For those currently serving on a nonprofit board of directors, or for those interested in learning more about board service, Board Member Essentials is an opportunity to better understand board service and expectations. The program is a six-part series and participants may sign up for one or all the six sessions. Facilitated by The Volunteer Center and lead by local nonprofit professionals, topics for the program include Basics of Board Service (101 and 102), Diversity and Inclusion on the Board, Fundraising, Understanding Legal and Basic Financial Requirements and Board Committees.

Board members are ideally an organization’s most engaged volunteers, and it is in the organization’s best interest to ensure their board members understand their role thoroughly. Likewise, board members want to be useful volunteers and support the organization as best they can. Experienced board members will be interested in how board service has changed post-pandemic, while those newer to board service will want to learn how their time on the board can be most effective. Each session is designed to be interactive and developmental.

When our current nonprofit partners were asked what support they needed most, nearly all responded that they needed opportunities for collaboration. The Volunteer Center is responding by creating Nonprofit Leadership Collabs designed to share programming ideas and other opportunities for collaboration. Facilitated by The Volunteer Center, nonprofit leaders including both staff and board members will meet to address the most pressing issues their organizations face. Working together and alongside other nonprofit colleagues, organizations will explore innovative solutions and consider how to navigate the post-pandemic nonprofit landscape in a safe and supportive environment.

The Collab will meet regularly over a four-month period to design a plan for building resilience in their organization through collaboration with other nonprofits. The Collab will reconvene to report on their progress and reflect on their continuing journey. Each organization should plan for at least 2 attendees and are encouraged to include at least one board member.

As an affiliate of The Points of Light Foundation, The Volunteer Center has access to training curriculum that has been tested and proven effective throughout its worldwide network. Volunteer Engagement Training helps nonprofits recruit, train and retain the volunteers it needs to fulfill their mission.

While volunteers can fill essential roles in a nonprofit organization, few organizations have paid volunteer management staff to oversee the utilization of volunteers. This can create a frustrating experience for the volunteer, resulting in disengagement, negative word-of-mouth for the organization, or even worse, lack of critical support for the organization.

The program contains six modules: Establishing the Framework, Planning for Volunteer Engagement, Opportunities and Outreach, Intake and Onboarding, Supervision and Support, and Evaluation. The six sessions take place over six weeks. Participants will receive a certificate of completion after successfully completing the training.