is when you launch your plan and kickoff fundraising! The SLA program uses two approaches to fundraising:
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: direct outreach to your community and network, including email marketing campaign, text message outreach, phone calls, social media, etc
High Impact Asks: When you go to a specific person/company to make a BIG ask, including Corporate Sponsorships, Major Gifts, Charitybuzz, Silent Auction & Program Book Ads. These types of "asks" require a prepared pitch & longer conversation.
The Grand Finale Gala on May 18th, 2024 will culminate the SLA program, and you, your team, and your supporters will come together to celebrate the cumulative impact the SLA class has had on our mission!
And you have a TON of resources and support systems available to help you throughout this exciting development journey! In addition to all of the information, materials, and templates available on this website, you also have:
You will be receiving 1:1 support through regularly scheduled meetings to plan your campaign, strategize your approach, and prepare for meetings.
Schedule additional meetings as needed; invite your AF Manager to team & donor meetings.
The SLA class is full of amazing young leaders, just like you! You'll have meetings with a smaller group of your peers to practice skills, collaborate, and support each other through the SLA journey.
Build your community, offer support, and make new friends!
You will have the support of a community of fundraising pros to provide additional guidance & insight to lead your campaign.
Committee members have all lead their own campaigns in a fundraising competition, and placed top of class.
Throughout the program, you will create and develop your personal goals and grow as a young business professional. You will develop important skills that will help you to be as successful as possible as you approach college and in your internship/career search. Utilize your Campaign Manager and the rest of the SLA class to be ahead of the curve in your personal leadership develop and in establishing your portfolio.
Be an effective people manager & lead a team
Craft a vision & develop a strategic plan
Create and execute a successful fundraising campaign
Build & execute a marketing and communication plan
Develop & deliver a sales pitch
Negotiate, persuade and influence influential community & business leaders
Develop professional presence in written, oral, and in person communication
And more!
Resume
Linkedin Profile
Cover Letter
Elevator Pitch
Extensive professional network & influential connections
Portfolio of marketing, sales, and business development examples
Bunch of new like-minded friends
Parental involvement is CRITICAL for a successful campaign! Parents, you can think of this program as a family project, where your student is taking the lead, How to Support Your Student While Letting Them Lead
Brainstorm leads & opportunities
Assist with making connections
Provide contact information
Emotional support
Attend AF meetings
Help to master course topics & action items
Occasional outreach & follow up support
Help them to reach your target audience. Post on social channels (esp. Facebook!) and talk about their campaign with your network,
Partner with adult team members & student team member parents to help your student to keep their team active and engaged.
In addition to the invaluable relationships and professional development you receive through running as an SLA Candidate, you and your team members will also be able to earn a wide variety of benefits for the impact you make on your community through fundraising. Check out the below milestones for candidates & top fundraisers to see the exciting offers you can earn, and check out the Team Member page for more information about the benefits specifically available for your team members.
*To be eligible for a scholarship, candidate teams must raise a minimum of $15,0000
$10,000 Scholarship; Internship with The Amalfi Foundation or Amalfi Jets
$5,000 Scholarship; Internship with The Amalfi Foundation or Amalfi Jets
$2,500 Scholarship
$1,000 Scholarship
15 Service Hours
Recommendation Letter from your Amalfi Foundation Campaign Manager
30 Service Hours
Recommendation Letter from the Amalfi Foundation Campaign Manager
70 Service Hours
Recommendation Letter from the Amalfi Foundation Managing Director
Internship with the Amalfi Foundation / Amalfi Jets
100 Service Hours
Note: to be eligible for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, hours must be logged on a weekly basis
Recommendation Letter from the Amalfi Foundation CEO
Internship with the Amalfi Foundation / Amalfi Jets
Leadership Award & ability to dedicate your impact towards one of our key initiatives