Designed specifically for Christian organizations, our content has been researched and developed by a team of experienced consultants and advisors assembled by the Murdock Trust.
Helping You Build Capacity and Sustainability #
Over the course of six months, the Board Leadership and Development Program will equip you to fulfill the unique mission of your nonprofit Christian organization as you:
- Build the capacity of your board
- Identify the strategic next steps and benchmarks needed to create a sustainable future
- Inspire both current and future board members to become more effective and God-honoring
- Gain institutional knowledge through surveys, assessments, resource readings, and interactive faculty presentations
Customized Coaching #
Once registered, each organization will be assigned a coach who will provide 16 hours of guidance, mentoring, and hands-on support. For the 2021 cohort, coaching will be held virtually.
Often coaching is done over one longer retreat day with the executive director and board, as well as shorter calls. Based on your specific needs and the “strategic next steps” your organization identifies, your assigned coach will suggest how you might allocate your 16 hours of customized coaching over the program’s five phases:
- Phase 1: Pre-reading, baseline surveys and webinar briefing (prior to Session One)
- Phase 2: Session One (via Zoom February 9-10, 9am-3pm)
- Phase 3: Enrichment Assignments
- Phase 4: Session Two (via Zoom March 16-17, 9am-3pm)
- Phase 5: Completion of Strategic Next Steps (with coach accountability)
Practical and Focused #
The Board Leadership and Development Program will address the most strategic issues, challenges, and opportunities of board leadership.
“The board-CEO relationship is the soul of the Christ-centered organization. It connects leaders to followers, communicates vision and mission to the body, and sets the tone for the organization.”
- Understand God’s heart and purpose for nonprofit ministry boards
- Clarify the board’s role and the CEO’s role—eliminate fuzzy responsibilities
- Become a board increasingly characterized by spiritually discerned decisions
- Embrace and implement a policy governance model that fits your board’s DNA
- Leverage the four phases of board development: cultivation, recruitment, orientation, engagement
- Balance board roles (the three hats): governance, participant, volunteer
- Identify appropriate committee structures—and how to fix dysfunctional committees
- Maximize the most critical relationship: the board chair and the CEO
- Set the engagement bar high and foster a culture of continuous learning
- Align your mission, vision, values with measurable results and S.M.A.R.T. goals
Participation Requirements #
To participate, your organization must commit to the following:
A minimum of three and a maximum of four participants must attend each session. The executive director/CEO and the board chair/future board chair, as well as one other board member must participate.
- Participants from each organization must attend both sessions and be available for sessions with your coach on mutually agreed-upon dates.
- Participants must complete all readings and assignments before, during, and after the sessions.
- Participants will be expected to complete three surveys related to the program. The first survey will be conducted prior to the first session in February, the second will be completed immediately after the second session in March, and the third will be completed one year later (March).
- A program fee of $1,200 per organization is due upon registration which covers all session materials, two training sessions, and customized coaching.
If you need additional information or have questions, please contact us at boardleadership@murdocktrust.org or 360-694-8415.