Target Audience
Our workshop series is intended for leaders who are interested in delivering operational excellence and establishing a collaborative partnership between board chair and executive director. Roles that should consider participating include:
- Board chairs
- Nonprofit board members
- Executive directors
- Executive leadership team
members
Format
The series consists of six (6) sessions and is delivered:
- in-person
- in monthly, two-hour sessions
We recommend the nonprofit’s board chair and executive director participate as a team.
Workshop Objectives
More than ever, nonprofit leaders are struggling to navigate the challenges of the current environment – where:
- needs are growing
- financial support is uncertain, and
- scrutiny of nonprofits’ work is intensifying.
Workshop Insights & Deliverables
Our Enlightened Governance workshop series provides leaders with practical, hands-on approaches for:
- adopting best practices to ensure their organization is highly-functioning and legally compliant
- productively engaging differences and disagreement to make better decisions for the nonprofit
- staying mission-focused in an environment of
- increasing polarization and unpredictability
achieving lasting progress through civility, rationality and consensus.
Contact Elena Giannetti on our team to learn more about how we can help.
Target Audience
Our workshop series is intended for leaders who are interested in delivering operational excellence and establishing a collaborative partnership between board chair and executive director. Roles that should consider participating include:
- Board chairs
- Nonprofit board members
- Executive directors
- Executive leadership team
members
Format
The series consists of six (6) sessions and is delivered:
- in-person
- in monthly, two-hour sessions
We recommend the nonprofit’s board chair and executive director participate as a team.
Session #4 – Governance vs. Management
Content Covered:
- Distinguishing between governance and management
- Framing the right questions for discussion and decision-making
Concepts and tools
- Three modes of governance
- fiduciary
- strategic
- generative
Deliverables
- Scenarios to gain practical understanding of the three modes of governance
Session #5 – The Chair & Executive Director
Content Covered:
- Partnership framework
- Mutual expectations and success metrics
Concepts and tools
- Separate and shared responsibilities
Deliverables
- Board Chair and Executive Director Performance
Evaluations - Annual governance plan
Session #6 – Bringing it All Together
Content Covered:
- Review of key fiduciary duties
- Mission and organizing documents
- Nonprofit Lifecycle (current stage and evolution)
- Strategic objectives
- Metrics and evaluation
Deliverables
- Establish “check-in” points to confirm governance structure is working as intended
- Create a plan for ongoing governance training
Session #1 – Laying the Foundation
Content Covered:
- Origins of the American nonprofit sector
- IRS guidelines
- Nonprofit boards’ 3 Fiduciary Duties
- Creating an “exploratory” rather than “confirmatory” culture
Concepts and tools
- Scientific Method “funnel” & rules
- Organized skepticism
Deliverables
- Code of conduct
- Tips and tricks for cultivating an “exploratory”
culture
Session #2 – The Board
Content Covered:
- 10 basic responsibilities of nonprofit boards
- Review role of officers, committees and individual board members
- Elements of a nonprofit’s organizing documents
Concepts and tools
- Source of Board Authority
Deliverables
- Board member job description
Session #3 – The Nonprofit Lifecycle
Content Covered:
- Nonprofit Lifecycle concept and stages
- Assessing the organization’s current stage
- Planning for the organization’s evolution and changing governance needs
Concepts and tools
- Lifecycle assessment
- Identifying critical next steps for evolution
Deliverables
- Board member recruitment and orientation
Click Here to download the PDF flyer.
Session #4 – Governance vs. Management
Content Covered:
- Distinguishing between governance and management
- Framing the right questions for discussion and decision-making
Concepts and tools
- Three modes of governance
- fiduciary
- strategic
- generative
Deliverables
- Scenarios to gain practical understanding of the three modes of governance
Session #5 – The Chair & Executive Director
Content Covered:
- Partnership framework
- Mutual expectations and success metrics
Concepts and tools
- Separate and shared responsibilities
Deliverables
- Board Chair and Executive Director Performance
Evaluations - Annual governance plan
Session #6 – Bringing it All Together
Content Covered:
- Review of key fiduciary duties
- Mission and organizing documents
- Nonprofit Lifecycle (current stage and evolution)
- Strategic objectives
- Metrics and evaluation
Deliverables
- Establish “check-in” points to confirm governance structure is working as intended
- Create a plan for ongoing governance training
