InReach Young Professionals Board Program.

What is the Young Professionals Board (YPB)?

InReach Young Professionals
Board Statement

The InReach Young Professionals Board (YPB) is a network of service-minded LGBTQ+ and allied young professionals investing their time to develop, expand and promote InReach in their local communities.

Our Vision

Our goal is to build a movement and mobilize thousands of young professionals across North America to serve as ambassadors in their communities for the world’s first open source platform matching LGBTQ+ people facing persecution or discrimination with safe, verified resources.

Program Success Stories

Slavi Arnaudov

Years Served on Young Professionals Board

2022 (Co-Chair), 2021 (Co-Chair)

Company

The Blackstone GroupΒ 

Successes

Leveraged his professional networks to nominate and pitch InReach for the 2022 Blackstone Gives Back Challenge, unlocking $50,000 in funding that InReach would not otherwise have access to; Elected to the 2023 Governing Board of Directors for his outstanding performance on the Young Professionals BoardΒ 

Featured Quote

β€œAs a gay immigrant from Bulgaria going through the U.S. immigration system for the past 10 years, I have experienced first-hand the difficulties of being an LGBTQ+ immigrant in this country. InReach’s tech platform offers vital help many LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution need to be safe.”

Tanushree Khan

Years Served on Young Professionals Board

2022 (Co-Chair), 2021Β Β 

Company

PwCΒ 

Successes

Played a leading role in organizing the Young Professionals Board’s fundraising events, including the 2022 board’s NYC Drag Queen Bingo event resulting in ~$5k raised; Leveraged company connections to unlock corporate matching opportunities and recruit new Young Professionals Board members; Elected to the 2023 Governing Board of Directors for her outstanding performance on the Young Professionals BoardΒ 

Christina Tong

Years Served on Young Professionals Board

2021Β 

Company

Peloton; ex-GoogleΒ 

Successes

Tapped networks to fundraise over $10,000 during her first year on the Young Professionals Board; Joined the InReach Ambassador Network after using the free InReach App during her time as a crisis counselor volunteer for LGBTQ+ youth; Elected to the 2022 Governing Board of Directors for her outstanding performance on the Young Professionals Board & elected as the 2023 Board Chair for her continued strong performance and demonstrated investment in the organizationΒ 

Featured Quote

β€œI decided to join because the mission to connect LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution to verified resources is a pressing need that I hear often from youth in crisis in my capacity as a volunteer with The Trevor Project. As a former Product Manager on the team that connects merchants to consumers on Google Maps, I’m also convinced that there’s a real solutions gap here – there’s nobody else doing this kind of tailored, high precision vetting. The Young Professionals Board has been a great way for me to tangibly support this mission, meet a community of like-minded young professionals, and learn more about the nonprofit space.”

MO Swinson

Years Served on Young Professionals Board

2022 (Co-Director of Marketing Committee), 2021, 2020Β 

Company

Social Worker in NYCΒ 

Successes

Proactively shared the InReach App with her professional networks to help spread the word and joined the InReach Ambassador Network after using InReach to find safe resources for her LGBTQ+ clients; Coordinated a Pride 2022 brand partnership with The Neon Tea PartyΒ 

Glenn McGillivray

Years Served on Young Professionals Board

2021, 2020

Company

Jones Day (now Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP)

Successes

Coordinated a virtual lunch & learn event at his firm’s NYC office to spread the word about InReach among the firm’s pro bono department & secured an event sponsorship for the 2021 Young Professionals Board’s Pride Month fundraiser; Invited to join the InReach Advisory Council after serving on the Young Professionals Board for two years Β 

Oleg Grachev

Years Served on Young Professionals Board

2022Β 

Company

GTCRΒ 

Successes

Facilitated connection that culminated in a Pride 2022 campaign with Mercedes-Benz USA, including a global social campaign and $25,000 donation to help advance InReach

The InReach Young Professionals Board operates in an auxiliary working board format.

The 2025 Young Professionals Board will focus on the following objectives:Β 

1. Community

Young Professionals Board members will attend monthly chapter meetings to build community.

What can you expect at monthly chapter meetings? Sample in-meeting activities include:

  • Icebreaker exercises to get to know your fellow chapter members
  • Event planning (e.g., the chapter’s annual fundraiser, local recruitment and networking mixers)
  • App support co-working time to help advance the free InReach App in your area!Β 
  • Guest speakers discussing issues you care aboutΒ 
  • Organizational updates on InReach to keep you informedΒ 
  • Β 

2. Capacity BuildingΒ 

In addition to networking and professional development, membership on the Young Professionals Board offers the opportunity to meaningfully help advance the free InReach platform. During 2025, members will be asked to choose from the following β€˜App Support’ opportunities:Β 

  • App Support CodingΒ (*open to software engineers only) – Leverage your coding skills to make a positive impact!
  • App Support TranslationΒ (*must be highly proficient in at least one non-English language) – Use your language proficiency to help our community!
  • App Support Community – help research and suggest new affirming providers in your area to help grow InReach; distribute marketing materials and secure link referrals/advertising from your local LGBTQ+ center, public library, and other service providers in your area to help spread the word about InReach.

3. Philanthropy

Members fulfill aΒ membership annual “give/get” requirement, raising funds through individual donations, peer-to-peer fundraising, in-person events, and corporate giving connections. Members are encouraged to utilize any employer matching funds available to them to maximize their impact.

4. Professional Development

Serving on the Young Professionals Board offers an excellent opportunity to expand your professional network and accelerate your career growth. Throughout the year, members will have access to programs, volunteer opportunities, and networking events designed to foster personal and professional development. Additionally, members are encouraged to benefit from InReach’s YPB Advisor Network, featuring supportive mid- and advanced-level professionals from various industries.

5. Raise Awareness for InReach

Members of the Young Professionals Board serve as vital ambassadors for InReach and are encouraged to widely share InReach’s mission and initiatives within their personal and professional networks.

2025 YPB Chapter Options & Application Deadlines

The Young Professionals Board will offer the following in-person chapters in 2025, along with a fully remote option:

  • New York City (NYC) ChapterΒ  – open to young professionals living in the NYC metro area.Β 
  • Washington DC Chapter – open to young professionals living in the Washington DC metro area.Β 
  • San Francisco Chapter – open to young professionals living in the San Francisco Bay Area.

*2025 Virtual Membership Option: Young professionals who do not live in these areas and/or who would like to participate fully remotely in InReach’s YPB Program will have the option to apply for virtual membership.

Remote members will:

  • Choose one of the in-person chapters as their β€˜home base.’
  • Zoom or call into their home chapter’s monthly meetings.
  • Help their home chapter organize its annual fundraiser requirement.
  • If possible, strive to attend any in-person meetings/events (if based in the region).
2025 Application DeadlinesΒ 

We are currently accepting applications for 2025 membership!Β 

  • 2025 Priority New Member Application Deadline: October 18, 2024Β 
  • 2025 Final New Member Application Deadline: December 20, 2024
  • *All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis!Β 
Change the world with us

Who Are We Looking For?

Young Professionals Board 2025Β 
Membership Requirements

2025 In-Person Chapter Members

  • Attend monthly in-person chapter meetings (~1.5 hours per meeting)Β 
  • Use InReach’s virtual communication channels (e.g., Discord, POINT to log your volunteer hours with InReach, email/G Suite)Β 
  • Participate in InReach’s Discord server at least onceΒ per week (guidelines to be shared)
  • Help organize the chapter’s annual fundraiser eventΒ 
  • Spend at least 2Β hours per month (on your own schedule!) on an β€˜app support’ task of your choice to directly contribute to advancing InReach!
  • Fulfill the YPB program’s 2025 membership annual β€œgive and get” requirement

2025 Virtual Membership Option

  • Virtual membership is open to young professionals living anywhere in North America (the United States, U.S. territories, Canada or Mexico)
  • Select one of the in-person chapters as your β€œhome base” 
    • Zoom/call into your home base chapter’s monthly meetings
    • Help organize your home base chapter’s annual fundraiser eventΒ 
    • If possible, you are encouraged to attend any of your home base chapter’s meetings/events in-person (i.e., if you’re based in the region)!Β 
  • Use InReach’s virtual communication channels (e.g., Discord, POINT to log your volunteer hours with InReach, email/G Suite)
  • Participate in InReach’s Discord server at least once per week (guidelines to be shared)Β 
  • Fulfill the YPB program’s 2025 membership annual β€œgive and get” requirement

Why Should You Join Us?

Information For Companies/Employers

As an employer, you are encouraged to share the InReach Young Professionals Board Program with young professionals at your company (the program is open to young professionals ages 21-40, located anywhere in the U.S.). Our program offers a unique opportunity for young professionals to engage in meaningful service, grow their professional network, and develop key competencies to help prepare for future career success.

Our Young Professionals Board Program also offers a great way for your company to showcase your employees’ deep commitment to service, innovation, diversity, equity and inclusion.

We are especially interested in adding new young professionals to our Young Professionals Board Program from the following industries:

  • Tech – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from Meta, Google, Adobe, TikTok & more
  • Consulting – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from PwC, McKinsey & Company, Accenture, EY-Parthenon, Deloitte, Kearney, & more
  • Financial Services – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from Blackstone, Macquarie Group, Petal, HSBC, Federal Reserve Bank of NY, American Express, Capital One, Novantas, Evercore, & more
  • Corporate Law – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from Jones Day, Blank Rome LLP, Levy Konigsberg LLP, & more
  • Media – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from Dow Jones, Shutterstock, Ipsos, & more

Upcoming Remote Information Sessions

If you are interested in an upcoming remote information session, please fill out the form below:

Become a Young Professionals Board 2025 Sponsor

There are many ways for companies to partner with InReach, including sponsoring the Young Professionals Board program. Financial commitment levels ranging from $5k to $100k+ are available. For more information, see InReach’s 2023-2025 Corporate & Brand/Artist Partnership Guide, or contact us here, to schedule a time to discuss options.

Our 2025 New Member Priority Application Deadline is October 18, 2024. APPLY NOW!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We are currently accepting applications for 2025 membership.

  • 2025 New Member Priority Application Deadline: October 18, 2024Β 
  • 2025 New Member Final Application Deadline: December 20, 2024
  • *All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis!Β 

Apply now here!

In addition to in-person chapter membership, the 2025 InReach Young Professionals Board will include a fully virtual membership option to ensure program accessibility.Β 

2025 Virtual Membership Option Details

  • Virtual membership is open to young professionals living anywhere in North America (the United States, U.S. territories, Canada or Mexico)
  • Select one of the in-person chapters as your β€œhome base” 
    • Zoom/call into your home base chapter’s monthly meetings
    • Help organize your home base chapter’s annual fundraiser eventΒ 
    • If possible, you are encouraged to attend any of your home base chapter’s meetings/events in-person (i.e., if you’re based in the region)!Β 
  • Use InReach’s virtual communication channels (e.g., Discord, POINT to log your volunteer hours with InReach, email/G Suite)
  • Participate in InReach’s Discord server at least once per week (guidelines to be shared)Β 
  • Fulfill the YPB program’s 2025 membership annual β€œgive and get” requirement

Starting in 2025, the InReach Young Professionals Board (YPB) is excited to introduce a new annual “give/get” requirement to bolster our fundraising efforts and support our mission more effectively. “Give and get” in the nonprofit sector refers to the expectation that board members contribute personally (“give”) and also raise additional funds from their networks (“get”).Β 

YPB members will be assigned to one of two tracks based on their current employment status: Corporate or NGO/Public Sector. This initiative aims to ensure that all members can contribute meaningfully, leveraging employer matching funds and peer-to-peer fundraising as appropriate.

For more information, please see our 2025 YPB membership annual “give/get” requirement handout here.Β 

Absolutely! Young Professionals Board members are encouraged to leverage their employer’s matching funds, “dollars for doers” program and/or professional development fund when possible.

For more information, please see our 2025 YPB annual “give/get” requirement handout here.Β 

During 2025, members will be asked to choose from the following β€˜App Support’ opportunities:Β 

  • App Support CodingΒ (*open to software engineers only) – Use your coding skills for good!Β 
  • App Support TranslationΒ (*must be highly proficient in at least one non-English language) – Use your language skills for good!Β 
  • App Support Community – help research and suggest new affirming providers in your area to help grow InReach; distribute marketing materials and secure link referrals/advertising from your local LGBTQ+ center, public library and other service providers in your areaΒ 

No, the Young Professionals Board is distinct from the InReach governing board of directors.

The InReach governing board plays a pivotal role in developing InReach’s strategic direction and providing critical oversight (governance & legal compliance).

The InReach Young Professionals Board is an auxiliary working board specifically for young professionals (ages 21-40) living in North America who are committed to supporting InReach’s critical work through app support, fundraising, and professional development. Young Professionals Board members may be considered for future appointment to the InReach governing board of directors.

In addition to the United States, InReach has expanded eligibility for the Virtual Membership Option to folks living in U.S. territories, Canada and Mexico. The free InReach App is available in U.S. territories, Canada and Mexico and this will allow us to respond quickly to LGBTQ+ forced migration across North America.

Head over to the “Our Team” page and click on the “Young Professionals Board” tab to learn more about our current membership.

Contact us for more information on our Young Professionals Board Program.

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