Board & Governance Lab
United Way of Central Alabama
3600 8th Avenue SouthAlice Williams Building - Room 206
Birmingham, AL 35222
United States
Event Details
This Board & Governance Lab is for a cohort made up of Nonprofit Executive Directors and their Board Presidents/Board Chair. 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 1: The New Fundamentals of Nonprofit Governance: Building a Foundation for
High-Impact Leadership - October 8, 2026 - In-person (Birmingham)
Topics
• 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
• Fundraising activities for boards
Session 2: What High-Performing Boards Do Differently - October 22, 2026 - Virtual
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
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
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
Topics
• Succession, renewal, and organizational resilience
• Leadership pipelines
• Term limits and board continuity
• Building governance resilience
Session 6 - Open Discussion/Q&A w/ Vernetta Walker - December 10, 2026 - Virtual
What’s Included in the Lab
- In‑person kickoff (6 hours): Foundations of financial leadership, reading and interpreting statements, understanding cash vs. accrual, and analyzing key ratios.
- Three virtual deep‑dive sessions (2 hours each):
- True program cost and cost allocation
- Inclusive and strategic budgeting
- Scenario planning and navigating uncertainty
- One virtual office‑hours session (2 hours):
Real‑time group advising, peer discussion, and applied support.
Total: 14 hours of expert-led training with nationally recognized facilitator Vernetta Walker.
Registration Fees
Includes all training sessions, templates, tools, and cohort community access.
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.
For More Information:
About Your Trainer: Vernetta Walker, JD
Vernetta Walker & Associates Consulting, Inc.
Vernetta Walker is CEO and Chief Governance Gladiator of Vernetta Walker & Associates Consulting, a national advisory firm focused on strengthening nonprofit boards, CEOs, and leadership teams in complex, high-stakes environments. A former Chief Governance Officer and Vice President of Programs at BoardSource, Vernetta brings more than 20 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations govern with clarity, courage, and accountability.
Vernetta has advised hundreds of public charities, associations, and foundations across the United States and globally. Her clients include Easterseals, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, YMCA of the USA, the National Aquarium, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, and the Walt Disney Company.
Known for her practical, candid approach, Vernetta works at the intersection of governance, strategy, and leadership—helping boards move beyond compliance to become engaged, effective partners in mission impact. In addition to consulting and executive coaching, she is a sought-after speaker and facilitator on nonprofit governance, board–CEO partnership, and navigating polarized, resource-constrained environments.
Earlier in her career, Vernetta practiced law before serving as Director of Administration of Justice Grants at the Florida Bar Foundation. She later held senior legal and policy roles with the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations—creators of the Standards of Excellence for Nonprofit Organizations—and the Alliance for Justice. She also taught Nonprofit Governance at Columbia University.