Basics & More Online Training
This is not a course. It is treasure trove of insights, shortcuts, and powerful resources to help you immediately. Whether you are a newbie or a veteran nonprofit enthusiast, this course is chock full of things you need to improve your board.
Most nonprofit challenges are not external. They are internal. And they start with the board!
Our nonprofit organizations are starving for proper care and feeding. They have poor training, poor onboarding, scarcity mindset, inconsistent funding and dysfunctional personalities all around! What If you could solve all these problems with a roadmap and concrete tools from experts who have consistently built high-performing boards?
A high-performing board is a ROCKSTAR board. All your other efforts to grow and improve your nonprofit might fail or backfire if you have a crappy, underperforming, or dysfunctional board. Is your board propelling your forward or holding you back? Be honest, couldn’t you board be better?
Imagine if your board had all the resources it needed to survive and thrive. Imagine if there was no shortage of qualified and eager board members willing to pitch in, get their hands dirty, raise money, and not micromanage. Sound like fiction? Some organizations have cracked the code.
High performing nonprofits didn’t get that way with luck or wealthy benefactors. They had a plan and a strategy. Now I’d like to share that strategy with you. You already have the passion, creativity, innovation and a personal connection to an issue you want to solve in our society.
This isn’t just a course. Its access to a library of new and battle-tested tools, tips, tactics, templates, policies, insights and shortcuts to make everyone envy your nonprofit.
This course is a step-by-step blueprint for how to build, retain, and develop an awesome nonprofit board. I also cover how to remove underperforming board members.
The vast majority of nonprofit never grow because they are stuck in a rut. Whether you need volunteers, money, media attention or whatever, nearly all successful nonprofits have spent the time and energy building a Rockstar Board. Stop repeating the task that have held you back. Invest in having more impact.
-imagine a board that took attendance seriously
-imagine a board that did what they promised to do
-imagine a board that respected the division of labor
-imagine a board of great ambassadors who fundraise
How do you get that kind of board? It does not happen with luck and nor should it. You need a plan and battle-tested tactics that are used by high-performing nonprofits all over the world. I have summarized tons of best practices and compiled the best tools to help you basically cut in line and accelerate your nonprofit's growth.
Greater impact is possible. A ROCKSTAR Board is possible. I will show you how.
- In less than a day of coursework you’ll learn how to:
- Build the board of your dreams, with people who take their role seriously
- Learn how to find the right people and put them in the right roles
- Create the right committees to delegate the work
- Learn how to get your board to fundraise more than ever before
- Discover how to get retain your best and let go of the rest
- Learn how to structure meetings so they function well
- Find out what policies and procedures you need to cover your butt
- Develop a strong staff and board partnership
- How to have vibrant discussions without dysfunctional conflict
- Have confidence that you know the best practices
*This course is approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes (new material may be added and students will be notified)
Sean's course is an excellent tool for anyone looking to maximize the collective wisdom, power, and skill sets of their board. Sean clearly and succinctly covers the roles and responsibilities of board members and he also provides a road map for how to coach your board, grow your board, and get the most out of board members and board meetings. Most importantly his course will give you the skills and confidence to handle challenges, think strategically, and have your board running efficiently and on mission in no time!
Michael Faith, Professional Fundraiser,
WowYourDonors.com (OR)
The course covers a lot of valuable information that was delivered in a clear way. I gained valuable knowledge not only from the delivered material but from the handouts given through out the course. I feel like this course has set me on the path to success as I beginning my board leadership and management journey. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is looking to kick start their organization's Board of Directors.
Keyera North, Founder and CEO
Forward Youth
If you follow the advice Sean gives you throughout this course, you will fix your nonprofit! Sean Kosofsky, the Nonprofit Fixer offers practical, no frills lessons on how to build a high-functioning board. His approach, “build the foundation first” is sage advice; the tools and tips presented throughout can be immediately implemented. The modules are built for even the busiest executive directors so you can take the information in bite-sized sessions. No more waiting to see if/how your board will develop – the answers are right here!
-Barbara McCullough-Jones, Managing Director,
Pen in Hand, LLC (OR)
I’ve was an Executive Director for 22 years and I learned a great deal from my good friend and colleague Sean Kosofsky “The Non-Profit Fixer”. Sean gives real, clear, direct and relevant advice and information. He has been around non-profits for decades and he knows what every leader needs to know and he conveys it in short approachable modules. Where was he when I started 22 years ago?
Kate Kendell, Former Executive Director
National Center for Lesbian Rights
Whether you are new to board development or a seasoned professional, this course will show you how to enhance your board’s functioning and move them to a highly sophisticated level. The step-by-step modules start with board foundations and build on each other sharing processes which will optimize your board’s productivity and increase their buy in. This course would also be an excellent resource for new board member orientation.
- Colette Seguin Beighley, MS, CFRE, Development Director,
Paws With A Cause
“Within our first meeting, Sean offered many great insights. Most importantly is to focus our energy on high impact collaborations. I did just that, and within the week a major national organization agreed to partner with us!"
Maryse Postlewaite, Founder
TLC Pathways
Alameda County Community Food Bank (CA)
Nonprofit Board Member (NC)
Do yourself a favor and take advantage of Sean’s years of experience. If you want to cut right to the chase and learn some extremely useful tools without having to plow through dry boring material, you need The Non-Profit Fixer. Sean is spot on with his advice and will even entertain you along the way. I spent decades in the nonprofit world as ED and Board Chair for several statewide and one national organization. There are many resources out there to help you in this role, but few get to the truth with such clarity.
-Carol Teal, Former Executive Director for Lillian’s List of NC & Former Board Chair of the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform.
Author, Activist and Consultant
Pivot Ground
Your Instructor
Hi, I’m Sean, and I'm the Nonprofit Fixer!
I’ve worked in nonprofit organizations since I was 16 (over 27 years).
I love nonprofits. I study nonprofits. I also lead and fix nonprofits. Whether its local, state or national - or charitable or political – I have helped grow and develop organizations of all kinds. I've served as an Executive Director for 5 organizations. I am a coach and consultant for boards, executive directors and activists of all stripes. I’ve worked in communications, victim-services, civil rights, environment, policy, bullying prevention, lobbying, management and much more.
I learned how to run a nonprofit the hard way – by watching someone do it poorly. I’ve also been thrown into the deep end and told to sink or swim. I don’t want that to happen to anyone else, so I have made it a commitment to my business to train people how to effectively fundraise and manage organizations for maximum impact. I’m nationally known and respected, and I’m a really swell guy (just wait, you’ll see!).
Best of all, I cut through the BS. My tools and trainings are straight-to-the-point, immediately useful, and chock-full of tips and tactics you can start using today.
Sean Kosofsky has been raising money for a wide variety of causes, community projects, political campaigns, and much more. He is a published author of "Fundraising Power Pack"
I live in San Francisco with my husband Travis and my adorable dog Harry!
Course Curriculum
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StartPre-Course Success Survey
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StartLesson 1: Welcome Aboard (6:17)
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StartLesson 2: What the Heck are Boards Anyway? (5:47)
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StartLesson 3: Diagnose the Problems with Boards (9:34)
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StartLesson 4: How to Assess Your Board...Before You FIx Them! (5:51)
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StartLesson 5: How to Get Your Board On the Same Page (8:24)
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StartLesson 6: Pro Tips To Build A Board Like a Boss! (13:36)
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StartLesson 7: Get the Right People! (6:28)
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StartLesson 8: Why the Chair Is the Most Important Person In Your Organization (8:58)
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StartLesson 9: The Executive Committee (The Board's SWAT Team) (2:49)
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StartLesson 10: Recruit (How To Combine Strategy and Skill To Build Your Board) (8:42)
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StartLesson 11: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) In Recruiting (3:01)
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StartLesson 12: The Traits and Skills You Need on Your Board (7:49)
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StartLesson 13: How to Onboard your Board So They Stay (5:10)
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StartLesson 14: Kick Butt Orientations That Strengthen Your Board (6:49)
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StartLesson 15: Board Retention is Half the Battle (5:52)
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StartLesson 16: Board Training to Build the Board You Need (4:53)
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StartLesson 17: How to Remove A Board Member (6:26)
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StartLesson 18: Legal (What You Owe the Public) (12:58)
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StartLesson 19: Legal (What You Owe Stakeholders) (7:04)
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StartLesson 20: Legal (What You Owe Other Board Members) (3:41)
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StartLesson 21: Policies and Practices to Keep You On Track (20:26)
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StartLesson 22: Board Agreements (One Tool To Rule Them All) (8:35)
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StartLesson 23: How to Prevent and Manage a Crisis (4:22)
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StartLesson 24: Meetings That Don't Suck (9:04)
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StartLesson 25: Meetings That Get the Job Done (19:01)
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StartLesson 26: Decision Making to Move the Mission Forward (9:20)
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StartLesson 27: "You Get a Committee and You Get a Committee" (4:18)
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StartLesson 28: Finance Committee - STAY LEGAL (10:04)
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StartLesson 29: Personnel Committee - HR (3:00)
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StartLesson 30: Governance Committee (2:56)
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StartLesson 31: Program Committee (The Work of the Org) (3:44)
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StartLesson 32: Fundraising Committee (We're in the Money) (3:12)
Frequently Asked Questions
Get started now Today!
Starter Level
What you get:
- 35+ modules of amazing insights, tips, tactics, and 27 years of nonprofit wisdom
- 25+ immediately useful tools, checklists, templates, infographics, sample Language and more. Done for you!
- Support throughout the course
- Private Facebook Group: (I answer questions in the group!)
- Certificate of Completion for your resume!
- PDF of the course deck after you complete the course
$249
Enroll
Standard Level
What you get:
- 35+ modules of amazing insights, tips, tactics, and 27 years of nonprofit wisdom
- 25+ immediately useful tools, checklists, templates, infographics, sample Language and more. Done for you!
- Support throughout the course
- Private Facebook Group: (I answer questions in the group!)
- Certificate of Completion for your resume!
- PDF of the course deck after you complete the course
- 50% off all my other courses
- All prior and upcoming webinars for a year
- Fundraising Power Pack Book eBook
- Referrals from my personal network (priceless)
$395
Enroll
MASTER Level
What you get:
- 35+ modules of jam packed nonprofit management wisdom ($249)
- 25+ immediately useful tools, checklists, templates, infographics, and more. Done for you! (included)
- Private Facebook Group for Students: (Bonus-I answer questions in the group too!) ($200)
- Certificate of Completion for your resume! (Post it on Social Media)
- Email support from me throughout the course ($200)
- PDF of the course deck after you complete the course
- Referrals from my personal network (priceless)
- All prior and upcoming webinars recorded elsewhere on the web - 1 year ($200)
- eBook "Fundraising Power Pack: 25+ Pro & Practical Resources to Boost Your Fundraising Power"
- Access to my entire library of downloadable tools ($2000) in editable format
- Executive Director Employment Contract-Sample" ($400)
- 1 hour of my time (Work review/Coaching/Consulting)
- All other courses free - All my other courses FREE! (Executive Director Boot Camp, Media Skills Crash Course, LGBTQ Diversity Training, Board Agreement Secret Sauce, and Facebook Fundraisers). This includes dozens of free tools to download.
$950
Enroll