Board Development Program

The Board Development program is designed to enhance the governance and leadership skills of those serving nonprofit organizations. Our workshops will:

• Educate members of nonprofit boards about their roles and responsibilities
• Encourage more people to serve on boards
• Give board members and staff tools to help their organizations become more effective and sustainable

The Board Development program is sponsored by Fidelity Investments and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

Smoother sailing through board member changes

Presenter: Gayle Gifford, ACFRE
Date: February 9, 4:00-7:00 p.m. 
Cost: $25.00

Join your colleagues to explore the complex world of board transitions. Using a case format, this workshop will examine the turbulent waters of board tenure, including term limits, leadership development, succession planning, continuity of culture and relationships, institutional knowledge, satisfying send offs, and safe harbors for long-term members. Throughout the workshop we'll ask the question: How can the board's role in advancing your organization's social impact transcend during these transitions?

Target audience: Board members
Register for smoother sailing through board member changes.

The next generation of board leaders: how to reach them, teach them, learn from them, and leverage their energy and talent

Presenter: MJ Kaplan
Date: May 9, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Cost: $25.00

Nonprofits’ success demands active succession planning and that includes boards. For many boards, engaging younger community members seems complicated. In this forum, we will explore creative approaches to address these challenges.

Learning objectives:

•  Identify younger community leaders who meet board and organizational needs
• Cultivate these candidates
• On-board new board members to capitalize on their talent and different ways of working

Register for the next generation of board leaders
Target audience: board members

Boards 201: How to keep your nonprofit legally sound and scandal-free

Presenter: Frank Monti, CPA
Date: September 13, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Cost: $25.00

There are many ways that board members are accountable for their nonprofit organizations’ success. When it comes to accounting and compliance, boards must be familiar with the basic procedures related to both. Join Frank Monti, CPA, as he provides a board-tailored overview on audits, the IRS form 990, payroll, e-filing, external reporting and disclosure, and other relevant issues. He also will spend time on using the year-end financial statement as a public relations document. Throughout the workshop, we’ll keep asking the question, “What is my role as a board member and what do I need to know to support the executive director in his/her role with this?”

Register for boards 201.
Target audience: board members and executive directors

Boards 101

Presenter: Frank Monti, CPA
October 24, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Cost: $25.00; free for young professionals who attend an Energizing the Sector event

In this program, Frank Monti provides an overview of the basic roles of boards, with particular emphasis on legal and fiduciary responsibilities for brand new board members. If board governance is a new role for you, come learn about the policies and practices you can utilize to ensure the legal and fiscal health of the organization.

Register for boards 101.
Target audience: new board members