Business On Board
Business on Board trains professionals in nonprofit board service and matches them with arts and culture nonprofits seeking board candidates. Professionals seeking to serve on a board and those already serving on a board are equipped with the knowledge, strategies, and tools to maximize their effectiveness and understanding of board leadership.
Board members can play an extraordinary role in shaping the direction of the arts and culture field. With an economy reopening, organizations are reexamining their purpose, practices, and sustainability for a new future. Nonprofits strengthen their innovation and resiliency when their boards are diverse in sector representation, skillsets, and backgrounds.
Topics
| Board-Executive Partnership | Evaluation (Board, Executive, Programs) | Onboarding |
| Board Engagement | Financial Management | Power, Privilege, and Bias |
| Board Role Descriptions | Fundraising | Recruitment |
| Communication | Governance | Strategic Planning |
| Community Engagement | Legal and Fiduciary | Succession Planning |
| Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access | Nonprofit Structure | Vision, Values, and Mission |
New this year: the Arts +Business Council has added to the curriculum a special workshop to help teach inclusive onboarding practices to nonprofit organizations and professionals who currently serve on boards. Learn more in our Inclusive Onboarding Workshop and register below.
2024 CURRICULUM
WEEK 1
SET THE STAGE
Meet your cohort before aligning your values with a nonprofit’s mission and vision strategy. Review key components of the nonprofit structure based on organizational life cycles and size and how they relate to board governance. Round out the week by homing in on board legal and fiduciary responsibilities.
Tuesday, January 9 | 8:30AM Breakfast | 9:00AM – 12:00PM In-Person Participatory Session* | 12:00PM Informal Lunch
Thursday, January 11 | 3:30PM – 5:00PM | Virtual Recorded Webinar
WEEK 2
REFINING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Exercise big-picture and growth mindsets in relation to nonprofit strategic plans. Learn how to effectively navigate board committees, the board-executive partnership, board-staff roles, and evaluate organizational activities.
Tuesday, January 16 | 8:00AM – 10:00AM | Virtual Participatory Session*
Thursday, January 18 | 3:30PM – 5:00PM | Virtual Recorded Webinar
WEEK 3
INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND ACCOUNTABILTY
Think critically about diversity as it relates to board leadership. Know the signs of whether an organization is actively working towards inclusive growth. Carry a ‘belonging lens’ to frame meaningful board recruitment, onboarding, and engagement practices. Finish the week with a deep-dive into important policies and procedures for an organization’s financial health.
Tuesday, January 23 | 8:30AM Breakfast | 9:00AM – 12:00PM In-Person Participatory Session* | 12:00PM Informal Lunch
Thursday, January 25 | 3:30PM – 5:00PM | Virtual Recorded Webinar
WEEK 4
LEVERAGE YOUR PRESENCE AND NETWORK
Broaden the possibilities of how board members can grow and bring resources to an organization. Embrace fundraising through new frameworks while also leaning into the ‘traditional’ monetary ask. Practice being an organizational representative and build a toolkit for how to enter new work cultures and dynamics.
Tuesday, January 30 | 8:00AM – 10:00AM | Virtual Participatory Session*
Thursday, February 1 | 3:30PM – 5:00PM | Virtual Recorded Webinar
WEEK 5
INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE IMPACT
Align your individual vision, values, and mission towards impactful community engagement. Feel confident in the ways your unique skillset and background can contribute to an organization and learn how to engage thoughtfully with the communities your (next) organization serves.
Thursday, February 8
11:30AM | Lunch Served
12:00PM – 5:00PM | In-Person Participatory Session*
5:00PM – 7:00PM | In-Person Alumni Reception
ACTIVE OBSERVERSHIP GROUP CHECK-INS
Observership check-ins are scheduled every other month for those in current observerships. While check-ins are optional, they are highly recommended to gain the most out of the board observership experience.
Wednesday, May 29 | 9:30AM– 10:30AM | Virtual Participatory Session*
Testimonials
Siah McCabe
Consultant, Crowe
“While we were preparing for board service, what I took away from the program applies to my leadership style in all capacities. What I found most interesting was learning about board dynamics and people management. To ensure progress with the organization’s interest in mind, it is important that boards are clear on how best to utilize their strengths, talents, and connections through formal and informal support. I enjoyed the opportunity to grow my network and learn from those in the cohort who served on boards or had board experience.”
Joseph Mukurazia
Director, Investment Strategy & Advice, Private Wealth Management, SEI
“Business on Board provided a very engaging and meaningful way to learn about nonprofit board governance, build relationships with professionals in Philadelphia, and get plugged into the nonprofit community. I appreciated the hands-on support to find a board that was a good match for my strengths, skills and interest, as well as the opportunity to observe my board before officially joining them. Finally, I found the curriculum to be highly engaging and full of valuable information – I felt very prepared entering my board service. ”
Kelly Fromuth
Executive Director, PA Automotive Association Foundation
“All the sessions and presenters were insightful and I picked up tips and tricks from each one. One that stood out was how to manage digital presence by being more mindful and present. I now feel empowered and qualified to put my skills to use as a board member in a more meaningful capacity. Not only does ABC set you up for success by preparing you to serve, but they also assess your skills and experience to match you with organizations who will benefit most from your involvement as a board member”
Program Structure
The Business on Board curriculum will be a hybrid format over 5 weeks from January through February 2024. The format includes a blend of mandatory participatory sessions and recorded webinars that can be viewed anytime. Participants should plan to be fully present for the entire program, including attending/viewing all sessions in full, completing prework assignments and actively engaging with facilitators and the cohort throughout the program.
Immediately following curriculum completion, those individuals participating in an observership will select, and be introduced to, an organization. The organization and participant will engage with each other for a period of time determined at their discretion. ABC will hold a May observership check-in to provide additional support.
2024 Facilitators
Observing an Organization
The observership component serves two purposes: 1) The goal is to create a pathway to an official elected board position; and 2) It supplements the Business on Board curriculum by applying learnings in the field with an arts and culture board. ABC conducts a thorough evaluation based on the skills and interests of both parties to identify compatible matches between organizations and participants. Once participants are introduced to an organization, they receive individual support as they learn about and engage with the organization and consider becoming a board member. Participants receive further support as they become part of Business on Board’s network of over 900 alumni. Observerships may last a few months to over a year depending on the circumstance.
ABC is grateful to have a long-standing reputation and following in the area with arts and
culture organizations. Over 70 organizations participated as host organizations each year. Their range of disciplines varies widely; arts education, music, theatre, the performing arts, and visual
arts are among the top represented.
For Professionals Interested in Business On Board
When considering the program, individuals may choose whether to participate in the curriculum only or to participate in the curriculum and be matched with an organization through the observership component. The Arts + Business Council recommends the following rates depending on the size of the business or organization. A 15% discount may be arranged when multiple individuals participate from the same institution. A 10% discount is offered to chamber members for individual participation. Payment is due prior to the first session.
| Category | With Observership | Curriculum Only |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses Sponsoring Employees | ||
| Large (>50 employees) | $3,000 | $1,500 |
| Small (<50 employees) | $2,000 | $1,000 |
| Business Professionals Paying Out of Pocket or Self Employed | $1,000 | $750 |
| Nonprofits Sponsoring Current Board Members | ||
| Mid-Size and Large ($5M->$10M Budget) | $1,000 | $750 |
| Grassroots and Small (<$1M-$5M Budget) | $800 | $600 |
| Nonprofit Professionals Paying Out of Pocket | $700 | $500 |
Companies and employers benefit from Business on Board in a few key ways: 1) Increased visibility for the company. Employees are appointed to public leadership positions and engage with new audiences as a nonprofit board member and with ABC’s network. 2) Increased community engagement. Companies demonstrate their support of volunteerism and giving back to the local community. 3) Increased leadership skills and confidence for employees through professional development training.
Inclusive Onboarding Workshop
ABC welcomes nonprofit organizations and professionals who currently serve on boards
to a special workshop on inclusive onboarding practices.
This workshop is separate from the main Business on Board curriculum.
In-Person Participatory Session | Saturday, February 10, 2024 | 11:30AM Lunch Served, Program from 12:00PM – 5:00PM
Learn tools to assess board makeups to identify underrepresented skills and backgrounds. Extend beyond personal networks to effectively and thoughtfully diversify boards to reflect the communities the organization serves. Plan beyond recruitment to ensure new and diverse board members feel included and welcomed for the long haul.
| With Chamber Membership | Without Chamber Membership | |
|---|---|---|
| Active Host Organizations – 1 Representative | $0 | $0 |
| Active Host Organizations – Additional Representatives | $135 | $150 |
| Nonprofit Organizations | $180 | $200 |
Q+A
For Organizations Interested in Recruiting Through Business on Board
The Arts + Business Council works with over 70 organizations seeking board candidates. While more activity happens during the Business on Board program season, matches take place throughout the year. Organizations are encouraged to complete the application below at any time if they are interested in recruiting board members through the Arts + Business Council.
There is no cost to be an active organization and host a participant. However, there is a $250 placement fee if an organization elects a Business on Board participant or alumnus into its board of directors. For questions regarding financial assistance or organization eligibility, please contact [email protected].
Co-Sponsors
