Board Shorts

The Governance Series is designed to strengthen the foundation of effective nonprofit leadership. Through five concise, discussion-based modules, board members will explore the essential elements of strong governance from understanding the organization’s purpose to planning for its future. Each 30-minute session blends short video content with guided conversation and practical takeaways that boards can apply immediately to improve performance, accountability, and alignment.

This series is ideal for both new and experienced board members, providing a shared framework for understanding roles, responsibilities, and the culture that drives a successful organization.

Included Modules

Module 1: Mission, Vision, and Values
Clarify the guiding principles that shape your organization’s direction. This session explores how mission, vision, and values work together to inform decision-making and ensure that every action aligns with purpose.

Module 2: Board Duties
Understand the legal, ethical, and practical responsibilities of board service. Learn about the “Three Duties” framework — Duty of Care, Loyalty, and Obedience — and how to apply them in real-world governance situations.

Module 3: Team Culture
Strong governance depends on strong relationships. This module focuses on communication, collaboration, and trust-building within the board. Participants will identify ways to create an inclusive and productive culture that supports shared leadership.

Module 4: Compliance
Explore the systems and structures that keep your organization accountable. This modle introduces 4 practical checklists and assessment tools for your organization.

Module 5: Succession Planning
Good governance includes preparing for the future. This session covers strategies for identifying and developing future leaders, ensuring continuity of mission, and managing transitions with intention and stability.

Learning Outcomes

By completing the Governance Series, boards will:

• Strengthen their understanding of core governance principles.
• Build a unified sense of purpose and direction.
• Improve accountability and compliance practices.
• Cultivate a culture of trust and shared leadership.
• Develop proactive approaches to leadership transition and sustainability.

The Modules

• Module 1: Mission, Vision, and Values Presentation
  • Module 1: Mission, Vision, and Values Lesson Plan
• Module 2: Board Duties Presentation
  • Module 2: Board Duties Lesson Plan
• Module 3: Team Culture Presentation
  • Module 3: Team Culture Lesson Plan
• Module 4: Compliance Presentation
  • Module 4: Compliance Lesson Plan
• Module 5: Succession Planning Presentation
  • Module 5: Succession Planning Lesson Plan

The Diversity Series invites nonprofit boards and leaders to deepen their understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and how these values shape organizational culture and effectiveness. Across five short, discussion-based modules, participants will explore both personal and organizational dimensions of diversity while building awareness, examining systems, and identifying actionable steps toward more inclusive leadership.

Designed for boards of all sizes and experience levels, this series helps teams move beyond statements of inclusion to meaningful, sustainable practice that reflects the communities they serve.

Included Modules

Module 1: Foundations
Establish a shared understanding of key concepts such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Explore why DEIB matters in nonprofit governance and how it connects to mission, community trust, and long-term impact.

Module 2: Intersectionality
Understand how people’s overlapping identities such as race, gender, sexuality, ability, and class shape their lived experiences. This module helps boards recognize how intersectionality influences participation, representation, and access within organizations.

Module 3: Bias and Privilege
Identify and unpack the conscious and unconscious biases that affect decision-making. Learn to recognize privilege not as blame, but as an opportunity to build awareness, empathy, and equity in board and community leadership.

Module 4: Representation and Communication
Examine how representation and language impact inclusion. Participants will explore how boards communicate internally and externally, ensuring that messaging, leadership, and visibility reflect genuine inclusion and respect.

Module 5: The Organization
Apply learning to the organizational level. Assess policies, practices, and culture to identify barriers to inclusion and develop action steps for creating a more equitable and welcoming nonprofit environment.

Learning Outcomes

By completing the Diversity Series, boards will:

• Develop a shared vocabulary and understanding of DEIB principles.
• Recognize and address bias, privilege, and inequity in governance.
• Strengthen inclusive communication and representation practices.
• Evaluate organizational systems through an equity lens.
• Commit to continuous learning and action that fosters belonging.

The Modules

• Module 1: Foundations Presentation
  • Module 1: Foundations Lesson Plan
• Module 2: Intersectionality Presentation
  • Module 2: Intersectionality Lesson Plan
• Module 3: Bias and Privilege Presentation
  • Module 3: Bias and Privilege  Lesson Plan
• Module 4: Representation and Communication Presentation
  • Module 4: Representation and Communication Lesson Plan
• Module 5: The Organization Presentation
  • Module 5: The Organization Lesson Plan

The Storytelling Series helps nonprofit leaders and board members harness the power of narrative to inspire action, build trust, and connect authentically with their communities. Through three focused modules, participants will learn how to communicate their organization’s purpose with clarity, craft compelling stories that resonate with audiences, and use proven frameworks to tell stories that move people to engage and give.

Whether you’re sharing your mission at a board meeting, speaking with donors, or posting on social media, this series equips your team with practical tools to make every message meaningful and memorable.

Included Modules

Module 1: The Golden Circle (Simon Sinek)
Discover the “Why, How, What” framework that has transformed leadership communication around the world. Learn how to center your organization’s “why”, its purpose and beliefs, to inspire others and differentiate your mission in meaningful ways.

Module 2: Compelling Stories
Explore what makes a story connect with an audience. This module focuses on emotion, authenticity, and structure, guiding participants to identify powerful stories within their organization that showcase impact and drive engagement.

Module 3: Story Frameworks
Learn practical models for structuring your stories from the classic hero’s journey to nonprofit-specific storytelling arcs. Participants will practice turning data, outcomes, and experiences into stories that are clear, credible, and compelling.

Learning Outcomes

By completing the Storytelling Series, boards will:

• Understand how to communicate purpose through “why-first” storytelling.
• Identify and shape stories that highlight impact and mission alignment.
• Apply story frameworks to improve donor, volunteer, and community engagement.
• Strengthen confidence in sharing personal and organizational stories that inspire action.

The Modules

• Module 1: The Golden Circle Presentation
  • Module 1: The Golden Circle Lesson Plan
• Module 2: Compelling Stories Presentation
  • Module 2: Compelling Stories Lesson Plan
• Module 3: Story Frameworks Presentation
  • Module 3: Story Frameworks Lesson Plan

The Strategic Planning Series guides nonprofit boards and leaders through the key steps of creating a clear, actionable roadmap for their organization’s future. Across six interactive modules, participants will explore the “why,” “who,” and “how” of effective planning, from defining mission and priorities to setting measurable goals and tracking results.

Each 30-minute session provides practical tools that help boards align vision with action and build plans that truly drive impact.

Included Modules

Module 1: Why — Mission and Strategic Priorities

Begin with purpose. Revisit your mission, clarify your vision, and identify the strategic priorities that will guide your organization’s direction and decision-making.

Module 2: Your Team, Type, and Timeframe

Define who will be involved in the planning process, what type of plan best fits your organization (foundational, growth, or renewal), and set a realistic timeline for development and implementation.

Module 3: SWOT Analysis

Assess where you stand. Use the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats framework to evaluate your internal and external environment, identify challenges, and uncover potential areas for growth.

Module 4: Goals and Objectives (SMART Goals)

Turn priorities into action. Learn to create clear, measurable, and achievable goals using the SMART framework — ensuring your strategic plan is both ambitious and practical.

Module 5: Measure It (KPIs)

Explore Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and metrics that help you track progress, assess effectiveness, and make data-driven adjustments along the way.

Module 6: Putting It All Together (Layout)

Bring it home. Learn how to organize your plan into a cohesive, easy-to-follow document or dashboard that communicates your strategy clearly to stakeholders, funders, and staff.

Learning Outcomes

By completing the Strategic Planning Series, boards will:

• Understand the core elements and purpose of strategic planning.
• Build alignment around mission, vision, and priorities.
• Apply SWOT analysis and SMART goal frameworks effectively.
• Identify meaningful KPIs for tracking progress and accountability.
• Create a professional, actionable plan ready for board approval and implementation.

The Modules

• Module 1: Why — Mission and Strategic Priorities Presentation

  • Module 1: Why — Mission and Strategic Priorities Lesson Plan

• Module 2: Your Team, Type, and Timeframe Presentation

  • Module 2: Your Team, Type, and Timeframe Lesson Plan

• Module 3: SWOT Analysis Presentation

  • Module 3: SWOT Analysis Lesson Plan

• Module 4: Goals and Objectives Presentation

  • Module 4: Developing Internships Lesson Plan

• Module 5: Measure It Presentation

  • Module 4: Measure It Lesson Plan

• Module 6: Putting It All Together Presentation

  • Module 4: Putting It All Together Lesson Plan

The Capacity Building Series helps nonprofit boards and leaders strengthen their organization’s effectiveness, sustainability, and impact. Through four focused modules, participants will explore frameworks and tools that enhance strategic thinking, improve organizational systems, and build the internal capacity needed to achieve long-term success.

Each session encourages boards to move beyond day-to-day operations and think holistically about the people, processes, and partnerships that make their mission possible.

Included Modules

Module 1: The Capacity Building Wheel
Gain a broad understanding of the core components that sustain a healthy nonprofit. Explore the Capacity Building Wheel as a tool for assessing strengths, identifying growth areas, and setting strategic priorities across leadership, programs, funding, and infrastructure.

Module 2: Logic Model
Learn how to connect mission, activities, and outcomes through a clear, visual framework. This module guides participants in developing a simple logic model that clarifies how resources lead to measurable impact, a valuable tool for planning, communication, and evaluation.

Module 3: Systems Thinking
Shift from a linear to a systems-based mindset. Understand how interconnected parts of an organization influence one another and how small changes in one area can produce large effects across the whole. Participants will explore ways to design smarter, more resilient systems.

Module 4: Developing Internships
Discover how to build meaningful, mutually beneficial internship programs that support both student learning and organizational goals. This session covers the basics of recruitment, supervision, and partnership development to turn internships into capacity-building opportunities.

Learning Outcomes

By completing the Capacity Building Series, boards will:

• Understand the key elements of organizational capacity and sustainability.
• Use tools like the Capacity Building Wheel and Logic Model for strategic planning.
• Apply systems thinking to strengthen internal processes and decision-making.
• Develop internship programs that expand impact and leadership pipelines.

The Modules

• Module 1: The Capacity Building Wheel Presentation
  • Module 1: The Capacity Building Wheel Lesson Plan
• Module 2: Logic Model Presentation
  • Module 2: Logic Model Lesson Plan
• Module 3: Systems Thinking Presentation
  • Module 3: Systems Thinking Lesson Plan
• Module 4: Developing Internships Presentation
  • Module 4: Developing Internships Lesson Plan