The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Organizational Effectiveness (OE) Initiative is partnering with the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) and CompassPoint Nonprofit Services on a Board Governance series with support from JP Morgan Chase.
The Board Governance series is designed for board members, executive directors, and senior staff who are interested in deepening their understanding of nonprofit governance and better aligning the work of the board to heighten board engagement and maximize its impact. In addition to attending the in-person sessions—a blend of expert training and facilitation with peer-learning with other local nonprofit leaders—all participants will have access to CompassPoint’s board toolkit which includes a set of sample templates and tools to create your first board handbook or update your current one. The series covers the following topics:
- Part 1: Governance Fundamentals and Board Roles and Responsibilities;
- Part 2: Board Structures and Practices;
- Part 3: Board Recruitment and Succession Planning;
- Part 4: Financial Leadership for Board Members; and
- Part 5: Evaluating the Executive Director.
Click here for a description for each of these topics. Participants are encouraged to bring their bylaws, governance handbook, and recent board meeting agendas for reference during the series.
The series will include 5 half-day learning opportunities. Participants will select either the morning or afternoon session when registering. All participants will be required to attend Part 1: Governance Fundamentals and Board Roles and Responsibilities and Part 2: Board Structures and Practices. Registrants will have the option to choose a third session as an elective from the list above or attend all five sessions.
- Attend Parts 1 and 2 and choose one elective (3 sessions). Fee per team of up to 4 is $200
- Attend the full series (all 5 sessions). Fee per team of up to 4 is $275
Requirements of Participation:
Organizations teams consisting of the same 2-4 consistent participants which may include the executive director, other senior leader charged with governance, and a minimum of 2 board members are required to participate in the program. There may be an opportunity to add a board member for a specific session if space allows. Space in the series is limited and registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to register.
Program Dates (participants select either the am or pm session.)
January 26 Part 1: Governance Fundamentals and Board Roles and Responsibilities
9 am-12 pm or 1:30 pm-4:30 pm
March 14 Part 2: Board Structures and Practices
9 am-12 pm or 1:30 pm-4:30 pm
April 19 Board Recruitment and Succession Planning
9 am-12 pm or 1:30 pm-4:30 pm
May 10 Financial Leadership for Board Members
9 am-12 pm or 1:30 pm-4:30 pm
June 14 Evaluating the Executive Director
9 am-12 pm or 1:30 pm-4:30 pm
About the trainer: This workshop is being led by Marla Cornelius, MNA, Senior Project Director at CompassPoint Nonprofit Services. Marla developed and manages several of CompassPoint’s nonprofit management and leadership programs and research projects. She co-authored the national research report UnderDeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising (2013). She also led the development of the studies Ready to Lead? Next Generation Leaders Speak Out (2008) and Daring to Lead 2011: A National Study of Nonprofit Executive Leadership. Marla is one of the lead trainers for the Executive Director Intensive and Emerging Leaders program led by Organizational Effectiveness.
