Foundation Accepting Applications For Nonprofit Board Institute

Gulf Coast Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its next Gulf Coast Board Institute, a governance training series for new and experienced nonprofit board members.

Applications for the Winter 2018 Board Institute, which begins in February, are available on the foundation’s website at GulfCoastCF.org. The deadline to apply is December 29.

“I’d be hard-pressed to name a more important community investment that Gulf Coast can make than strengthening the board governance of our region’s nonprofits,” said Mark Pritchett, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “That’s exactly what this Board Institute does.”

Gulf Coast will select up to 25 applicants to participate in the Board Institute. The group will take part in four full-day training sessions from February 2 to March 2. Topics covered include the basics of nonprofit board governance, financial and legal oversight responsibilities, organizational planning, and how to create a highly functioning and engaged board. 

“I think that this institute should be required for any nonprofit board member,” said Tom Koski, board chair of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and a graduate of the Winter 2017 Board Institute. “At the very least, it puts everyone on the same foundation for good board governance.”

Participants will be selected through a competitive process with the intent of creating a group of individuals with a variety of experiences. Gulf Coast will provide all components of the Board Institute at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to use what they learn to strengthen the governance capacity of a nonprofit in the region. 

“I was able to gauge what I believed I knew with what I should know,” noted Kay Mathers, board chair of Girls Inc. of Sarasota County, who participated in the Board Institute just prior to becoming chair. “I left with so much more confidence about my new role.”

A detailed overview and online application for the Winter 2018 Gulf Coast Board Institute can be found at GulfCoastCF.org/gulf-coast-board-institute.