Community foundations are pillars of their communities, ensuring funding and other resources are placed into the hands of community organizations. And to keep doing this amazing work, community foundations continue to learn, grow and build paths forward.
CFC, in partnership with the Ozone Advisory Group, has created a six-part learning series on governance for community foundations for Fall 2024. This learning cohort will move through governance subjects starting on fundamental practices and continue through board design, culture and talent, effective practices, the board’s role on strategy and risk management and finish with a look at the practices of a high-performing board. This series will be facilitated by Ozone Advisory Group, and will hold many moments for reflection, discussion and learnings.
The cost for the entire series will be $600, which will include the six weekly virtual sessions, accompanying resources and recordings to review the sessions whenever feels most valuable to you. This series is available in both French and English.
Your facilitators from the Ozone Advisory Group:
Mary Cameron, ICD.D
Mary Cameron has served as CEO of three privately held companies, as a Provincial Deputy Minister, and as CEO of the Alberta Workers Compensation Board. She is a past member of the Edmonton chapter of the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Throughout her career Mary has been an active volunteer, notably serving as Chair Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, Chair Habitat for Humanity Canada, and currently on the executive committee of the board of Habitat for Humanity International. For her business and volunteer work, Mary has been the recipient of numerous awards including Consumers Choice Business woman of the Year, ITV’s Women of Vision, the Queens Jubilee medal, and an honourary doctorate from MacEwan University.
Darren Rawson, P.Eng., ICD.D
Darren Rawson is a former CEO of three different private enterprises over 17 years including over 20 years in international business in numerous industries. He has been an active director for over 20 years and currently sits on 6 private company Boards including 5 as Chair.
He is the former Academic Director for the Governance for Small & Medium Sized Enterprises at the UofA Executive Education and is the Past Chair of the Edmonton chapter of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He also provides consulting services to private and non-profit enterprises in the areas of governance, strategy, expansion, and leadership.
The Sessions
Tuesday October 8, 2024: Governance Fundamentals 101, 1 – 2 PM ET
Governance is the cornerstone of any successful community foundation. The Governance Fundamentals 101 session is a comprehensive introductory session designed to share the essential knowledge and skills necessary to understand and implement effective governance practices. Led by Darren Rawson, the session will combine insights on the fundamental principles, concepts, and best practices of governance with practical examples and moments for discussion between the facilitator and participants, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience.
You will leave this session with an understanding of:
- The fundamentals of governance,
- The fiduciary responsibilities of the board,
- The role of the board and members with respect to community foundations, and
- The significance of governance in community foundations
Tuesday October 15, 2024: Board Design Considerations, 1 – 2 PM ET
The composition and structure of a board of directors plays a crucial role in shaping the governance and strategic direction of a community foundation, and each community foundation is unique. Led by Mary Cameron, this session will use engaging discussions, case studies, and practical exercises to support participants with the knowledge and tools needed to create a board that fosters effective decision-making, accountability, with the goal of organizational success.
You will leave this session with an understanding of:
- Different governance models and structures,
- How to design a board that adds value to your unique foundation, and
- The legal and regulatory considerations in governance.
Tuesday October 22, 2024: Talent and Culture in Boards, 1 – 2 PM ET
The success of any community foundation relies heavily on the talent, culture, and dynamics within its board of directors. This session, led by Darren Rawson, is designed to explore the critical role of talent management and culture in driving board effectiveness and overall organizational excellence. You will delve into the strategic aspects of board talent and culture through practical exercises and moments of discussion between the facilitator and participants, providing you with valuable insights and actionable strategies to enhance board performance, collaboration, and decision-making.
You will leave this session with an understanding of:
- How to build the talent and culture in your board,
- Evaluating risk management and decision-making frameworks, and
- Assessing performance metrics and measuring impact.
Tuesday October 29, 2024: Effective Board Practices, 1 – 2 PM ET
The Effective Board Practices session is designed to equip board members and community foundation members with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance board effectiveness and drive exceptional governance outcomes. Led by Mary Cameron, this session will explore a wide range of best practices and practical strategies that can be implemented to strengthen board performance and decision-making. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and real-world examples, participants will gain valuable insights and actionable takeaways to optimize their board’s effectiveness.
You will leave this session with an understanding of:
- The best practices for designing an efficient and high-functioning board,
- Assessing how to design your board meetings thoughtfully, and
- Clear and transparent communication strategies.
Monday November 4, 2024: The Board’s Role in Strategy & Risk, 1 – 2 PM ET
The role of the board of directors in shaping a community foundation’s strategy and managing risks has never been more important. This session, led by Darren Rawson, is designed to provide board members, and community foundation members with the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill their strategic and risk oversight responsibilities effectively. This session will explore the crucial role of the board in guiding and shaping the strategic direction of a community foundation. Participants will gain valuable insights into best practices and practical approaches for strategic planning, risk identification, and mitigation through learnings and discussions.
You will leave this session with an understanding of:
- Assessing the role of the board in strategy and risk, and how members can address potential risks, and
- Best practices in addressing conflict of interest
Tuesday November 12, 2024: High-performing Boards, 1 – 2 PM ET
High-performing boards are the driving force behind successful organizations. This session is designed to explore the key characteristics, practices, and behaviours that contribute to board excellence and effective governance. Led by Mary Cameron, this session will delve into the essential elements that differentiate high-performing boards from their counterparts. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will gain valuable insights and actionable strategies to enhance their board’s performance, decision-making, and overall governance effectiveness.
You will leave this session with an understanding of:
- What a high-performance board looks like, and
- The dynamic of what makes a high-performing board and how high-performing boards can elevate a community foundation and its impact.
These sessions are available to all community foundations who are members of the CFC network. Upon successful completion of this course, participants will receive a downloadable certificate of completion and a micro-credential issued through Accredible, which can be shared on Linkedin and other platforms.
Hear from past attendees:
When I signed up, I wasn't sure I was going to learn "new" material that I didn't already know/or had heard already. I was pleasantly surprised at how much additional knowledge I walked away with. Thank-you to CFC for recommending this course, it was a great experience, and of course thank-you to the course providers
Rae-Ann Noonan ( Director of Operations & Finance, Prince George Community Foundation)
The Board Governance course, led by Mary Cameron and Darren Rawson, provided practical and easily implemented ideas, along with concepts we would like to consider over the longer term. Their delivery was accessible, and they used examples from their practice and volunteer work that helped to illustrate the material. I would love to continue on the learning journey if a continuation of the series was offered! It will add strength to our Board and our Foundation!
Anne Marie Peirce (Executive Director, Brant Community Foundation)
Insightful, valuable, practical content expertly delivered by Darren and Mary from Ozone Advisory. Each module was structured to cover a different area of governance and board dynamics and they all built on each other. I really appreciated the no-nonsense approach that moves us away from blindly following Roberts Rules and instead makes us think about how we set up the structure, practices and approach that best serves our needs. This is certainly one of the best governance courses I have taken, and I highly recommend it.
Tina Thomas ( Chief Executive Officer, Edmonton Community Foundation)