Board & Governance Lab

This Board & Governance Lab is for a cohort made up of Nonprofit Executive Directors and their Board Chair/Board Members. All participants are expected to attend all sessions. 

This initiative will combine governance education with the practical tools needed to help boards lead through complexity, change, and growth.

Overarching learning objectives for this program include:

1. Gain a clear understanding of the legal roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members.
2. Explore the fiduciary, strategic, and generative modes of governance
3. Examine components for nurturing a healthy partnership between the board, chief
executive, and community, and factors that influence these relationships
4. Identify emerging trends and effective practices that strengthen meetings,
organizational resilience, leadership during periods of uncertainty and rapid change
5. Improve/develop governance practices for succession, transitions, and board renewal

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

Session 1: The New Fundamentals of Nonprofit Governance: Building a Foundation for
High-Impact Leadership 

October 8, 2026 - In-person (Birmingham) from 9:00-3:30
Topics

Vernetta Walker presents:
• The changing governance landscape: Why governance matters more than ever
• The board's roles and responsibilities
• Fiduciary and legal duties
• Governance as a competitive advantage

Nancy Rieves presents:

Often said, “Our board needs to help more with fundraising.” But a more useful question is: “What do you actually want them to DO?”

This practical session will help nonprofit CEOs and Board Chairs answer that question by clarifying expectations, creating a stronger culture of engagement, and identifying meaningful ways for every board member to contribute. Participants will leave with practical strategies for equipping board members, increasing participation, and building a stronger CEO–Board Chair partnership around fundraising.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

1. Clarify the board’s fundraising role and how board and staff work together to build relationships and grow resources
2. Recognize fundraising as relationship building, not simply asking for money.
3. Identify specific, practical ways board members can contribute to fundraising beyond making the ask.
4. Strengthen the CEO–Board Chair partnership in setting expectations, engaging board members, and creating a culture that supports fundraising.
5. Create a Board Fundraising Action Plan for increasing board fundraising engagement within their own organization.

Session 2: What High-Performing Boards Do Differently - October 22, 2026 - Virtual - from 9:00-11:00
Topics
• Characteristics of high-performing boards
• Building an effective board-CEO partnership
• Strategic thinking versus operational thinking
• Creating a culture of inquiry, candor, and constructive challenge

Session 3: Board Engagement and Accountability - November 5, 2026 - Virtual - from 9:00-11:00
Topics
• Board member recruitment, onboarding, and continuous development
• What meaningful engagement looks like
• Expectations, performance, and accountability
• Evaluating board effectiveness

Session 4: Meetings That Matter - November 19, 2026 - Virtual - from 9:00-11:00
Topics
• Agenda architecture
• Consent agendas and board dashboards
• Generative, strategic, and fiduciary discussions
• Using committees effectively

Session 5: Sustaining Leadership Through Governance - December 3, 2026 - Virtual - from 9:00-11:00
Topics
• Succession, renewal, and organizational resilience
• Leadership pipelines
• Term limits and board continuity
• Building governance resilience

Session 6 - Turning Governance Practice into Mission Impact! - December 10, 2026 - Virtual - from 9:00-11:00

• What to start, stop, continue, or redesign
• Governance priorities
• Action steps and measures of progress

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE LAB

• In‑person kickoff (6 hours)
• Five virtual deep‑dive sessions (2 hours each):

Total: 16 hours of expert-led training with nationally recognized facilitator Vernetta Walker, with guest presenter Nancy Rieves.

REGISTRATION FEES

Includes all training sessions, templates, tools, and cohort community access. Registration is 10% off when 2 or more are registered at the same time.

Members - $660

Non-members - $1,320 

This cohort is designed for leaders who want to strengthen their Board, support their boards and teams more effectively, and position their organizations for long‑term stability and impact.