Front Page / Bonner Program Resources / Bonner Program Start-Up / Guides / Check List
Bonner Program Start-Up Check List
Overview | Guides | Campus Examples | Documents to Download
The following list represents the key steps in your start-up process, along with links to the relevant resources. You can download a PDF Version of the Start-Up Check List without the resource links and a brief powerpoint overview of the process. You should also be familiar with the Bonner Leader Program Rules.
Staffing and Location
- Decide where would the program be housed.
- Decide who will coordinate the Bonner Leader Program in the first year and other individuals who can provide support for the program.
- Recruit 2-3 sophomore or juniors to assist you with the start-up steps outlined below (and then be available to serve as Bonner Senior Interns in the start-up year).
Guides: Bonner Program Staffing, Bonner Student Leadership
Securing Work-Study Level Stipend
- Secure the Community-Service Federal Work-Study, College Work-Study, or equivalent stipends for your Bonner Leaders so they can serve an average of 10 hours per week throughout the school year.
- If possible, identify additional sources of funding that might be offered to your Bonner Leaders (including summer service stipends).
Guide: Earn, Learn, and Serve: Getting the Most from Community Service Federal Work-Study
Recruiting Your First Class of Bonners and Partners
- Decide how many Bonner Leaders you want to recruit for the first year.
- Develop marketing material (e.g., website, brochure).
- Develop application material and process.
- Recruit selection committee and process.
Guides: Recruitment and Selection
Setting Training and Enrichment Calendar
- Plan your Bonner Orientation, ideally for one or two days before the regular first year orientation.
- Decide when during each week can you schedule a regular Bonner training and reflection meetings.
- Plan the topics for the first year of weekly Bonner meetings.
- Consider an early January a mid-year Bonner Retreat (day-long).
- Consider a first-year service trip for sometime during the spring semester (perhaps combine with mid-year retreat).
Guides: Training and Enrichment, Curriculum Modules
Developing Community Service Placements
- Decide which community partners would be good placements for the first year Bonners.
- Meet with community partners individually to explain Bonner Program model and begin planning service placements.
- Hold an orientation for the initial group of Bonner community partners to review goals, policies, procedures, and envision four-year developmental model at their agency.
Guides: Building and Maintaining Partnerships, Managing Student Placements
Connecting to the Bonner Network
- Ask Bonner Foundation to recommend 2-3 current Bonner directors/coordinators as mentors during your start-up phase.
- Invite Bonner Foundation staff member to visit campus during planning year and/or your start-up semester.
Contact Information: Bonner Foundation Staff
National Bonner Meetings
- Consider sending the Bonner coordinator/director and the student interns (Bonner Senior Interns) to the Bonner Summer Leadership Institute (late May or early June).
- Decide who will attend the New Bonner Director and Coordinator Orientation held in Princeton, New Jersey (end of July/beginning of August).
- Begin thinking about who will attend the Fall Bonner Student Congress (mid to late October).
- Begin thinking about who will attend the Fall Bonner Directors and Coordinators Meeting (early November).
Meeting Links:
You can download a PDF version of the check list here.
