Board Governance Fundamentals

57 Steps

Get a certificate by completing the program.

About

A practical, interactive course for nonprofit board members, chairs and chief executives. Six modules take you from where a board's authority comes from to fiduciary duties, meetings and minutes, Robert's Rules, financial oversight, and the board's role in strategy and leadership. Each module opens with a realistic boardroom scenario, uses short interactive activities instead of long reading, and ends with a self-audit of your own board and one concrete commitment. About two hours in total, self-paced. General education about US nonprofit governance, not legal advice.

You can also join this program via the mobile app. Go to the app

Price

$79.00

A foundation for effective service

Know your role. Make your contribution count.

Serving on a nonprofit board brings meaningful responsibility. This course helps you understand where board authority comes from, how governance differs from management, and what to look for when overseeing mission, finances, and risk.

01 / ROLE CLARITY

Govern with purpose

Distinguish the board’s oversight responsibilities from staff operations and understand how collective authority works.

02/ SOUND JUDGMENT

Ask informed questions

Apply the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience when preparing for meetings, addressing conflicts, and making decisions.

03/ RESPONSIBLE OVERSIGHT

See what needs attention

Understand core financial reports, recognize areas of risk, and connect accountability to the organization’s mission.

◷ Learn at your own pace ↗ Connect concepts to board decisions ✓ Check your understanding with quizzes

INSIDE THE COURSE

The essentials.

Made practical.

Explore five core topic areas that connect the foundations of governance to the decisions boards face.

01 Foundations of board governance

Board purpose and collective authority; sources of authority in law, bylaws, and policies; board and staff roles; oversight versus operations.

03 Accountability, records and risk

Accountability to stakeholders, meeting minutes and transparency, and the board’s role in overseeing organizational risk.

05 Strategy and performance

The board’s role in setting strategic direction, monitoring organizational performance, and strengthening its effectiveness through self-assessment and ongoing development.

02 Fiduciary duties in practice

The duties of care, loyalty, and obedience; informed preparation; conflicts of interest; and criteria for responsible board decisions.

04 Financial oversight

Statements of financial position and activities, cash flow, and budget-to-actual reports; questions to ask about revenue, expenses, and financial health.