By Kim O’Brien, executive director of Nonprofit Leadership Initiative

When the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative began as a program of the Community Foundation in early 2016, one of its first programs was created to provide in-depth training to nonprofit staff through the Leadership Institute curriculum. The year-long series of seminars is led by experts in their particular competencies and enhanced with peer-facilitated discussion group for new executive directors or those in the pipeline. The program blends online and in-person learning and focuses on leadership and skill-development topics.

Kim O’Brien

We are starting our 5th cohort in May 2020. Almost every graduate of the program has asked when their board is going to be able to gain this critical training.

From the beginning, we modeled much of our work from nonprofit resource centers around the country. We specifically looked at the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits as they are the entity providing our Nonprofit Next Fox Valley Resource. This resource offers tips, tools and templates to nonprofits in the Fox Valley Region as a hub of online nonprofit resources. Filled with tools, videos, templates and “how to guides,” NonprofitNext brings solutions to today’s problems.

Thus, when we decided it was time to launch a deeper dive into board training, we reached out to New Hampshire. They have been running a Board Academy-like program for the past 10 years called the Hoffman-Haas Fellowship. They provided us with a model for success for the program and we secured trainers from our current Leadership Institute to ensure alignment with curriculum.

We’re excited to offer the Board Academy in partnership with the Leadership Fox Cities Alumni Association. Please see the full schedule and details here.

This year’s program is designed for current or potential board members to engage, educate, prepare, and inspire them to meet the demand for 21st century nonprofit board leadership.

Register by March 13!

Program Basics

• 6-sessions with dinner provided
• Each session led by guest presenter/technical expert
• The program emphasizes BoardSource resources and The 10 Basic Roles & Responsibilities of a Nonprofit Board.

Questions can be directed to [email protected]. The deadline of March 13th is fast approaching so apply today!