The Board Member’s Guide to Good Governance Workshop Series
July 9 @ 1:30 pm – July 30 @ 3:00 pm CST
Virtual Workshop – Live/Online
Series Fee*: $175 for MCN members / $255 for nonmembers
*Note: if you don’t want to register for the full series, you can register for the individual workshops at $50 (member) / $70 (nonmember) each using the links below.
Whether you are thinking about board service, are currently serving, or are a seasoned board member looking for a refresher, “Board Series: The Board Member’s Guide to Good Governance” is for you.
This 4-part series will explore different aspects of nonprofit governance, offering practical, varied, and rich content that mixes tools and principles that are immediately implementable with strategies and resources geared toward your continual long-term growth as an effective and engaged board member.
All sessions will be led by experienced nonprofit leaders and subject-matter experts and designed to offer practical information that can be applied immediately along with larger-picture questions and possibilities to consider for the long-term.
- Workshop 1: Nonprofit Board 101: Basic Board Member Duties – July 9, 2026, from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm CT
- Workshop 2: Board Member Legal and Human Resources Responsibilities – July 16, 2026, from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm CT
- Workshop 3: Financial Information Board Members Should Know – July 23, 2026, from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm CT
- Workshop 4: Nonprofit Board Inclusion: DEI Success Strategies – July 30, 2026, from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm CT
Each event takes place on Thursday every week from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm CT.
Workshop 1: Nonprofit Board 101: Basic Board Member Duties – July 9 from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM CST
We start our series with an overview of nonprofits, the nonprofit sector in Minnesota, and a basic overview of the duties and responsibilities that board members have as volunteer external leaders of nonprofit organizations. We will focus primarily on basic board information and the fiduciary duties that board members have (we’ll also define that word fiduciary!), and talk about what board members should and should not be doing. Many new board members never get basic training when they begin their board service – this will set some groundwork for board service and will also provide content you may never have gotten even if you’re a nonprofit board veteran.
Learning outcomes. Participants will:
- Learn about the nonprofit sector in Minnesota
- Understand what a nonprofit is and how nonprofits are managed and governed
- Learn about general board member responsibilities as well as the three higher-level fiduciary duties of board members
- Learn the difference between governance and management in nonprofits and who should be doing what
Session Details
Kelly LaCore, Northern Minnesota regional representative, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Kelly LaCore represents the northern Minnesota office for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, supporting more than 200 nonprofits of all sizes and services across the northern strip of the state. In this regional role, she provides resources, information, connections and training to help organizations better meet their missions. Kelly is passionate about nonprofits and the community-building role they play everywhere. She has served on a few boards in the Duluth area with missions that she is excited about.
Workshop 2: Board Member Legal and Human Resources Responsibilities – July 16 from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM CST
Board members have legal and human resources responsibilities. What are those responsibilities and how can a board member protect the organization, and themselves, from legal pitfalls? In this session we will discuss liability, ethics, board relationship with staff, and other topics related to your duty of care and governance.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the legal framework that governs nonprofit status, including the key federal and state laws that shape board responsibility and oversight.
- Identify common sources of liability, ethical risk, and legal pitfalls that can affect both the organization and individual board members.
- Describe the board’s role in human resources oversight, including boundaries between governance and staff management.
Speaker Information
Cameron Kruger, founder, That Nonprofit Guy
Cameron Kruger is a passionate advocate for the nonprofit sector. He is the founder of That Nonprofit Guy, a consultancy focused on building the capacity of nonprofits and Adjunct Professor in the Organizational Leadership department at Southern New Hampshire University. Cameron has previously served as the President/CEO of the Duluth Children’s Museum and was Board Chair for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.
Workshop 3: Financial Information Board Members Should Know – July 23 from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM CST
Nonprofit leaders state that financial oversight is one of the most important roles of an effective governance board. However, many board members are either unaware of their fiduciary responsibilities or uncomfortable with financial documents and information. This training will demystify some of the accounting reports and terminology, explain the board’s role in maintaining internal controls, and give you tools to ask good questions and recognize when something is concerning and needs further investigation.
Learning outcomes
- Deepen your understanding of the Board’s responsibility regarding financial governance.
- Improve your finance vocabulary giving you confidence in asking questions about the organizations’ financial reports
- Understanding the importance of internal controls and how to create an environment that deters fraudulent activity
Presenter Information
Leslie Brunfelt, finance director, City of Proctor, MN
Leslie Brunfelt holds a CPA license and has 30 years of experience as an accountant in a variety of professional roles including at a few nonprofits. Her current role is Finance Director for the City of Proctor, MN. She is also currently involved in the community as a board member for First Witness Child Advocacy Center, treasurer at St. Paul’s Church, and as a sustaining member of the Junior League of Duluth. Leslie lives in Duluth and loves being outdoors on Duluth trails or adventuring the North Shore and the BWCA. She is a self-described foodie and loves to try new recipes and restaurants.
Workshop 4: Nonprofit Board Inclusion: DEI Success Strategies – July 30 from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM CST
Being a new or prospective member of a board member can be both exciting and challenging. You may be driven to make a difference, lend your skills to a great organization, support the community, or be a voice for the underrepresented. Whatever your reasons, the rewards, and challenges of venturing into a new role parallels other significant transitions in your life. Understanding our behaviors, challenges, and success patterns in other aspects of our life provides a road map to be successful in new and unfamiliar endeavors. This interactive workshop will provide attendees with opportunities to reflect, develop success strategies and provide resources for being successful as a new or prospective board member.
Presenter Information
Chris Davila, founder, Davila Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consulting
Chris Davila is an experienced diversity, equity and inclusion professional with a demonstrated history of working in higher education. He identifies as a gay, cis-male, Mexican American and a first generation college graduate. An eighteen-year resident of Duluth, Minnesota, he has served as an Academic Excellence Coordinator at the University of Minnesota Duluth Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the College of St. Scholastica and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist at Life House. Chris earned a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching, General Business Certificate and Human Services Certificate at the University of Minnesota Duluth and is a certified Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).
Board Officer Role Learning Sessions: Chair/Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary – July 10, 17, and 24 from 10:00AM – 11:00AM CST
Board Officer Role Learning Sessions: Chair/Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary
Ready to transition into an Officer role, but unsure of what these roles entail, and where to start? This 3-part series provides a comprehensive overview of the specific duties and elevated expectations associated with Board leadership positions. Participants will gain the insights necessary to:
- Understand the specific duties of each Officer position and their role.
- Learn the legal obligations associated with Board leadership.
- Create an effective working relationship between Officer positions, the board, and staff.
On Friday, July 10 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am CT, you will explore the Chair/Vice Chair:
- Effectively running meetings,
- understanding the basics of board procedures, and
- being the conduit of communication between the Board and staff.
On Friday, July 17 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am CT, you will explore the Treasurer role:
- Interpreting financial statements,
- creating budgets and
- guiding fiscal strategy.
On Friday, July 24 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am CT, you will explore the Secretary role:
- Ensuring accurate record keeping including meeting minutes and
- governing documents.
These three Board Officer Role sessions are included with the “Board Series” registration; however, the Board Officer Role sessions are also available as a separate series registration if those are the only sessions you need (register for the Board Officer Roles sessions here).
Presenter Information
Cameron Kruger, founder, That Nonprofit Guy
Cameron Kruger is a passionate advocate for the nonprofit sector. He is the founder of That Nonprofit Guy, a consultancy focused on building the capacity of nonprofits and Adjunct Professor in the Organizational Leadership department at Southern New Hampshire University. Cameron has previously served as the President/CEO of the Duluth Children’s Museum and was Board Chair for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.
Leslie Brunfelt, finance director, City of Proctor, MN
Leslie Brunfelt holds a CPA license and has 30 years of experience as an accountant in a variety of professional roles including at a few nonprofits. Her current role is Finance Director for the City of Proctor, MN. She is also currently involved in the community as a board member for First Witness Child Advocacy Center, treasurer at St. Paul’s Church, and as a sustaining member of the Junior League of Duluth. Leslie lives in Duluth and loves being outdoors on Duluth trails or adventuring the North Shore and the BWCA. She is a self-described foodie and loves to try new recipes and restaurants.
Event Details
This event is a series with four dates: July 9, 16, 23 & 30, and three board officer role learning sessions: July 10, 17 & 24. The series registration price includes all seven sessions.
This virtual event will take place on the Zoom platform. Your access link will be emailed to you the day before the event after 12 p.m.
This sessions will be recorded available to registrants after the live event.
Captioning is provided automatically through Zoom. For information on requesting CART, ASL, or another accommodation, please visit our Registration Policies page.
To learn more about events, registration, and payment, visit our Event & Registration FAQ page.
We offer partial scholarships for all of our educational workshops. Visit our Scholarships page for more information.
