The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc (JLC) is once again hosting the Get On Board program. The five-session program provides training for JLC members and non-members to successfully serve on a nonprofit board of directors. Local experts will provide five interactive sessions focused on Board roles and responsibilities, strategic planning, impact evaluation, engagement, fiduciary responsibilities, and fundraising. Attendees will graduate with the knowledge and skills to confidently contribute to their community as a nonprofit board member. Get on Board participants will have the opportunity to meet with nonprofits in the community through a networking session at the end of the course that will provide an opportunity to seek out organizations hoping to add members to their boards.
The Get on Board training will help participants utilize their current skills and apply them to organizations that they work with currently or hope to work with in the future.
Below is an overview of what to expect from the five sessions. If interested in applying for the program, please visit this page.
Session 1: January 15, 2020
The first session, Board Roles and Responsibilities, – will explore the basics of being on a board and what that means to the community, the organization and to you. The class will discuss basic principles and terminology that will be carried into the other sessions. This session provides great information about how placement is determined on a board and is helpful for future leaders. Session 2: February 12, 2020
The second session, Strategic Planning & Community Impact and Evaluation, will dive into why planning for the organization matters and how it relates to the nonprofit business. Strategic evaluation and planning are constant factors when determining the direction and mission of the board of directors and the nonprofit overall. When the plan is in place, it’s important to consider the goal at hand and how to measure success, whether it is monetary, number of volunteers or number of community members affected by the organization. Community impact is important to measure not only to determine future goals of the board, but also to prove the effectiveness of the organization and the board to potential donors and future volunteers throughout the community.
Participants will also receive an overview of the current socioeconomic status of Charlotte, further outlining the importance of the current nonprofits and the work and successes throughout Charlotte. When asked about the training from last year a participant said, “I loved hearing the non-profit landscape in Charlotte. The information regarding strategic planning was highly informative and dynamic.”
Session 3: March 11, 2020
In session three, Financial Policies and Fiduciary Duties of Nonprofits, the class will dive into the exciting role of finances! Finances might not be everyone’s area of expertise, but it is important for all board members to have a basic understanding of the financial information provided at board meetings to help make educated decisions about the future of the organization. Participants will learn that board members do not have to be a CPA, accountant, or CFO to offer financial advice or participate on a finance committee on a board.
Session 4: April 8, 2020
The next informational session, Fighting the Fundraising Fear, gets into one of the biggest areas for all nonprofits-fundraising! Not everyone is comfortable walking up to someone and asking for funds to support their organization. This session will walk through the steps to become a successful fundraiser for an organization. It is all about selling passion for the organization and its mission and showing the individual or company why their dollars should go to your organization. Participants will hear ways to appropriately and efficiently fundraise by providing steps to improve development plans and increase confidence when it comes time to make the big ask.
A participant from last year stated, “I’ve always thought of people good at fundraising as more cut-throat and not very relatable, but the training showed that you can be personable and strong without coming across as money hungry. So inspirational!”
Session 5: May 13, 2020
In the final session together, participants are encouraged to dust off resumes and bring their authentic self to network with Charlotte nonprofits and tell them why they would be a good fit for a board!
Get on Board will be held at the Junior League of Charlotte Building located at 1332 Maryland Avenue, Charlotte, NC. The application is open until December 5; JLC members and local community members are all encouraged to apply! Nonprofits interested in participating in the final networking session on May 13, 2020, should contact the Chair for Get On Board, Kelsey Ellender at kelsey.ellender@gmail.com.
