Improved Knowledge
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the key principles, practices, and processes essential for effective board governance. Be more confident in your role.
Nonprofit board course
Nonprofit Board Fundamentals
Walk into your next board meeting knowing what to ask.
Inside the course
- Fiduciary duties
- Reading the budget
- Board and management
- Meetings that decide
Illustration only. The pictures, names and figures shown here are samples.
The video and voice in this course use an AI-generated version of Michael Barrick.
Nonprofit Board Fundamentals courseYes, I want to start the course for $197Changed your mind? You can get a refund any time before you watch your first lesson. Read our refund policy.
A plain-language course on the nonprofit board member role: what the board decides, what staff runs, the duties of care, loyalty and obedience, how to read a budget, and how meetings and votes work. Written for U.S. nonprofits; state law and each organization's own rules can change the answer.
For nonprofit board members
Know your role in the boardroom
Nonprofit Board Fundamentals is a self-paced online course for people who are about to join, or already serve on, a U.S. nonprofit board. You learn your duties, how to read the budget and how meetings decide, then pass a 30-question assessment (24 correct, retakes allowed) to earn a Certificate of Completion. $197.
Whether you are about to serve on your first nonprofit board or sometimes feel a step behind in your current role, this course gives you a clear picture of what the board does and what is expected of you.
If you are ready to learn the role, enroll in the Nonprofit Board Fundamentals course. You will learn the knowledge, skills and tools to take part in board discussions and ask good questions. Enroll today.
Yes, take me to the courseChanged your mind? You can get a refund any time before you watch your first lesson. Read our refund policy.
Skills boards use
Nonprofit boards use many kinds of skills.
- Fundraising and donor relations
- Finance and accounting
- Legal and compliance
- Marketing and communications
- Strategic planning
- Human resources
- Technology and cybersecurity
- Real estate and facilities
- Connections to the community served
- Lived experience of the mission
Nonprofit leaders often say that finding board members is hard: in BoardSource's 2015 Leading with Intent study, 58% of nonprofit chief executives said it was difficult (BoardSource). If you bring one of these skills, you have something a board can use. Nonprofit Board Fundamentals teaches the governance side, so you know how to put your expertise to work in the boardroom.
I want to serve a mission I care aboutChanged your mind? You can get a refund any time before you watch your first lesson. Read our refund policy.
Why board training
Why Board Training Matters
Build the knowledge and confidence to take part in your governance role.
Better Decision-Making
Board members who have a good understanding of governance fundamentals are better equipped to make informed decisions on behalf of their organization.
Shared Language
Learn the words boards use every day, so you can follow the conversation and ask clear questions alongside the rest of the board.
Understanding Risk
Learn how boards think about risk, so you know which questions to ask about what could go wrong for your organization.
How it works
From first lesson to certificate, step by step.
You enroll, watch short video lessons at your own pace, and then take the final assessment: 30 scenario questions, with 24 correct to pass and retakes allowed. Passing earns a Certificate of Completion from Board Director Institute. It records what you finished and is not accreditation, licensure, a board appointment or a promise of a seat.
- 01
Enroll in the course
Enroll and start right away. Everything runs online, at your own pace.
- 02
Watch short lessons
Plain-language video lessons built on realistic board situations.
- 03
Pass the assessment
Answer 30 scenario questions that ask what you would do in the boardroom. You need 24 correct to pass, and retakes are allowed.
- 04
Earn your certificate
Receive a Certificate of Completion from Board Director Institute. It records what you finished; it is not accreditation or a license.
Course benefits
Nonprofit Board Fundamentals course benefits
- Enhanced understanding of nonprofit governance: Understand the responsibilities and best practices governing nonprofit organizations.
- Prepared for meetings: Learn how board meetings run, how decisions are made, and how board members work together.
- Growing confidence: Know your role and the questions to ask, so you can take part in the conversation.
- Access to resources: Use resources and tools that help you understand the nonprofit sector and navigate your role.
- A record of what you finished: Earn a Certificate of Completion that shows you completed the course and passed the assessment. It is not accreditation or a license.
- Professional development: Learn current best practices in nonprofit governance.
- Better governance practices: Learn best practices in financial management, risk management, and strategic planning.
- A look at BoardMatchHQ: Visit BoardMatchHQ, our board-matching preview, to see how boards and leaders are meant to find each other. It is still in development, and its example seats are samples.
Nonprofit Board Fundamentals courseYes, I want to start the course for $197Changed your mind? You can get a refund any time before you watch your first lesson. Read our refund policy.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to your questions about the nonprofit course
Ready to start? Enroll today and walk into your next board meeting knowing what to ask.
Enroll todayChanged your mind? You can get a refund any time before you watch your first lesson. Read our refund policy.Do I need board experience?
No. The course starts with the basics and builds from realistic board situations, so you can take it before your first meeting. If you already serve on a board, use it as a refresher.
Is the course only for U.S. nonprofits?
The course is written for U.S. nonprofits. State law and each organization's own rules can change the answer, so check them for your own organization.
How does the assessment work?
The course ends with 30 scenario questions that ask what you would do in realistic board situations. You need 24 correct answers (80%) to pass, and retakes are allowed.
Is the Certificate of Completion accredited or a license?
No. The Certificate of Completion is issued by Board Director Institute. It records that you completed the required lessons and passed the course assessment. It is not accreditation, professional certification, a license, a board appointment or an employment guarantee.
Who teaches the course, and is it AI?
Michael Barrick created the course. The video and voice in this course use an AI-generated version of Michael Barrick. Michael reviewed and approved the lesson content.
Is this legal or tax advice?
No. The course is general education. Use it to recognize issues and ask better questions, and consult a qualified adviser about your organization's facts and your state's law.