Boards That Know Their Role, and Play It Well
Interactive training sessions that meet your board where they are and move them forward.
Strong boards don't just meet. They learn, adapt, and grow together.
Most board struggles aren't about bad people. They're about unclear roles. A board that doesn't know where its authority starts and ends will either overreach into daily operations or disengage entirely. Neither serves your mission. Our interactive training sessions address common governance challenges with expert guidance grounded in your board's actual context and experience, so every session speaks directly to where you are.
Training Sessions Available
Each session is 1.5 to 3 hours and interactive: expert input blended with discussion, case studies, and takeaways your board can act on right away.
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Nonprofit board basics for new and seasoned members.
(1.5 hours)
The legal duties every board member should know (care, loyalty, obedience)
Where the board's job ends and staff's begins
How to honestly assess whether your board is pulling its weight
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Go deeper into how your board actually functions.
(1 - 1.5 hours)
Review of legal duties
Evaluating who's on your board now and who you need next
Whether your committee structure still makes sense
Building shared agreements for how your board will operate going forward
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Figure out where your board stands and where it needs to go.
(2 hours)
How to conduct a meaningful board self-assessment (not just a checkbox exercise)
Turning assessment results into a development plan that drives real improvement
Setting term limits that work and building a succession pipeline for long-term board health
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Protect your board's independence and your organization's integrity.
(2 hours)
How to identify, manage, and document conflicts of interest before they become problems
Building a culture of accountability through clear ethics policies and whistleblower protections
What transparency actually looks like in nonprofit board practice
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Make your board reflect and serve your community.
(2 hours)
Intentional board recruitment strategies that go beyond "who do we already know"
Creating an inclusive board culture where diverse voices shape decisions
Equitable access to leadership opportunities within the board
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Get the most important relationship in your organization right.
(3 hours)
Best practices for hiring, evaluating, and compensating your chief executive
Building a board-CEO partnership grounded in trust, clear communication, and balanced oversight
Knowing when to support and when to step in
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The fiduciary stuff your board can't afford to wing.
(3 hours)
How to read financial statements and actually understand what they're telling you
Budget oversight: what the board's role is (and isn't)
Identifying organizational risks across insurance, liability, emergency preparedness, and data security
Putting protection strategies in place before something goes wrong
What’s Included
Every training session includes a 30-minute pre-session consultation to understand your board's priorities and context, the interactive session itself (in-person or virtual), participant handouts, a post-session summary with key takeaways, and room for up to 12 participants.
Who This Is For
Boards onboarding new members, boards resetting expectations after a rocky stretch, boards navigating an executive director transition, and boards that are functioning fine but want to get sharper before they grow. Sessions can be booked individually or as a customized series for your full board, executive committee, or relevant committee.
Investment
Popular
$2,000
1.5-hour sessions
Governance Fundamentals 101
Governance Fundamentals 102
$2,875
2-hour sessions
Board Development: Assessment & Evaluation
Ethical Governance
Inclusive Governance
$3,750
3-hour sessions
Board-Chief Executive Relations
Financial Oversight & Risk Management
Discounts & Add-Ons
Small non-profit organizations (annual budget under $250K) discount: 15%
Multi-session discount: 10% for 3 sessions, 15% for 5 sessions or more
Inquire about returning client discount
Optional add-on deliverables (priced separately):
Customized policy templates ($350 to $500 each)
Assessment tools and evaluation frameworks ($1,000+)
Action planning worksheets ($400 to $600)
Board member job descriptions or role clarity matrices ($350 to $500)
Committee charters or governance document templates ($450 to $650)
Sessions are delivered virtually or in-person anywhere in Michigan. Travel and lodging are billed separately for in-person sessions more than 30 miles from Kalamazoo, MI. Clients cover direct hosting costs (space, refreshments, printing) for in-person delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does board governance training cover?
Six areas: governance fundamentals, board development, ethical governance, inclusive governance, board-chief executive relations, and fiduciary oversight. We tailor each session to where your board is right now, whether you're onboarding new members, resetting expectations, or strengthening an already-strong board.
Reach out to discuss this option.
How much does board governance training cost?
Prices range from $2,000-$3,750 depending on session length ($1,700-$3120 for small nonprofits with budgets under $250,000). Multi-session and returning client discounts available.
Contact us to discuss your organizations specific needs.
Is this a single workshop or an ongoing series?
Both are available. Some boards need one focused session to reset. Others book a series across several governance areas, often with multi-session pricing built in.
Schedule a consultation to talk about what approach would best fir your boards needs.