Nonprofit Board Leadership - Mandatory for Johnson Board Fellows

Nonprofit Board Leadership Training

This is an intensive workshop that will provide students with a deep dive into nonprofit board service, with a particular focus on the fiduciary and management responsibilities and challenges associated with nonprofit board leadership. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The mission of the training is to:

1. Prepare Johnson students to become involved with nonprofit organizations through board service;

2. Explore management and finance issues that are unique to the nonprofit sector; and,

3. Inspire Johnson students to consider board service as a way to contribute leadership to the nonprofit sector.

This is an excellent opportunity for any Johnson student considering nonprofit board service, a nonprofit career, and/or who might be wondering how to incorporate service into a corporate career.

What Students are Saying about this Workshop

“Michael Davidson did an excellent job. He was very knowledgeable about the subject. He should definitively come back to train next year's class.”

“I currently have no involvement with boards in either nonprofit or for-profit organizations. In saying this, I have ambitions to become involved and this course was fantastic for exposing me to the issues that boards face!”

“I thought the presenter was fabulous. He was a great facilitator and was extremely knowledgeable.”

"[Highlights were] the strength of the facilitator ... and the overall discussion on what the role of a nonprofit board is."

About the Trainer

Michael Davidson is the lead trainer for the United Way's BoardServeNYC program. He has over 20 years' experience in nonprofit management as a board president, manager, consultant, and attorney. He has worked with the boards of more than 100 nonprofit organizations in strategic planning, board development, retreat facilitation and transition management. Michael has also served as Chairman of Governance Matters, a nonprofit organization that improves board governance by fostering an open exchange of ideas and information among a broad cross-section of the nonprofit community. He was a volunteer with the Peace Corps, an assistant professor of anthropology, an assistant district attorney, and an attorney in a private practice. He holds a BS in mathematics from New York State University College on Long Island, a JD from Columbia Law School and a M.Ph. in anthropology from Yale University. This is Michael's seventh year of leading this training for Johnson.

(Please note: This session also serves as the primary training for Johnson Board Fellows, who are serving on Ithaca-area nonprofit boards during the 2018-19 academic year.)

Graduation Credit

All Johnson students are eligible to use up to 1.5 credit hours from Leadership Skills Program and/or Managerial Skills Program workshops toward the MBA degree credit-hour requirements. 

This LSP workshop is worth 0.2 LSP credits, and will build your skills in the the following 4Cs: 

• Creativity/Innovation
• Strategic Thinking
• Critical Thinking & Decision Making
• Integrity
• Ethical Leadership
• Perspective Taking
• Courageous Conversations