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Participate In Training as a Current Board Member
Are you a business professional currently serving on the board of an arts or cultural organization in the Greater Philadelphia Region? Do you wish you had been better prepared for your role and that you knew more about what good board governance looks like? Would you like to strengthen the board you currently serve on and enhance your own leadership skills in the process?
Business On Board provides an extensive training program on effective board governance. Since 1996, we have trained and placed nearly 500 business professionals on the boards of more than 150 arts groups in our region. Beginning in 2011, we are making this program available to current board members, too.
Program Basics
- Four full-day training sessions provide instruction in the legal, ethical and financial responsibilities of nonprofit board members, with an emphasis on understanding the dynamic arts and cultural sector.
- Our guest faculty includes regional and national leaders from business, arts, academic and nonprofit consulting arenas.
- Varied and interactive coursework includes panel discussions, case studies, and readings and homework that help you apply what you learn in the classroom sessions.
- Attorneys who participate in the program are eligible to receive one CLE credit in the ethics category through Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts for content presented during the first session.
- Observing a board in action is a component of your training.
Is Business On Board for you?
The ideal Business On Board candidate has a minimum of 7 years of business experience, and preferably management experience. Current board members who are relatively new to board service or those who may be on track to assume leadership positions on an arts board would benefit greatly from this program.
Training Dates
Attendance at all four training sessions is required. Training session dates for the 2011/12 class are as follows: Friday, October 28, 2011; Friday, December 9, 2011; Friday, January 27, 2012; and Friday, March 9, 2012. Training will be held at cultural venues in Center City.
How to Apply
You can apply online. Before you begin, please be sure you have an updated resume available electronically. Also, be sure you know the current operating budget and the current number of board members for your arts organization before you begin.
- Complete the application form.
- Email a copy of your resume to businessonboard@artsandbusinessphila.org.
- When we receive your application and resume we will contact you to schedule an interview.
Tuition
Current board members can participate in Business On Board for $1,500—a significant discount compared with the $2,500 fee for prospective new board members. This discount reflects the fact that you are already an active board member and our program staff will not be matching you with an arts organization to observe or helping you secure a new board placement.
The $1,500 fee includes 25 hours of classroom time, materials, breakfast and lunch on the classroom dates, ongoing coaching and networking opportunities with other business professionals.
Many companies subsidize this fee, recognizing that Business On Board participation provides valuable leadership and professional development opportunities for their employees.
Scholarship
Thanks to the generous support of The Philadelphia Foundation, we are able to offer seven full scholarships for the 2011-12 Business On Board program for current board members of smaller arts organizations who are actively looking to enhance board governance. The basic criteria for these scholarships are: organizations located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia counties with operating budgets of $100,000 to $500,000 and a mission or program focus on underserved communities.
Nominations for these scholarships, in the form of a letter of support from the board chair and/or executive director and a resume for the board member, must be received by the Council by August 19. Please review the full criteria and expectations for scholarship candidates.
Questions?
Contact Eileen Cunniffe, Director of Business On Board, at 215.790.3621 or ecunniffe@artsandbusinessphila.org.
