You have said Yes to being the board chair, but now you are asking:

Is this you?

  • What exactly am I supposed to do?

  • Where do I get support I need when I am overwhelmed and isolated?

  • What does good governance look like?

  • How do I make a lasting impact and make my time meaningful?

From Unprepared to Unshakeable

Lead with Confidence. Chair with Clarity

Most board chairs are handed the gavel without a roadmap. They feel unsure, overwhelmed or isolated.

This program is designed to foster excellence in your board chair role.

It consists of four-group coaching and support calls with other national board chairs, supported by a six-module on-demand online course.

Combined, these tools will help you become the kind of chair who:

⭕Runs efficient, focused meetings:
⭕ Builds trust and momentum on the board;
⭕Leads with clarity - even in conflict or crisis.

✨ No theory. Just practical tools, clear structure and peer support.

Christina Becker, MBA

🍁 We are a proud Canadian company
with over 40 years of nonprofit experience

Founder, the Canadian Nonprofit Academy

I believe that a thriving nonprofit sector depends on an effective and well-functioning board of directors. The Academy is dedicated to the professional development of Canada's volunteer leaders.

I bring 40 + years of working in the nonprofit sector and have had many roles – consultant, management, Board member, volunteer President, and Executive Director. I have extensive experience in board governance and management. As board president for six years, I successfully led a team of board volunteers to turn a small nonprofit professional association from a membership of 250 to over 1000 with a clear vision for what we wanted to accomplish and a commitment to make it happen. I have worked with many wonderful and dedicated volunteers committed to the organization. I have sat around the boardroom table in many capacities and understand the sometimes competing demands.

Christina Becker

Founder and Instructor

Learn the 4 central roles of an effective board chair or volunteer president.

Participate in a community of other Board Chairs for problem solving and support.

Confidently Lead Your Nonprofit Board

You want to do your best if you are a new board chair or soon-to-be.

You want to lead with impact.

Maybe you don't have any mentors or others to help lead the way.

Maybe you took on the role reluctantly because no one else would do it.

You might be thinking that it is too much responsibility and takes too much time. It feels like a daunting position to take.

It doesn't have to be. Let me mentor you in this important leadership role.

In this program, you will master:

✅How to lead meetings that matter - without burnout;
✅How to set the tone for a strong, ethical board culture;
✅How to partner with your ED strategically;
✅How to manage succession, crisis and legacy;
✅ How to feel confident in your authority without being authoritarian.

This program offers you:

Self-Paced Online Six Module Program with lifetime access:

A six-module self-paced program where you will learn:

* How to support the board in its purpose, roles and responsibilities;
* To apply your leadership style in service of the mission;
* How to create psychological safety to facilitate open and free discussion;
* How to have difficult conversations;
* How to manage meetings effectively;
* How to manage the board and Executive Director relationship.

An excellent board chair needs more than knowledge. So many times, situations arise where board chairs need mentorship and the advice of others in similar positions.


Four Live One-Hour Peer Support and Coaching Calls .

In addition, the program offers a safe community of other board chairs and vice chairs. Four 60-minute coaching calls will be held in September, October, November and December 2025.

📅Wed, September 24, 2025 at 5:00 pm Eastern
📅Wed, October 22, 2025 at 5:00 pm Eastern
📅Wed, November 19, 2025 at 5:00 pm Eastern
📅Wed, December 17, 2025 at 5:00 pm Eastern

This is where we support and strategize the unique problems that board chairs must face, such as having difficult conversations with staff and other board members and directing and partnering with senior staff.

The Canadian Nonprofit Academy want to make this program affordable and accessible for all new board chairs. Similar programs offer much less and cost three times more.

Affordable and Accessible

Request an invoice from CNPA

Program curriculum

  • 01

    Introduction to Effective Board Leadership

  • 02

    Module 1 - Governance as Leadership

    • The Role of the Board as a whole - Review

    • Self Asessment - Understanding your Organization's Core Purpose

    • The Essential Role of the Board Chair
  • 03

    Module 2 - Effective Leadership

    • What kind of Leader are you?

    • Reflection Questions - What qualities do you bring to the role of chair of your board?

    • Different Kinds of Leadership Styles

    • What kind of leader are you? Part 2

    • Setting the Right Tone

  • 04

    Module 3 - Effective Meeting Management and Group Dynamics

    • Introduction

    • The Agenda (15 minutes)

    • Board's Annual Planning Calendar - Courtesy of https://www.governinggood.ca/ (Pdf for download)

    • Sample Timed Agenda

    • Rules of Order ( 8 Minutes)

    • Motions and When to call a motion (6 Minutes)

    • Minutes (8 Minutes)

    • How Motions work

  • 05

    Module 4 - Effective ED/CEO and Board Chair Relationship

    • Recognizing Different Roles of Chair and ED (9 minutes)

    • Two Kinds of Leadership (12 minutes)

    • Best Practices of Managing the Relationship with Senior Staff (8 minutes)

    • Evaluation template for Executive Director Review - in Docx and pdf.

  • 06

    Module 5 : Succession Planning for Long-Term Success

    • The Importance of Succession Planning

    • Creating a Succession Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is this for?

    This program is for both experienced, new chairs and soon-to-be board chairs. Whatever level you are at in your board chair journey, this program will boost your skills and strengthen your confidence.

  • I really don't have the time

    The modules are designed for busy adult learners. The course itself is less than 2 hours of material. Modules are broken down into easy-to-digestible chunks of information and application guides. It can easily be scheduled into your week.

  • What if I can't attend the calls live?

    What we have learned from previous cohorts is that it is better not to record the calls. People have said that they want to feel safe to share anything that they need to. So we decided not to record the coaching call? It is much better to attend live if you can to participate in the discussion.

Program Fees