Nonprofit Board Governance Symposium

Friday, February 7, 2025

Hurst Conference Center

1601 Campus Dr., Hurst TX 76054

Elevate your nonprofit's impact at the Nonprofit Governance Symposium, the premier training experience for board members and the executives who empower them. Discover the strategies and skills to transform your organization into a thriving powerhouse. This capacity-building day of workshops dives deep into Strategic Leadership, Financial Oversight, Board Composition & Roles, and Resource Development, equipping you with the tools to achieve exceptional governance and long-term success. Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock your nonprofit’s full potential.

9 - 9:30 AM Check-in/Continental Breakfast

9:35 - 10:35 AM Panel: Navigating Boardroom Challenges

10:45 - 11:55 AM Session 1

12 - 1:20 PM Networking Lunch

1:30 - 2:40 PM Session 2

2:50 - 4 PM Session 3

The Symposium will conclude with a Networking Cocktail Reception with from 4-5:30 PM with hors d'oeuvres and cash bar.

Session 1

Crafting Successful Strategies - Colton Strawser, Ph.D., Colton Strawser Consulting.
- A strong strategic plan is more than just a document—it’s a roadmap that guides your nonprofit’s success. Yet too often, plans sit on a shelf, unclear goals create confusion, and progress stalls due to a lack of accountability. This session will walk nonprofit leaders through the essential steps of strategic planning, from setting clear and measurable goals to assigning responsibilities among board members, staff, and other stakeholders. Participants will learn best practices for translating strategy into action, ensuring alignment across the organization, and establishing systems for tracking progress over time.

Board Governance Basics - Chad Giles, CLA
- This session offers insights into optimizing board orientation and accountability, ensuring governance aligns with organizational missions. Key objectives will include: Understanding the difference between the board strategic plan and the organization strategic plan. Determining the best type of board for your specific needs. How to identify and recruit the right potential members. Explaining the role of DEI in your development process. The value of board orientation and ongoing training. The need for well defined roles and responsibilities Aligning board strategy to organization strategy. Ensuring accountability - the board scorecard.

Understanding Nonprofit Financial Statements and 990s - Kim Crawford, SFC
- This discussion will include reviewing an audit report to learn how to understand nonprofit financial statements and reviewing a Form 990 to understand what areas of focus are important.

Nonprofit Board Service: What They Won't Tell You But I Will - Barbara Clark-Galupi, creative!mpact
- In this session, we will discuss board service from your perspective. Participants will learn what to expect, what to ask, and what to know before they commit. We’ll dive into the unspoken challenges and realities of serving on a nonprofit board, exploring the nuances of governance, fiduciary duties, and the delicate balance between passion and practicality. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or considering your first board position, this course will equip you with insider knowledge and practical advice to navigate board service effectively and confidently.

Planning Your Year: How a Board Calendar Supports the Work of the Board - Christina Hanger, Social Venture Partners Dallas
- The Board has critical responsibilities and having a calendar to ensure you have time for the most important discussions for advancing your mission. Learn how to set a calendar that includes all your required compliance items as well the strategic items, while keeping you away from micromanaging.

Understanding Funding Roles and Responsibilities - Michelle Crim, Dynamic Development Strategies
- Nonprofit boards play a critical role in ensuring the financial sustainability of their organizations. However, the lines between governance, management, and fundraising responsibilities are often blurred, leading to confusion and inefficiencies. This session, "Understanding Funding Roles and Responsibilities for Nonprofit Boards," will provide a clear framework for board members and nonprofit leaders to effectively navigate their roles in fundraising and financial oversight. Explore the critical roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members in managing funding. This session will provide clarity on how to navigate the complexities of financial stewardship, ensuring compliance, transparency, and accountability. Ideal for board members and nonprofit leaders seeking to strengthen their organization’s financial health and sustainability. Key Takeaways: Clarify Roles: Understand the distinct responsibilities of board members, executives, and staff in the fundraising
  process.

Session 2

Why Are We Here? How Nonprofit Boards and CEOs Can Collaborate Effectively - Alicia McGlinchey, Social Venture Partners Dallas
- We are told that the role of nonprofit boards is “Governance,” but what exactly does that mean and how well do board members understand what is expected from them? In this session we’ll walk through the responsibilities of board members to provide strategic guidance and oversight for their organization. We’ll also unpack the distinctions between “governance” and “management,” and we’ll explore why navigating this line can be challenging at times. Lastly, we’ll consider how boards can create conditions to work collaboratively with the CEO and staff to maximize impact.

Board Governance Basics - Larrynnee Pierre & Chad Giles, CLA
- This session offers insights into optimizing board orientation and accountability, ensuring governance aligns with organizational missions. Key objectives will include: Understanding the difference between the board strategic plan and the organization strategic plan. Determining the best type of board for your specific needs. How to identify and recruit the right potential members. Explaining the role of DEI in your development process. The value of board orientation and ongoing training. The need for well defined roles and responsibilities Aligning board strategy to organization strategy. Ensuring accountability - the board scorecard.

Embracing Data as a Resource to Maximize Your Organization’s Health and Productivity - Eric Wilson, Your Part-Time Controller
- See what is possible with data collection and delivery and how technology is providing nonprofits with better, quicker, and more easily accessible information. In this session we will explore how to think critically about dashboards and KPIs, how to embrace data as a resource to maximize your organization’s financial health and productivity, and what best practices for data visualization entail.

The Board's Role in a Culture of Philanthropy - Laura Hutyra, M.Gale
- A culture of philanthropy is an organizational culture in which everyone understands the importance of philanthropy. From the receptionist to all program officers, to the executive leader and board members, everyone has a role to play in influencing philanthropic support for the organization. This session will help you assess your organization’s culture of philanthropy and find ways for board members to ensure it is embraced at all levels.

Beginning with the Board: A Roadmap to Effective Board Development and Alignment - Heather Flabiano, Ph.D. and Matt Jones, Forvis Mazars.
- This session offers insights into optimizing board orientation and accountability, ensuring governance aligns with organizational missions. Key objectives will include: Understanding the difference between the board strategic plan and the organization strategic plan. Determining the best type of board for your specific needs. How to identify and recruit the right potential members. Explaining the role of DEI in your development process. The value of board orientation and ongoing training. The need for well defined roles and responsibilities Aligning board strategy to organization strategy. Ensuring accountability - the board scorecard.

Nonprofit Governance and Fiduciary Duties - Jonathan Blum & Nykolas McKissic, Holland & Knight.
- This session is designed to provide an overview of basic governing structure, including governing documents, elements of meetings, and board member fiduciary duties from a legal perspective.

Session 3

Setting & Managing Board Expectations - Colton Strawser, Ph.D., Colton Strawser Consulting.
- Tensions often arise when individuals lack clarity on success metrics and their roles and responsibilities. Misunderstandings occur when we assume others know our expectations, but without clear communication, challenges inevitably follow.
  
  Is your board underperforming in fundraising? Perhaps expectations weren’t clearly communicated. This session explores how to set clear performance goals for board members, ensuring they actively contribute to the effective governance and success of the organization.

Evaluating C-Suites - Keith Ackerman, LMSW, Colton Strawser Consulting
- A discussion on the need and value of meaningful qualitative performance reviews of C-Suite
  employees. We will explore methodologies, common pitfalls & obstacles and resources available for
  board leadership to access.

Succession Planning: Engaging Your Team in the Future of Your Nonprofit - Missy Gale, M.Gale
- Succession planning means providing long term sustainability for your organization. And, engaging
  your entire team in building for the future gives everyone a career path. We'll explore how to build a
  culture that will retain your team and help your nonprofit soar to new heights.

Executive Committee Roundtable Discussion - Moderated by Barbara Clark-Galupi

Achieving the Mission through Alignment of Strategic Plan and Organizational Resources - Heather Flabiano, Ph.D. and Matt Jones, Forvis Mazars.
- This session will cover the following topics related to organizational planning:
  - need for and elements of a strategic plan
  - benefits and challenges of monitoring strategic objectives
  - allocation of appropriate resources to advance mission

Advanced Issues in Nonprofit Governance - Jonathan Blum & Nykolas McKissic, Holland & Knight.
- This session will focus on structural and cultural issues that prevent nonprofit boards from operating
  effectively. Through this session, you will learn best practices in nonprofit governance.