Building Supportive Ecosystems Together

Are you a business professional interested in helping others?

A Business with expertise and a willingness to help others flourish?

Volunteer as a mentor with us!

Partner with us as a business!

Connect us with funders and other possible service partners!

ILAD Refugee Coaching

Email: [email protected]
Text/Phone: (682) 294-8885

Book Appointment

At ILAD, we are committed to transforming the lives of refugees by Equipping Refugees with Essential Skills for

Financial Independence and Business Success.

You can use your expertise and experience to impact the life of a refugee entrepreneur.

Whether you want to dive in with ongoing meetings, or let it be a one-time thing, we have a mentor journey to fit your availability and preferences.

By partnering with us, you can play a vital role in empowering individuals and families as they navigate the challenges of resettlement and strive for financial independence.

Our services to clients

1. Personalized Coaching & Contextualized Resources

Tailored coaching and resources that empower refugees to navigate challenges and achieve their personal and professional goals effectively.

Purpose:

Individualized support that fosters confidence and self-sufficiency, enabling clients to make informed decisions and thrive in their new environment.

What your activities might be:

One-on-One Coaching: Personalized sessions focused on individual goals and challenges.
Access to Contextualized Resources: Culturally relevant materials available in multiple languages.

2. Credit Building & Financial Management

Essential training and support in building credit and managing finances, enabling clients to establish a strong financial foundation and access better economic opportunities.

Purpose:

Enhance clients' financial literacy and creditworthiness, resulting in improved access to loans, housing, and other essential resources, ultimately fostering greater economic stability.

What your activities might be:

Financial Literacy Training: Workshops on budgeting, saving, and understanding credit scores.

Personalized Financial Coaching: One-on-one sessions to create tailored financial plans and strategies.

3. Business Preparation & Launching

Comprehensive support for refugees to develop and launch their businesses, helping them achieve financial independence and contribute to their communities.

Purpose:

Equip clients with the skills and resources needed to successfully establish their businesses, fostering economic self-sufficiency and community engagement.

What your activities might be:

Business Training and Planning: Guidance in creating business plans and setting realistic goals tailored to individual aspirations. Business plan development, funding acquisition, and market entry strategies.
Resource Access and Funding Support: Assistance in securing funding and accessing resources necessary for business launch and growth.

4. Ongoing Support and Guidance

Continuous support to clients after they have launched their businesses, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed for sustained success.

Purpose:

Help clients navigate challenges, refine their business strategies, and achieve long-term financial stability.

What your activities might be:

Regular Check-ins and Coaching: Personalized sessions to assess progress, set new goals, and provide tailored advice based on individual needs. Regular check-ins, goal setting, and access to resources in multiple languages.
Access to Resources and Tools: Continuous access to financial management tools and resources to enhance business operations and personal finance skills.

ready to make a difference?

Get Involved Today

Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of refugees.

Whether you're looking to partner with us as a funder, organization, or volunteer, we invite you to join our mission of empowerment and support.

You can book a time with us here to get more information and see how we can partner together.

Choose Your Mentor Journey

Relationship - Resource - Advisor & Advocate

+ Relationship

Build a relationship as an “All-in” Mentor

Deepest impact on a refugee client.

As a mentor, you will be matched with a client who can benefit from your areas of expertise. You will have the opportunity to connect with them, get to know their story, business, plans, dreams, and maybe even their family.

Your relationship will have a significant impact on the client, their family, and their business as you get to know them. You will have the opportunity to help them think through the ins and outs of their ideas, goals, business, family, life in the US, and more. Through regular meetings you will be a valuable part of guiding them towards successful business ownership and beyond.

Commitment and Expectations:

Matched based on expertise and biggest impact on a client and their business.

Typically In-person, but flexible.

Get to know a client well.

Regularly scheduled meeting cadence averaging 1-2 hour meetings once or twice per month.

Meeting cadence is flexible, but we do ask that you are consistent with the time commitment agreed to.

On an ongoing basis or until an agreed end date. Dependent on how you and the client would like to continue.

+ Resource

Be a resource as you support clients on an as-needed basis.

Specific impact on refugee clients.

You will be working on an as-needed basis with clients who need help completing projects or tasks related to their business.

This could include guiding a client through publishing and website design, sourcing equipment or capital, checking the feasibility of business plan numbers or logistics, a marketing or sales plan, employee training plans, and more.

Commitment and Expectations:

Matched with a client based on your area of expertise.

Impact is on a project or needs-basis

Help clients to solve problems or address tasks they need help with.

Offer a second set of eyes on a financial analysis or business plan.

Averaging 2-3 meetings until the project is done or the need is met.

+ Advisor & Advocate

Background/One-Time Help for our BDC team

Broadest impact on multiple refugee clients.

Not interested in meeting with only one refugee client? You can still have a broad impact on our program and, as a result, the communities we work in.

In this role you have the chance to train our coaches in your area of expertise, help our team with tasks from website design and project management to advocating for us and connecting us with others, or work on a variety of projects that help our BDC team maximize the impact we are working towards.

We would also love for you to advocate for us with groups and people within your spheres of influence.

Commitment and Expectations:

One-time meeting to advise our BDC team and share your expertise. “Train the trainers” in your area of knowledge (e.g., financial coaching). Provide background support in technical areas of expertise (such as web design, marketing, etc.).

Ideal for someone who may not have consistent availability but still wants to give back.

Mentor next steps

&

What we ask for:

The volunteer process:

Phone interview so we can get to know you better and start to create a best fit.
Complete ILAD’s mentor Time and Talent application
Pass reference and background check
Work through asynchronous online training that will:
- Familiarize you with who ILAD is
- The impact(s) this project is working towards and what our work is all about.
- Provide you with the necessary tools to engage with people from diverse cultures and languages.

We do ask that relationship mentors stay involved with the client you are paired with for a minimum of 6 months. This helps clients settle into their new life as a small business owner and ensures they have the support around them that will allow for the flourishing we are working towards. This also enables mentors to gain a better understanding of the lives of refugees, building bridges between communities.

However, the frequency of meetings is still very flexible.