Board Governance Essentials for Nonprofits is a specialized course focused on equipping students with essential knowledge and skills to effectively lead and govern Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs). This course explores the fundamentals of board governance, strategies for building strong foundations, effective risk management practices, and board succession planning.
Course Objectives:
- To develop an understanding of Board Governance principles, roles, responsibilities, and ethical considerations within NPOs.
- To explore strategies for Building Strong Foundations through effective board structure, composition, recruitment, orientation, and ongoing development.
- To implement Effective Risk Management practices to safeguard organizational assets, reputation, and mission.
- To develop Board Succession Planning Strategies to ensure continuity of leadership and sustainability of organizational impact.
Lessons:
1. Understanding Board Governance
- Roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards
- Legal and fiduciary duties
- Governance models and best practices
2. Building Strong Foundations: Board Structure and Development Strategies
- Board composition and diversity
- Recruitment, orientation, and training of board members
- Evaluating board performance and continuous improvement
3. Effective Risk Management
- Identifying and assessing organizational risks
- Developing risk management policies and procedures
- Crisis management and mitigation strategies
4. Board Succession Planning Strategies
- Importance of succession planning for board leadership
- Developing a succession plan and leadership pipeline
- Transition management and knowledge transfer
Evaluation:
This course is a graded course where a complete or incomplete grade will be issued. To receive a Completion of this course, a student must:
- Participate in online discussions.
- Complete lesson quizzes, reflections, or case studies.
Upcoming Sessions:
- May 1 - May 28, 2026 (must be completed within 4 weeks)
- October 1 - October 28, 2026 (must be completed within 4 weeks)
All the courses are delivered online and asynchronously to enable participants to complete the work in their own time.
How to Register:
Courses are competitively priced, and registrants may qualify for OSAP or the Canada Ontario Job Grant, which offers support for employers.
Register for Individual Courses
Program Fees:
The fee for the micro-credential is $375, and there are no additional fees for textbooks or materials.
Trent Alumni receive 10% off. Please email alumni@trentu.ca for more information.
Current Trent undergraduate students receive 50% off. Please email microcredential@trentu.ca for more information.
Current Trent staff and faculty receive 20% off. Please email microcredential@trentu.ca for more information.
NOTE: Only one discount code can be used per order
Prerequisites:
There are no formal prerequisites for this course, although a basic understanding of nonprofit organizations and governance concepts would be beneficial.
Conclusion:
Board Governance Essentials for Nonprofits prepares students to effectively lead and govern Nonprofit Organizations through comprehensive understanding and practical application of board governance principles, risk management, and succession planning strategies. By mastering these foundational elements, students will be equipped to foster organizational resilience, drive strategic excellence, and ensure sustainable impact in the nonprofit sector.