Welcome to the Future Leaders Program at Harbour Club at WestEdge, Charleston’s Premier Private Business & Social Club. The Future Leaders Program began with an idea from a Board Member that has flourished into a 5+ year program that helps develop and connect young professionals in Charleston.
What is the Future Leaders Scholarship Program?
The Future Leaders (FL) Scholarship Program is a Board-grown and managed initiative of Harbour Club at WestEdge. The goal of the program is to recruit and retain high-performing professionals under the age of 40 with intentional efforts to expose young professionals and future leaders to the Club who would otherwise not have the opportunity. We are looking for professionals that are making a positive impact on our community.
The Harbour Club leadership recognizes the intrinsic value of this new Member profile as demonstrated by the first 4 highly successfully classes. While recipients receive a scholarship, this program is not a charity initiative. In fact, the Club recognizes that many candidates invited to interview could be Members without its assistance. Instead, the FL scholarship is an investment in the Club’s future as a change agent and incubator for the Charleston Metro area.
How are FL Scholarships funded?
Each year, the Future Leader Scholarships are supported by contributions from Club Members, donations of any amount to fully funding a nominated Future Leader. The program’s inaugural year was backed by a single Board Member and resulted in 15 inaugural FL Members. In years two, three, and four, Board Members and other Club Members have continued to sponsor Future Leaders and contribute to the Scholarship fund, highlighting the program’s sustained importance.
What does the FL Scholarship provide?
The FL scholarship offers a myriad of financial and professional incentives.
- The FL scholarships pay the Young Executive Member Initiation Fee
- Networking and social opportunities with a broad audience of more than 2,000 local professionals and industry experts
- Engagement with other young professionals through Young Executive (YEX) Committee events and professional development programming
- Access to private and co-work spaces
- Recognition during the FL introduction ceremony and in Club communications
- Feature in Club publications and social media
- All incentives, access and activities available to all Club Members
How are FL Scholarship recipients nominated?
Local civic, professional, educational, Harbour Club Members, and non-profit organizations are asked to nominate young professionals using the criteria listed::
- Be an adult under age 40 at the time of interview
- Have professional or community-based leadership experience within the past two years
- Have documented community service experience
- Be able to sustain monthly membership dues for at least one year
- Understand the benefits of a private business and social Club
How are FL Scholarship recipients selected?
All nominees will be asked to submit a resume and a short questionnaire. They will be invited to sit for an interview with the Future Leaders committee. The Committee will rank the nominees with the top nominees being selected and awarded a Future Leader Scholarship.
Additional information is available below.
