Improving Non-Profit Governance

An online Action Learning Program
Level 1 - September 24, 2012 - December 14, 2012 - Tuition $875
Level 2 - January 7 - March 29, 2013 - Tuition $550

Voluntary and non-profit associations play an essential role in democracies in representing group interests, furthering active citizenship and providing services essential to healthy communities. This program will help executive directors deepen their understanding of non-profit governance and use a variety of tools in working with their boards in improving the leadership of their organizations.

This program is designed for executive directors, although it may also be of value to board members and others that work with volunteer boards. We have had executive directors and their board chairs in the program together, as well as chairs and incoming chairs. We have had executive directors of organizations with three staff and those with over one hundred. These have included people from of family resource centres, women’s centres, youth serving organizations, foundations and support agencies, regional economic development groups, child care providers, disability support organizations and business associations.

Participating in this program involves a significant commitment from you and your organization but it offers the tremendous advantage of a sustained period of peer learning, active facilitation, access to the latest research on good practices, customized learning resources and tools, and, most of all, the opportunity for practical application and feedback. The program will assist you in moving from talking about change to implementing it.

Participants will be involved in online discussion postings relevant to all as well as in discussions in small groups with particular interests. There will be a number of structured exercises and assignments that will engage participants over the five month period in understanding how best to participate in, coach and support their boards in the process of governance.

Program Outline 2012-2013 (PDF - 4 pages)

What to Expect? (PDF - 11 pages)

Program Application Form (PDF - 2 pages)

Instructional Team

Grant MacDonald is the lead instructor and force behind this initiative. Grant is an Associate Professor with Continuing Education at Dalhousie with a long interest in small groups and deliberative processes, conflict resolution, leadership and organizational development. Grant is an experienced adult educator and volunteer board member. He has facilitated many of the face-to-face sessions on which the program is based and has advised many executive directors and boards across Nova Scotia.

Roger Tatlock is the Executive Director of The Flower Cart, a non-profit organization that promotes community participation of adults considered to have an intellectual disability by increasing their employability. The Flower Cart has been in business for over 40 years, serves Kings County in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley and is one of the province's most respected community agencies.

Claire Rettie is Executive Director of the READ Society in Victoria, B.C., an organization that has provided non-profit literacy and learning programs for children, youth and adults since 1976. She has spent over 20 years as a consultant, facilitator and coach. Much of her work has been with government, small business and non-profit organizations. She has been an instructor with Continuing Studies at the University of Victoria in both face-to face and on-line programs in communications and public relations.

Anita Angelini holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Stanford University and recently retired as an Associate Professor in Nonprofit Studies at Mount Royal University in Alberta. Anita’s teaching specialties include non-profit governance and adult learning. In her role at MRU, Anita’s research agenda includes a first-of-its- kind research project focused on enriching the capacity of directors in their roles as governors. Prior to joining MRU, Anita spent six years in Moscow, Russia working with PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Manager of Learning and Education across Central and Eastern Europe.

Register, Inquire, and Reserve a Place

To register or reserve a place contact Dawne Walker by telephone (902-494-8837) or by email (dawne.walker@dal.ca).

If you have questions about the course please contact Grant MacDonald by telephone (902-494-1683) or by email (grant.macdonald@dal.ca).