6. Nonprofit board member course

In 2013-2014, the Secretary of State, in collaboration with several leaders in the nonprofit sector, developed a five-module Board Education eLearning course to serve as a resource for current and aspiring nonprofit board members. Each of the five course modules addresses an important aspect of being an effective and responsible nonprofit director. A self-assessment tool can help you understand which of the five modules will benefit you the most. The courses include:

Module 1: Fiduciary Duties of Nonprofit Directors

This module includes information on the basic obligations of all Colorado nonprofit board members, and points participants to more in-depth materials and educational resources.

Module 2: Board Governance

This module covers a variety of basic governance principles that board members can apply to improve their organizations’ efficacy and efficiency.

Module 3: Understanding the Form 990 and Financial Ratios

This module provides an overview of the Form 990 and important ratios that can be used to assess an organization’s financial health.

Module 4: Regulatory Compliance and Filing Requirements

This module will help ensure that a nonprofit complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and makes each of the required regulatory filings. It’s important to note that in organizations with staff, board members should not generally be involved in the day-to-day management of the organization. Instead, the board should provide active, high-level oversight of senior management. In turn, executive staff and other management staff should be responsible for performing or delegating most of the tasks described in this module. In addition, policies should be put in place detailing the type and frequency of information provided to the board.

Module 5: Personnel Issues

This module provides an overview of the federal and state-specific laws and regulations that govern nonprofits, including regulations concerning how nonprofits interact with staff, contractors, volunteers, and their own board members and other issues nonprofits face in managing their human resources. The topics covered include: general human resources considerations; executive and board compensation; director orientation and onboarding; and succession planning.

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