Digital Resource Library
Participants who register for any session will receive one-year access to a digital library featuring 14 concise, 15-minute learning modules for easy viewing. The library also includes supplemental materials, such as templates, guides, and assessments to enhance your board meetings.
14 Learning Modules
Effective Board Chair
This lesson explores the key roles, qualities, and selection process for the board chair, who serves as a critical link between the board and the Executive Director while setting the tone for effective governance.
Legal Requirements of a Board
This lesson focuses on the legal responsibilities of nonprofit boards, ensuring compliance, maintaining tax-exempt status, and understanding the nuances of nonprofit governance.
Peer-to-Peer Engagement and Board Retention
This lesson focuses on fostering connection and camaraderie among board members to promote engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
NEW Board Member Recruitment
Focuses on understanding how to think about and implement a strong board member recruitment process to have the “right” board members for your organization, mission, and plans, including a discussion of why and how to recruit board members with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
NEW Board Orientation
This session offers insights into how to prepare your board candidates for success. From creating a centralized location for board members to access materials to consideration for what should be covered in your orientation, board leaders are invited to consider board orientation as more than a one-time event, but more of an ongoing process that prepares board members to engage on day one and beyond.
Development for Board Members
This lesson highlights the importance of engaging board members in the development process and outlines the many different ways that board members can contribute to development beyond “just asking for money,” empowering them to contribute effectively to the organization’s fundraising and strategic growth.
Running Effective Board Meetings
Focuses on what makes for a good board meeting, including the role of the board chair and the use of a flipped agenda to engage board members in more strategic discussions to enhance board engagement and move the organization forward.
Working Vs. Governing Boards
Explores the roles, benefits, and complexities of working and governing boards, along with strategies for transitioning between the two.
Governing Board Roles and Responsibilities
This lesson provides an in-depth look at the core responsibilities of a governing board, from setting strategic direction to ensuring resources and providing oversight, differentiating the roles of the board from the roles of the staff and the responsibilities that they share.
Effective Board/Staff Relations
Learn how to build trust and create productive relationships between board members and staff through effective communication, collaboration, and role clarity.
Leadership Roles in Change
Discover the leadership roles that board members and leadership staff play in guiding an organization through change, including identifying the need for change, setting expectations, fostering a learning culture, and ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
Decision-Making and Discussions
This lesson explores how to navigate healthy conflict within a board, fostering open dialogue and creating pathways for productive decision-making and innovation.
Telling your Organization’s Story
Learn the importance of storytelling for communicating your organization’s mission and purpose and the key aspects of creating your organization’s story to shape its identity and drive stakeholder engagement.
NEW: Board Committees
This video outlines the reasons to have board committees from both a board governance and board member engagement perspective. It lists the committees that every board should have as well as some others to consider and concludes with some tips for maximizing the effectiveness of your board committees.
Supplementary Documents
Mini Course 1 Reflection Questions
Types of Diversity Graphic
Board Member Orientation Checklist
Sample Nonprofit Board Application
Establishing a Board Buddy System
Sample Board Contract
Board Member Orientation Assessment Questions
Sample Board Matrix
Sample Board Profiles Questionnaire
Board Member Recruitment Assessment Questions
Board Engagement Helpful Tips
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for Professional Environments
Peer to Peer Engagement Assessment
Mini Course 2 Reflection Questions
Duty Of...Graphic
Working V Governing Board Quiz
Legal Reporting Requirements for Nonprofits
Establishing a 501c3
Legal Reporting Requirements Checklist for Nonprofits
Legal Requirements of Board Assessment
Communication Decision Matrix
Board Staff Relations Assessment
Committee Member Job Description
Sample Nonprofit Board Committee Charter Template
Suggested Board Committees and Roles
Board Roles and Responsibilities
Board and Staff Roles and Responsibilities Chart
Sample Board Evaluation Questions
Roles and Responsibilities Assessment
Mini Course 3 Reflection Questions
Effective Board Meeting Facilitation Tips
Board Chair Checklist
Flipped Agenda Outline
Robert’s Rules of Order
Effective Board Meeting Assessment
Board Chair Assessment Questions
Mini Course 4 Reflection Questions
Boards Role In Development
Development Cycle Graphic
Ways to Involve Board in Development
Development for Board Members Assessment
Storytelling Rubric
Storytelling Venn Diagram Graphic
Elevator Pitch Graphic
Telling your Organization’s Story Assessment
Mini Course 5 Reflection Questions
Checklist for Leaders to Effectively Identify and Manage Organizational Change
Leadership Role in Change Assessment
Stages of Healthy Disagreement
Tips for Effectively Navigating Disagreements
Self Assessment on False Harmony
Decision Making and Discussions Assessment
Mini Course 6 Reflection Questions