The Grantee Support Program is a 12-month partnership that helps nonprofit boards and executives strengthen leadership and governance through BoardSource Membership, peer learning, workshops, and real-time guidance.
Designed for foundations, it offers meaningful support for grantees and a turnkey implementation experience for staff.
At BoardSource, we believe strong boards are the driving force behind organizational impact.
We’ve seen how strong leadership helps organizations navigate uncertainty, seize opportunities, and advance their missions, and how governance gaps can put even the most promising organizations at risk. Nonprofits are often the lifeline communities turn to for support, and as demands grow, boards carry increasing responsibility. In a moment defined by both challenge and possibility, effective board leadership has never mattered more.
Through our research and direct work with boards and chief executives, we see a clear picture of what nonprofits are navigating today:
What we’re seeing is not a lack of commitment, expertise, or vision. More often, organizations lack the governance infrastructure that supports effective decision-making, healthy board-executive partnership, and long-term thinking. Strong governance helps organizations move beyond reacting to challenges and creates the conditions for thoughtful decision-making, effective risk management, and long-term success.
This course should be a requirement for nonprofit CEOs, CFOs, and boards
The Grantee Support Program brings together nonprofit chief executives and board members from organizations across the country. Current participants include:
Many participating organizations have not historically been part of BoardSource’s orbit, including rural organizations and organizations navigating heightened pressures and limited governance support.
The Grantee Support Program helps organizations strengthen and apply governance practices in real time.
Through workshops, coaching, peer learning, and practical tools, participants build the skills, habits, and relationships that support effective leadership. Boards and executives strengthen shared accountability for leadership, fundraising, and strategy while developing the trust and alignment essential to effective governance.
This is not a one-time intervention. It’s an investment in the structures and practices that allow leadership to strengthen, adapt, and deliver over time.
The Grantee Support Program combines two complementary experiences designed to meet organizations where they are while providing opportunities for deeper engagement.
Available to all participating organizations
For up to 10 organizations
An annual investment of $40,000 provides access to the full Grantee Support Program, including BoardSource Membership for all participating organizations and the Governance Intensive for up to 10 organizations, regardless of the size of your grantee community.
The Governance Intensive follows a structured learning arc that helps boards and executives move from understanding governance concepts to applying them in practice.
Clarity → Shared Language → Accountability → Continuity
Throughout the year, participants engage in workshops, peer-learning sessions, governance coaching, and real-time support focused on role clarity, board-executive partnership, fundraising accountability, and effective decision-making.
The session sparked conversations about succession planning, board self-assessment, and board growth.
Foundations across the country are investing in stronger governance and leadership through the Grantee Support Program. Together, we’re helping nonprofit boards and chief executives build the capacity, confidence, and partnerships needed to lead their organizations into the future.
BoardSource manages implementation from start to finish, including onboarding, participant communications, facilitation, support, and overall program management.
Foundations also receive periodic, anonymized insights into the challenges and opportunities emerging across the cohort, helping foster deeper understanding and stronger partnerships with grantees while protecting participant confidentiality.
The result is meaningful capacity-building support for grantees with minimal lift for foundation staff.
BoardSource Membership provides year-round access to governance resources, research, templates, live and on-demand learning opportunities, Ask the Expert support, and the Certificate of Nonprofit Board Education.
The Governance Intensive includes all membership benefits plus a structured cohort experience designed to help participants strengthen governance practices and apply learning directly to their organization’s work. Intensive participants engage in facilitated learning sessions, peer exchange, personalized support, board engagement activities, and practical application between sessions.
BoardSource Membership is available to chief executives and board members at participating organizations.
Organizations selected for the Governance Intensive participate as a team consisting of the chief executive and up to two board members. Intensive participants receive all membership benefits in addition to the cohort-based learning experience.
The Grantee Support Program is a year-long experience. Onboarding begins in the fall, typically in October, and programming continues through September of the following year.
Participants leave with a stronger foundation for effective, purpose-driven governance and practical strategies they can apply immediately in their organizations.
Throughout the program, chief executives and board members build a shared understanding of governance roles, responsibilities, and practices; apply tools and frameworks to strengthen board structure, culture, and decision-making; and develop stronger habits of accountability and shared leadership.
Participants also gain a network of peers, practical governance resources, and greater confidence in their ability to navigate challenges and lead their organizations effectively.
There is no limit to the number of organizations that can receive a BoardSource Membership through the Grantee Support Program.
Up to 10 organizations may participate in each Governance Intensive cohort.
Foundations select participating organizations, but the Governance Intensive is generally designed for nonprofits that would benefit from focused governance support and board engagement.
Organizations that may be particularly strong candidates include those experiencing leadership transitions, frontline organizations navigating a rapidly changing environment, and nonprofits seeking to strengthen board leadership and governance practices.
BoardSource manages the onboarding process from start to finish. Participating organizations complete a brief intake and registration process and then receive access to membership benefits, program information, and orientation materials.
Organizations participating in the Governance Intensive receive additional information about the program calendar, kickoff session, and any pre-program learning activities. Foundations also receive communication resources to support participant engagement.
Foundations identify and invite participating organizations and determine which grantees will participate in the Governance Intensive. BoardSource provides an optional outreach template and a registration link, which foundations can use to introduce the opportunity to their grantees. Once participants register, BoardSource manages the onboarding process and all program communications, facilitation, and participant support.
At the start of the program, foundations are invited to participate in an optional kickoff call to welcome participants and provide context about their investment in governance capacity building.
Throughout the year, foundations receive periodic updates and aggregate insights about participation and engagement. Individual participant conversations and organizational information remain confidential.
No. BoardSource handles participant onboarding, communications, facilitation, learning delivery, participant support, and overall program management.
Foundation partners can remain as involved as they wish while relying on BoardSource to manage day-to-day implementation.
Time commitments vary based on a participant’s level of engagement.
Governance Intensive participants should anticipate approximately 20-25 hours of participation over the course of the year, including live learning sessions, learning pods, self-paced learning activities, and pre- and post-program surveys. Activities are intentionally designed to fit within the realities of nonprofit leadership schedules.
The Governance Intensive helps nonprofit leaders strengthen the knowledge, skills, and practices needed for effective, purpose-driven governance. Participants explore topics such as board roles and responsibilities, board culture and recruitment, fundraising, board-staff partnership, succession planning, and other relevant topics.
Rather than focusing on knowledge alone, the program emphasizes practical application. Participants use BoardSource tools and frameworks to assess their current governance practices, address real organizational challenges, and identify opportunities to strengthen governance over time.
Participants have access to a range of resources and support throughout the year. This includes Ask the Expert, which provides personalized guidance from BoardSource governance experts; the Certificate of Nonprofit Board Education (CNBE), an on-demand learning program for board members and executives; and The Exchange, BoardSource’s online member community, where participants can connect with peers, share challenges, and learn from one another.
Participants also receive ongoing access to BoardSource’s governance resources, tools, templates, and research, allowing them to continue learning and applying governance practices between live sessions.
Yes. New board members can access BoardSource Membership benefits at any point during the program year.
For organizations participating in the Governance Intensive, newly recruited board members may participate provided the organization remains within its maximum of three Intensive participants: the chief executive and up to two board members.
No. Foundations may choose to use fewer than 10 Governance Intensive spots based on the needs of their grantee portfolio and program goals.
No. The Governance Intensive is offered as part of the Grantee Support Program’s integrated support model. All Governance Intensive participants receive a BoardSource Membership, ensuring they have access to the resources, tools, and ongoing support that reinforce and sustain their learning throughout the year.
Yes. Participating foundations may receive access to BoardSource resources, Ask the Expert, and the BoardSource online community. This access is intended to complement the foundation’s participation in the Grantee Support Program and support learning alongside grantees.
Organizations participate through a foundation partner that offers the Grantee Support Program to its grantees. Nonprofit leaders interested in future opportunities are welcome to contact BoardSource to learn more about available pathways for engagement.