Become a Mentor

Join artsvest’s national network of mentors! We are now accepting applications for new volunteer mentors to join our growing community of arts and business leaders working together to create high-impact change. Mentors receive an honorarium for webinars delivered throughout the program. 

Who should apply?

• Arts and business professionals who have at least five (5) years of senior experience in one or more of the following areas: sponsorship, marketing, board governance, organizational development, fund development and financial sustainability, strategic planning, adaptive changemaking, community engagement, and EDIA.

What is the time commitment?

• Mentors are asked to commit a minimum of two (2) hours per month of mentorship during active programming. These individual mentoring sessions are not long-term relationships, but isolated virtual meetings where participants can seek advice from an artsvest mentor and receive customized support.  
• Volunteer mentors have the option to renew their commitment on an annual basis and can join the program at any time.

What are the volunteer requirements?

• Share knowledge, insight and expertise through webinars and/or one-on-one virtual sessions with participants seeking specific advice. Mentors can choose their level of involvement, and an honorarium is offered for webinar delivery.
• Attendance at mentorship orientation/information sessions, including familiarization with the B/A mentorship software platforms.
• A commitment to abide by the artsvest community agreement to ensure a safe and respectful space for everyone.
• Contribute to the program evaluation process by providing meaningful feedback.

What are the benefits of being a mentor?

• An opportunity to engage in a valuable network and community of arts, culture and heritage organizations, mentors, and arts professionals from across Canada. 
• Full access to our artsvest training materials including resources, templates and webinars on the topics of sponsorship, board governance and marketing.
• Recognition through the B/A website, newsletter, reports, social media networks and other special events and communication materials.
• Develop reciprocal relationships with arts leaders, make a positive impact and contribute to creating a healthy, vibrant and sustainable arts and culture sector.

“artvest mentoring has been an amazing experience. I have been introduced to so many wonderful people and arts organizations across the country, all sharing similar goals and challenges. The reward for my time spent connecting with these groups is receiving a call from one of them telling me they had a breakthrough with a new or existing corporate partner. These count as wins for the entire arts and culture community. Most days I feel that I am getting more from this mentoring opportunity than the mentees with whom I engage.” – Mary Ellen Davies, Director of Development at Confederation Centre of the Arts, PEI

“The artsvest program provides critical knowledge and skills development to Canada’s cultural sector, allowing organizations of all sizes to learn the art of fundraising and capacity building. It is a privilege to be a mentor with the program, and it is extremely fulfilling to see the groups we work with flourish over the course of the program.” – Jenn Shah, Director of Sponsorship Marketing, Hot Docs, Toronto

How to get involved

To become a mentor, please complete the Mentor Statement of Interest and we will follow up with further information. If you have any questions, contact us at artsvest@businessforthearts.org

We acknowledge, respect and celebrate the diversity of our staff, Board, volunteers, program participants, partners, collaborators, stakeholders and audiences. As such, Business / Arts strives to be an inclusive and equitable organization where we respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard. 

The artsvest program is committed to creating a community of Canadian mentors that is reflective of the diversity of the arts, culture and heritage organizations we serve nationally. As such, artsvest welcomes mentor applications from all qualified individuals. We are particularly interested in and encourage applications from equity-seeking communities, including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions. We are committed to providing barrier-free access and reasonable accommodation in the artsvest program for individuals with disabilities to the best of our ability.