Board Governance Series: Building Impactful and Inclusive Boards

The Board Governance Series is for teams of board members, executive directors, and senior staff interested in deepening their understanding of nonprofit governance; strengthening their diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in governance; increasing board engagement; and maximizing their board’s impact.

The series is divided into five sessions on critical governance topics, including:

• the role of the board and board member responsibilities;
• governance versus organizational management;
• board structures and decision-making practices;
• financial leadership; and
• board composition, recruitment, and succession planning.

Click here for the full session descriptions. Each session is designed to be interactive with opportunities to reflect on your board’s experiences and to plan specific action steps for your board.

Participation Requirements

This program requires organizational teams of 3-4 participants to attend sessions consistently. Teams should include a minimum of 2 board members, the executive director, and other senior leaders charged with governance. Individual board members not registered for the program may attend a particular session due to interest in the topic. For example, the Board Treasurer might attend the workshop on finance, but not participate in the other sessions.

Materials

Before each session, participants will be able to access the self-study packet via an online folder. The packet will include an overview of the session, exercises, and resources in their toolkit. During the sessions, participants will dive into the self-study packet with peer groups, share insights and ideas, and action plan. After the series concludes, participants will have access to the series materials for two years.

Cost

The fee for the series is $450 per organization. However, we never want funding to prevent participation. We have a small pool of funds available for partial scholarships for qualified participants. Please email Devon Turner at devon@gnof.org for information.

Schedule

This series will be offered over five (5) evening sessions. Below are the session dates:   

• Tuesday, February 27, 2024 – 5pm to 8pm (in-person kickoff session)* 
• Tuesday, March 19, 2024 – 5:30pm to 7:30pm (virtual session) 
• Tuesday, April 9, 2024 – 5:30pm to 7:30pm (virtual session) 
• Tuesday, April 30, 2024 – 5:30pm to 7:30pm (virtual session) 
• Thursday, May 23, 2024 – 5:30pm to 7:30pm (in-person closing session) 

Please Note: The kickoff and closing sessions will be held in-person at the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Only the kickoff sessions will be three (3) hours instead of two (2) hours long. 

Click here to register for the Board Governance Series. Space is limited, and registration will be accepted on a first come first serve basis until the cohorts are full. Attendance at all of the sessions and full participation in the program is required. It is expected that participants will calendar the sessions at the time of registration. Payment is due at the time of registration. If you have any questions, please reach out to Devon Turner at devon@gnof.org.

Meet the trainer: 

Marla Cornelius, MNA

Consultant: Nonprofit Leadership, Management, and Board Governance
Marla Cornelius has partnered with the Greater New Orleans Foundation for several years as the lead trainer for our popular Board Governance Series and several of our governance and leadership programs. Her deep understanding of nonprofits and governance, the challenges facing leaders, and the way that power manifests in organizations enables her to create environments where clients can explore new realities, learn new approaches, and achieve their goals.