The governance training platform for DiverseCity onBoard has been developed for adult learners by experts in governance. Here is a brief overview of the seven modules. These will be updated and enhanced on a regular basis.

View the DiverseCity onBoard Governance Program Overview.

Board Essentials

• The context of the not-for-profit sector
• Board life cycles, models and best practices
• Board roles and responsibilities
• Board meeting process and member participation
• Tools and resources to support learners in their board position

Legal Roles & Responsibilities

• The legal obligations and issues of being a board member
• The rights and powers of a board of directors and individual board members
• Board composition
• The legal considerations and liabilities of board members
• Understanding insurance

Finance Fundamentals

• The role of boards, organizations, and board members in relation to finance
• Finance related roles and committees
• Budget planning and analysis
• Interpretation of financial statements and budgets
• How to assess the financial health of the organization

Commitment to Diversity

• Foundational understanding of the importance of diversity on boards
• The dimensions of diversity and inclusion
• The business case for diversity
• Board member roles in promoting diversity
• Understanding of cultural competence, tokenism, generalization, minimization, and the culture of a board

Risk Management

• Understanding risk
• The role of the board in managing risk
• Enterprise Risk Management
• Structures and processes for managing risk
• Risk classification and tolerance

Strategic Planning

• Understanding and developing an organization’s purpose and impact
• A strategic planning process and the tools to develop a strategic plan
• Methods for implementing the strategic plan
• Roles of the board and the executives in developing and implement the plan

Resource Development

• Context and challenges of resource development
• Key principles and concepts of effective resource development
• Success through a planning process
• Role of the board to support and enhance resource development

In addition, as a client of DiverseCity onBoard, you will have access to regular online events, such as webinars. We will often ask a governance expert to host a discussion on particular issues as they arise.

As well, your local DiverseCity onBoard organization will host regular in-person events, panels, and networking gatherings. These are essential to attend in order to round out your governance profile and develop further personal and professional governance connections.