Strengthening nonprofit board capacity through leadership development

This project is addressing the need to extend nonprofit board engagement and effectiveness in more communities across Kansas.

The nonprofit sector is often overlooked in considering the economic development of community. It is often said that “there are no profits without nonprofits”—meaning that that a flourishing nonprofit sector — whether through the arts, environment, social services, etc. — is critical for the business community to continue to have a sustained impact on the local economy. Nonprofit organizations also create jobs, spend money locally and contribute greatly to the desirability and vibrancy of a community. Nonprofit organizations often need a stronger culture of board leadership and also sometimes struggle to engage participants in volunteer board positions.

The project is creating a pilot program that involves leadership development activities designed to build understanding of the role and structure of boards and develop capacity in community members to exercise leadership as a board member. This pilot program could be expanded to other communities in Kansas.