Thursday, March 17, 2016
Dyson Foundation and Partners Launch ‘Bridges to Board Service’
In partnership with the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce - Nonprofit Committee, and Governance Matters, an affiliate of the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON), the Dyson Foundation is supporting a new initiative that aims to strengthen local nonprofits and provide community members with meaningful board service education and opportunities.
"Bridges to Board Service: Making our community stronger through exceptional nonprofit board service" is a two-part initiative offering innovative, quality educational programs focused on the fundamentals of board service, including in-depth sessions on governance, finance, fundraising, and other relevant topics.
In addition, a board matching service, BoardnetUSA.org, is tied to the program to help interested individuals find nonprofit board opportunities that fit their interests and talents while also helping nonprofits find interested board members that meet their skill needs.
"Bridges to Board Service" is designed for everyone interested in board service including: Dutchess Chamber members; community members, especially young professionals and individuals from diverse backgrounds; experienced board members who seek to enhance their knowledge; and, nonprofit leadership working to build and maintain strong, effective boards to lead their organizations.
The first Board Service 101 session is offered from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on March 29 at the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Multiple sessions will be offered throughout the year and at various locations in Dutchess County.
Spring 2016 Board Service 101 Calendar:
April 7 - 8:30-10:30 a.m. - Southern Dutchess
April 21 - 8:30-10:30 a.m. - Poughkeepsie
May 10 - 5:00-7:00 p.m. - Central Dutchess
June 7 - 5:00-7:00 p.m. - Poughkeepsie
Board Service 101 Course Description*
Board members steer their organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies and ensure the organization has adequate resources to advance its mission. This session will provide both experienced and novice board members with a critical orientation on the responsibilities, knowledge, and skills needed to be an effective board member. Nonprofit boards are more similar than they are different, but each board must make important and thoughtful decisions on how they will function. This course will introduce participants to many of these considerations.
*completion required prior to registering for future topic sessions
Workshop registration available through the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.