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Nonprofit Board Member Basics
An online course for nonprofit board members. The expert content you need, in a flexible format you want.
Course Features
Enroll yourself or your entire board into the Nonprofit Board Member Basics online course and get a year of access to the interactive, work-at-your-own-pace modules. For the board experience, flat-rate pricing includes every board member and every staff member charged with working with the board.
10 Modules, 15 Minutes Each
Each module includes instruction and interactive guided reflection in an immersive and intuitive online learning environment.
Suitable for Group or Individual Learning
The course can be completed individually from home or together at board meetings or at a board retreat.
Become a “Certified Effective Board”
Upon course completion, your board can request review for this designation from the Nonprofit Help Center.
Robust Resource Library
Recommended resources are also included to support additional learning and exploration.
Topics Covered Include:
Duties & Expectations
of Board Members
Board Member Duties
We begin with the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience, and introduce mission creep, conflicts of interest, charity of choice, public trust, and nonprofit ethics.
Setting Expectations
We look at how board member job descriptions build participation, ambassadorship, learning, and fundraising engagement, and consider the 5 “T”s, bylaws, term limits, and quorum.
Nonprofit Governance vs. Nonprofit Management
We highlight where collaboration, communication, and boundaries can exist between the differentiated roles of board members and professional staff.
Fulfilling
Board
Duties
Bringing the Mission to Life: Vision, Values, and Strategic Planning
We introduce how the strategic plan breathes life into the nonprofit’s mission, vision, and values. We explore social impact, theory of change, community-based evidence, and acccountability.
Executive Director Relationships
We look at the four phases of the executive-board interaction (hiring, evaluating, building relationships, succession planning), plus looks at accountability manifestos, strengths emphasis, and capacity assessment.
Nonprofit Board Member Engagement
Through the lens of building a positive board culture, we look at what an effective board meeting and retreat includes. We define participation, engagement, attendance, and involvement.
Today’s Nonprofit Leadership Landscape
Diversity in the Nonprofit Board Room
We detail the benefits of diversity in the nonprofit’s leadership structure and offer several ideas for creating a more inclusive board space with the goal of generating belonging across the board.
Constructive Conflict & Change Management
Three change models are presented, as well as pro tips on how to manage and navigate resistance as well as differentiating between positions and interests to foster healthy conflict.
Leadership Styles for Nonprofit Board Members
We look at how leadership styles can build and maintain a culture that embraces all voices and allows space for concerns. Five leadership styles are described, and the components of adaptive leadership are detailed.
Enroll Today
Individual enrollments are $150, while full board enrollments are just $1,000.
Are you ready to take your learning one step further?
You'll gain immediate access to 9 courses that will walk you through what skills are needed to lead and succeed around this area, what it looks like when done effectively, how to lead efforts that embrace best practices around Board Fundraising, how to set goals for yourself and your team to improve in this area, and finding the motivation to put all of your learning into practice.
About the Creators
Dr. Emilie Socash
Founder of the Nonprofit Help Center
After working in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years, I knew that I wanted to do more to support the amazing people who power our communities. My career has included launching a nonprofit theatre company, building a $50m community foundation, leading a community center capital campaign, and revitalizing the community perception of a struggling nonprofit. While each of these roles were exciting (and challenging!), I saw first-hand how limited budgets too often led to limited access to the resources that could really help every staff and board member develop their fullest capacity...and make their fullest impact.
Elle Benson
Founder of Nonprofit Leadership
Elle Benson is a renowned national consultant who specializes in helping organizations transition to greater impact and build capacity. She founded Nonprofit Leadership LLC to support the social sector. With a remarkable career in the nonprofit sector, she has gained extensive expertise in various areas, including organizational development and change, executive transition consultancy, strategic planning, leadership development, and board governance. Academically, Benson holds an MBA in organizational change and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. She has obtained certifications in BoardSource and Group Facilitation to support nonprofit board of directors.
Benson's TEDx talk has catapulted her into the spotlight as a highly sought-after keynote speaker. She is the author of two books that focus on mindfulness and happiness. Her publications, "Cultivate Your Happiness: Mama-to-Be" and "Cultivating Calmness in Children," provide practical strategies and insights making happiness obtainable daily.
What else can the Nonprofit Help Center do for you?
Leverage the power of the Impact Capacity Assessment Tool.
Activate every team member through our immersive, Merit® Nonprofit Professional Development online microlearning platform