Board Member Training: 6 Best Programs

1. NonprofitReady

NonrofitReady offers over 500 free courses related to nonprofit governance with no limit on the number of courses any individual can complete. One such course is Nonprofit Board Member Training. Their training features three programs they describe as “cornerstone foundations.” 

Here’s an overview of each program:

1. Board Member Essentials Certificate: NonprofitReady co-developed this certificate program with CNM (Center for Nonprofit Management) to cover the fundamental responsibilities of nonprofit board members. To earn the certificate, you have to complete three courses and pass a certificate exam. 
2. The Role of Board Members in Revenue Generation: This course focuses on the financial side of nonprofit governance, educating individuals on the nonprofit board’s role in raising funds and adding revenue.  
3. Be an Effective Board Member: An additional course teaching the basics of being an effective nonprofit board member. 

Many of the other NonprofitReady courses are also helpful in improving board member skills, particularly their courses focused on leadership training, mental health and wellness, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). 

2. Board Leadership Program

The Corporate Board Member (CBM) Network offers several options for board members to develop their skills and network with their peers. The program includes multiple online courses on the fundamentals of board governance, as well as half-day forums on AI oversight, managing a compensation committee, and director performance. 

3. NACD Directorship Certification

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Directorship Certification teaches board members how to move into the director role. The exam is split into two sections (a multiple-choice test and a written segment where you solve 10 case management problems) that take about 3 hours and 45 minutes to finish. Applicants are provided with a study guide and practice questions. 

Any active NACD member or a current director of a public, private, or nonprofit organization can apply for the certification. The exam costs $1,500 for NACD full board members and $3,000 for individual members. The exam can be bundled with a Virtual Director Professionalism online foundation course for $3,750 for full board members and $4,900 for individual members. Non-members must pay $5,335 for the exam, the course, and a NACD membership. 

4. Stanford Directors’ Consortium

In Stanford’s Directors’ Consortium, educators and students discuss relevant topics and cutting-edge practices to prepare executives for the modern intricacies in board participation. The curriculum focuses on finance, cybersecurity, director liability risk, and financial reporting. The program also doubles as credits toward NACD recertification. 

Stanford recommends the Directors’ Consortium to current members of public or private companies, people who have recently been invited to join a board, or board members of foreign corporations listed on the U.S. stock exchange. The in-person course runs October 14-18 and costs $16,000. 

5. UCLA Anderson School of Management

UCLA’s Anderson School of Management is one of the top business schools in the country. Throughout the four-day in-person program, faculty members teach the essential elements of board governance best practices and help students understand the internal and external impact of their work. The school also offers an optional certification program, which counts for 15 credits toward NACD Directorship certification and 23.5 MCLE credits toward the California State Bar. 

UCLA recommends its training program to directors of all experience levels and anyone who works closely with boards, such as a corporate secretary. It costs $8,500 for individuals. Group pricing is available upon request. 

6. University of Texas Dallas Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance

The Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance is a membership-based organization within The Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. The Institute extols the virtues of good governance for current and potential executives in public and private companies as well as nonprofits. 

Membership in the Institute, which costs $495, also provides access to breakfast programs where speakers discuss current trends, a member database, and roundtables that can be used for networking or receiving more direct feedback from peers. 

Executives looking to go the extra mile can apply for the Institute’s Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Governance program, which is available each spring and fall semester. The organization is currently developing a Cybersecurity Governance Certificate program.