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How to Be a Mentor

1. What is a mentor?
Discuss what mentoring is and what a mentor does.

2. What qualities make an ideal mentor?

Brainstorm the qualities that make a good mentor.
Possible qualities include the following:
• Community-based mitigation experience
• Mentoring experience
• Familiarity with CBOs/FBOs and their missions
• Availability and willingness to mentor

3. Given these qualities, who should the mentor be, and where should we look to find that person?
Develop an action plan that includes identifying mentor candidates and the means of securing their assistance. Community-based Pre-Disaster Mitigation for CBOs/FBOs

Thinking Creatively about Resources

1. Identifying what kinds of resources are needed

Brainstorm resources needed for the mitigation program and activities. Consider the full range of needs, including the following:

Financial
• Funding
• Advice
• In-kind donations
Materials
• Equipment and tools, either donated or loaned
• Specialized safety equipment (hard hats, vests)
• Supplies (office supplies, water coolers, cups, refreshments, garbage bags, etc.)
• Printing (signs, training materials, forms, flyers, posters, etc.)
• Information (how-to, project ideas, training materials, etc.)
• Participant and donor recognition (ball caps, T-shirts, key chains, other freebie items, plaques, etc.)
Legal/Insurance
• Volunteer liability release forms
• Trained operators for specialized equipment

People
• Volunteers
• Office and administrative support (answering phones, making copies, word processing, database development, mailing assistance, postage, etc.)

Miscellaneous
• Transportation
• Facilities for meetings and activities
• Technical support and volunteer training
• Other organizational and project specific needs

2. Defining what our organization can provide

List resources available through your organization. Community-based Pre-Disaster Mitigation for CBOs/FBOs

3. Identifying other sources of support

Brainstorm support that could be requested and obtained from other sources, including the following:
• FEMA and other Federal agencies
• Volunteer organizations that specialize in disaster programs
• CBOs/FBOs – local, regional, national
• Personal and professional networks
• Local businesses
• Trade associations and other similar groups
• Funding and grant sources (agencies, institutions, foundations, etc.)
• Web sites and published resources
• Asset analysis; analyze what is existing within your organization – don’t re-invent the wheel
• Economic development office
• Planning office
• Insurance agencies
• Unions
• Utilities
• School districts
• Transportation departments

4. Getting outside of the box

Stretch and get creative. Come up with three “really out of the box” ideas for obtaining resources.

Creative Resource Thinking
• Consider reframing your program. For example, while mitigation is the goal, you could consider other focal points for grants or requests for assistance, such as support for community-building and
social development, skill development for minority or underserved populations, intergenerational or interfaith programs, environmental programs, etc.
• Ask for referrals. Ask each person to recommend other sources to contact, regardless of whether
that individual or group is able to assist.
• Join forces with other organizations to ask for joint donations. For example, if a group of lowincome residents needed home improvements/repairs to mitigate an encephalitis outbreak, FBO
volunteers could join forces with the Boy Scouts to request window screen donations from the local hardware store.
• Share resources with other organizations – you provide the safety equipment for your project and a
project of their choosing, they provide the volunteers to do the work. Community-based Pre-Disaster Mitigation for CBOs/FBOs

5. Setting the wheels in motion – the action plan

Develop a plan for approaching other organizations to request assistance and resource support. Consider the
following:
• Whom are we contacting?
• What are we asking them for?
• How will we contact them?
• What will they need and want to know?
• Who will put the information together?
• Who will contact specific individuals?
• What’s in it for the donors (why should they help, and what are the benefits
to participation?)?
• What is the schedule?
• Who from our group can spearhead the effort?
• How will we express our appreciation?
• How will we keep track of what we’ve done?
• Are the donations we’re asking for tax-deductible?
• What are the legal ramifications/obligations? Community-based Pre-Disaster Mitigation for CBOs/FBOs

Sourced from FEMA