Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting

Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting (CNBC)

Certificate of Board ConsultingThis program for nonprofit consultants is designed to better meet the ongoing need for governance training among nonprofit organizations.

The Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting (CNBC) is designed primarily for nonprofit board consultants or nonprofit staff that work as internal consultants to nonprofit boards. The CNBC assumes attendees already understand the fundamentals of board governance and focuses on how consultants can train or consult with nonprofit boards around basic governance topics and Purpose-Driven Board Leadership.

The course facilitators and participants will discuss techniques that BoardSource has found most effective in working with boards while weaving in high-level nonprofit governance concepts, case studies, group work, and current nonprofit trends for a robust and fast-paced course. Participants are expected to engage in all sessions as part of a learning community and will receive a certificate of completion upon fulfilling this commitment. Please read the About the Course section below for more information about the course.

 

Registration for our new 2024 training is now open.* Please review the available training dates and click on the link below to review the training information and register.

JULY 2024

Training Dates: Tuesday, July 9th, 1:00 pm -5:00 pm ET, Wednesday, July 10th, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm ET, Thursday, July 11th, 10:30 am -5:30pm ET

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FALL 2024

Training Dates: Same curriculum with a new format. Training takes place through seven sessions on Mondays from 12:00 to 3:30 pm ET (except October 14th for Indigenous People’s Day) beginning on September 16th and continuing on September 23rd, September 30th, October 7th, October 21st, October 28th, and November 4th.

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*Registration for additional CNBC training for 2024 will be available soon. We will email the notification list when registration for these dates becomes available.

About This Course


 

2024 Fall Format FAQ

Q. What is your cancellation policy?

A. The Fall 2024 CNBC will follow the Virtual Training cancellation policy which can be found here.

Q. What if I know now that I will have to miss one of the sessions of the Fall CNBC? Should I still register for this course?

A. If you know you will miss one of the sessions, please register for another CNBC course, as we do not have another CNBC with the seven-session format planned for this year.

Q. What should I do if something comes up during one of the sessions and I have to miss part of the session?

A. We understand that as busy consultants there are occasional calls that can’t be missed. If it is a rare occurrence, you may work with another participant to catch up on missed information. As this is a collaborative learning experience, missing too much time, may result in you being asked to make up that portion of the course at a future CNBC before receiving your certificate or if it was a lot of time, you may not receive your certificate.

Q. What happens if I have a medical emergency or a bereavement situation that requires me to miss a session at the last minute?

A. We understand that exceptional circumstances happen and we will work with you to make up the session at a future CNBC course.

Q. Are there other CNBCs with the seven-session format planned?

A. Not at the moment. We are piloting this new format and depending on the success, we will decide whether to host another seven-session CNBC after the Fall CNBC has concluded.

Q. Will the Fall 2024 CNBC be recorded?

A. No, the CNBC will not be recorded. We want to encourage open sharing and vulnerability as we learn together.

Q. May I send a bot, if I cannot make part of a session?

A. No. Please do not send a bot, as it presents challenges for privacy, confidentiality, and openness in this collaborative learning environment.

Q. After I register for the CNBC, when will I receive the Zoom link and any pre-reading materials?

A. You will receive an email about a week before the first session that will include the Zoom link, pre-reading materials, and a form to share your bio with the rest of the class.

Q. Does taking the CNBC mean I will be a Certified Governance Consultant and have my name in the Consultant Directory?

A. No. They are two separate programs. However, you may indicate your interest in the CGC program by filling out this form.

Core Curriculum Covered in the Course

Instructors will not be doing a deep dive on these topics, but rather will share tools, strategies, and lessons learned about consulting on these topics.

●  Governance Today: Trends and Current Topics

●  Creating a Governance Legacy: Board Roles and Responsibilities

●  The Constructive Partnership between Board and Staff

●  Purpose Driven Board Leadership/Integrating Racial Equity into the Board Culture

●  Board Building Cycle

●  Structuring the High Performing Board: Meetings and Committees

●  Building a Culture of Philanthropy: The Board’s Role in Fundraising

●  Assessments: CEO and Board

●  Practices of Exceptional Boards

Other Topics and Activities Covered

●  Consultant Conversations: Creating a Proposal and Designing a Meeting

●  Strategy Cafe

●  Case Studies

●  Facilitation Considerations

Who is this course for?

This course is for you if:

  • You have a working knowledge of the basic tenets of nonprofit governance -if you don’t have a basic understanding of nonprofit governance, please first take our Certificate of Nonprofit Board Education
  • You are currently serving as a nonprofit board consultant and want to learn more about the trends, tools, and strategies for working with nonprofit boards
  • You are interested in beginning a career in nonprofit board consulting and bring experience as a nonprofit staff or board member
  • You work for a nonprofit federated organization, management support organization, or nonprofit state association and help other nonprofits with their board and governance needs.
What is this course like?
  • Led by senior governance consultants with extensive experience consulting with nonprofit boards
  • Includes a course portal filled with resources, tools, and handouts you can use with your clients
  • Format includes both large group discussions and small-group conversations and assignments in breakout rooms
  • Peer learning opportunities for sharing resources, lessons learned on building a consulting practice, and other governance training advice
What’s the difference between the CNBC and the CNBE?

The Certificate of Nonprofit Board Education(CNBE) is an online four-module, on-demand program that covers the fundamental nonprofit governance concepts every nonprofit leader should understand, including board structure and practices, the roles and responsibilities of board members, and financial and legal oversight. It also focuses on the identification, recruitment, and orientation of board members; the board-staff partnership; board meetings and the use of committees; the board’s fundraising role; board member motivation, responsibilities, and accountability. It features closed captioning, videos, and other elements that make for a more immersive learning experience.

The Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting (CNBC)  is a virtual, live training held over zoom and is designed primarily for nonprofit board consultants or nonprofit staff that work as internal consultants to nonprofit boards. Unlike the CNBE, the CNBC assumes attendees already understand the fundamentals of board governance. This training is focused on how consultants can train or consult with nonprofit boards around these basic governance topics. The course facilitator and participants will discuss techniques that BoardSource has found most effective in working with boards while weaving in high-level nonprofit governance concepts, case studies, group work, and current nonprofit trends for a robust and fast-paced three days.

What’s the difference between the CNBC and the CGC program?

The Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting (CNBC) is a three-day training that educates nonprofit board consultants on techniques and strategies for consulting with nonprofit boards. Upon completion of the CNBC, participants receive a digital certificate that they can share on their social media or with clients to identify that they completed this training. The CNBC course is separate from our Certified Governance Consultants Program and Directory. The Certified Governance Consultant program is designed to connect nonprofits with a diverse group of governance consultants with a variety of skills, lived experiences, and abilities that nonprofits need to improve their board governance. The Certified Governance Consultants have been vetted by BoardSource and are listed in a searchable directory of consultants. The program also includes training and networking opportunities for the CGCs as well as a community designed to support both the CGCs and BoardSource in serving the nonprofit sector’s governance needs. Taking this course does not automatically lead to your inclusion in this directory. Select individuals may be contacted upon completion of this course to gauge their interest in becoming a Certified Governance Consultant. If you are interested in becoming a CGC, please fill out this form to indicate interest.

Due to the high number of interested consultants, we cannot engage in this process with everyone interested. We are currently working to update this program to ensure that our pool of trainers and consultants is not just highly qualified but also diverse – in all manner of ways, including racially/ethnically, geographically, and in expertise and background.

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