The Roles and Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards of Directors within the Governance Process from Coursera

This course provides a more in-depth look at the roles and responsibilities of boards of directors in the governance of nonprofit organizations. While the course has been developed with North American culture in mind, we do appreciate that in other parts of the world, the nature of the roles and responsibilities of boards of directors may not be the same. Nevertheless,it is our hope that much of the course content will still be of value to those in other parts of the world.

To learn more about this course, please watch the overview video by copying and pasting the following link into your web browser: https://goo.gl/SXZEZS.

Keywords: Nonprofit; Nonprofit Sector; Voluntary Sector; Nonprofit Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Volunteer Organizations, Leadership, Management, Governance, Board, Board of Directors, Performance, Effectiveness

Course 2 Overview:

Week 1: Some of the questions to be explored this week are: What is the board's role in planning for the organization's future and why is it important for nonprofit organizations to do it? What is strategic planning and what can boards do to carry this out effectively?

Week 2: This week's questions: What is the board's role in assessing the performance of the organization? Why is performance assessment important? Why do many boards have difficulty meeting their performance assessment responsibilities?

Week 3: This week's questions: What are the elements of the fundraising/resource development process? What is the board's role in ensuring the organization has adequate funding? What information should be in a resource development plan?

Week 4: At this stage, you are asked to review the course content, submit a written assignment (known lightheartedly as a BEAR (Board Effectiveness Readiness Assessment), and take two multiple choice Readiness Assurance Tests (known similarly as RATs). One RAT will assess knowledge and reading comprehension and the other will test application of knowledge within a practical case.

Week 5: We will encourage you to discuss the RATs in the discussion forums and take them again should you wish to change any of your answers based on the information exchanged.

What's inside

Syllabus

The Board's Role in Planning

Hello and welcome to Course 2 in the series of three courses on developing leadership and improving governance in nonprofit organizations. The goal of week 1 is to address several important questions related to one of the most important board responsibilities--planning: What is Strategic, What is Strategic Planning, and What is Strategic Governance? These elements form the basis of this week's overview and content in Chapter 3 of the main course text Improving the Effectiveness of Boards of Directors and readings in recommended course texts.

The Board's Role in Performance Assessment

Hello and welcome to Week 2 of the second course on Leadership and Governance of Nonprofit Organizations! The focus this week is on the vitally important partner of planning--Performance Assessment. Some of the key questions we will explore this week are: What is performance assessment and why is it important? What is the board's role in performance assessment? Why do boards have difficulty meeting their performance assessment responsibilities? And, what frameworks exist to help boards measure and manage performance?

The Board's Role in Fundraising and Resource Development

Hello and welcome to Week 3! The goal this week is to address important questions related to the board's role and responsibilities in fundraising or, as we will refer to it, resource development. Some of the key questions we will explore this week are: What is the board’s role in resource development and why do boards have difficulty meeting their responsibilities in this area? What information should be included in a resource development plan and how can boards improve their effectiveness in carrying out resource development responsibilities?

Concept Testing and Application

Hello and welcome to Week 4! The goal of this week is to assess course learning. The end of Course 2 assessment of learning begins with the requirement that you to take two Readiness Assurance Tests (RATs) and submit your first Board Effectiveness Assessment Reflection (BEAR). During the testing process, don't forget to bring a piece of paper and pen to make a note of your answers to the RAT and RAT Application Exercise questions. You will need them to vote and discuss your responses in the RAT forums next week.

Assessment of Learning: BEAR Peer Review and RAT Discussion Forums

Hello, and Welcome to Week 5! The goal of this week is to discuss and complete the end of Course 2 assessment of learning. It begins with peer discussion of the individual Readiness Assurance Test (RAT) and RAT Application Exercise (case) you took last week plus peer review of the three BEAR assignments you have been assigned to evaluate this week. It concludes with re-taking the RAT and RAT Application Exercise Tests and returning the three BEAR assignments you peer-reviewed last week.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for professionals working in nonprofit, non-governmental, volunteer, or similar voluntary sector organizations

Taught by professors with experience in nonprofit board development and organizational leadership

Offers practical guidance and case studies to enhance board effectiveness

Covers key aspects of board governance, including planning, performance assessment, and fundraising

Requires active participation through written assignments, tests, and discussion forums

Focuses on the North American context, so the relevance of concepts and practices may vary in other regions

Reviews summary

Engaging nonprofit board governance course

Learners say this engaging course offers a strong structure, valuable information, and practical exercises. Students especially appreciate the frameworks they can readily apply to their nonprofit work and the course's good pace.

Well-organized with a logical flow.

"Very well organized, and at a good pace."

"This course has and excellent structure of information . . ."

Provides useful frameworks and insights.

"Valuable Course and insightful."

"Some useful information and the practical exercises were good."

Slow grading can be a drawback.

"Even if you complete all the assignments in a timely manner, you can lose all the time gained by waiting for someone to grade your work . . ."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for The Roles and Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards of Directors within the Governance Process. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete The Roles and Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards of Directors within the Governance Process will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Executive Director

Executive Directors oversee the operations of their organizations, including planning, fundraising, and performance assessment. This course provides a comprehensive overview of these responsibilities and can help Executive Directors develop the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. Additionally, the course's emphasis on governance can be particularly helpful for Executive Directors who are responsible for managing a board of directors.

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Board Member

Board Members are responsible for overseeing the operations of their organizations and making decisions about the organization's future. This course can provide Board Members with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on governance can be particularly helpful for Board Members who are responsible for managing a team of Board Members.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts provide financial advice and assistance to organizations. This course can provide Financial Analysts with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on performance assessment can be particularly helpful for Financial Analysts who are responsible for evaluating the financial performance of organizations.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice and assistance to organizations on a variety of topics, including planning, fundraising, and governance. This course can provide Consultants with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on strategic planning can be particularly helpful for Consultants who are responsible for developing and implementing consulting plans.

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Grant Writer

Grant Writers are responsible for writing grant proposals to secure funding for their organizations. This course can provide Grant Writers with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on fundraising and resource development can be particularly helpful for Grant Writers who are responsible for developing and implementing fundraising strategies.

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Social Worker

Social Workers provide support and assistance to individuals and families in need. This course can provide Social Workers with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on governance can be particularly helpful for Social Workers who are responsible for managing a team of social workers.

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Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers are responsible for managing the public image of their organizations. This course can provide Public Relations Managers with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on strategic planning and performance assessment can be particularly helpful for Public Relations Managers who are responsible for developing and implementing public relations campaigns.

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Nonprofit Administrator

Nonprofit Administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of their organizations, including planning, budgeting, and human resources. This course can provide Nonprofit Administrators with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on governance can be particularly helpful for Nonprofit Administrators who are responsible for managing a board of directors.

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Program Director

Program Directors are responsible for developing and implementing programs that meet the needs of their communities. This course can provide Program Directors with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on planning and performance assessment can be particularly helpful for Program Directors who are responsible for developing and evaluating programs.

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Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer Coordinators are responsible for recruiting, training, and managing volunteers for their organizations. This course can provide Volunteer Coordinators with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on governance can be particularly helpful for Volunteer Coordinators who are responsible for managing a team of volunteers.

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Community Outreach Manager

Community Outreach Managers facilitate connections between organizations and their communities. The course explores how organizations can use strategic planning and performance assessment to increase their impact, which is valuable to a Community Outreach Manager. This course can also contribute to the fundraising efforts of the organization, which can be helpful in building relationships with the community and securing funding for programs and initiatives.

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Foundation Manager

Foundation Managers are responsible for managing the operations of their foundations, including grantmaking, fundraising, and investment. This course can provide Foundation Managers with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in these areas. Additionally, the course's emphasis on governance can be particularly helpful for Foundation Managers who are responsible for managing a board of directors.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human resources of their organizations, including recruitment, training, and employee relations. This course can provide Human Resources Managers with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on governance can be particularly helpful for Human Resources Managers who are responsible for managing a team of human resources professionals.

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Special Events Coordinator

Special Events Coordinators are responsible for planning and executing special events for their organizations. This course can provide Special Events Coordinators with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on fundraising and resource development can be particularly helpful for Special Events Coordinators who are responsible for developing and implementing fundraising strategies.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies for their organizations. This course can provide Marketing Managers with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this role. Additionally, the course's emphasis on strategic planning can be particularly helpful for Marketing Managers who are responsible for developing and implementing marketing plans.

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