Program Overview
CSSL’s Bears on Boards program is creating the next generation of board leaders, having provided fresh thinking to hundreds of local, community-based organizations for the past 20 years. The program offers Berkeley MBAs the experience of immersing themselves in social impact as they serve on a nonprofit board.
Students serve in pairs as non-voting board members for a seven-month period (October through April) gaining experience in governance and leadership and contributing their skills and perspectives to select nonprofit organizations. Spending 8-10 hours per month, they attend board meetings, serve on committees or task forces, complete a strategic project for the board, and receive mentorship from a designated board mentor and Haas experts.
The Partnership
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Program Timeline
Interest & Applications
Student Info Session – End of August
Nonprofit Application Deadline – August 31st, 2024
Student Applications Deadline – Due mid-September
Student & Nonprofit Notification – End of September
Program Deadlines & Events
Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 – Bears on Boards Kickoff
October 31st, 2024 – Project Scopes Due
November – Cohort Workshop
January – Nonprofit Midpoint check-in
April – Program Finale
Matching Process
End of September – Matching Process Complete
Once the Center selects Bears on Boards participants it matches them to the nonprofits that align best with their industry experience and personal interests.
Past Client and Fellow Testimonials
David Riemer
Board Member, Destiny Arts Center
Destiny Arts Center has enjoyed working with the Berkeley Board Fellows for over a dozen years. The Fellows have tackled numerous strategic projects, stepped in to help us evaluate our business model in times of crisis, and generated new ideas to expand our thinking. One Fellow even “graduated” onto our board and became Treasurer. The program is well-run and is a tremendous way to introduce young leaders to new ways to make a difference in the world.
Zuren Hsueh
MBA Class of 2021
BBF was an incredible opportunity to sit on a nonprofit board and see how decisions are made at a high level. It was fascinating to be in the room where the board responded to major events, whether it was key personnel changes or the early stages of COVID-19. In addition, we were able to become more integrated with our local community and drive a strategic and impactful project.
