Benefits for Nonprofit Boards
Bears on Boards provides local Bay Area nonprofit boards with:
- Fresh ideas and perspectives from Berkeley Haas MBA and other graduate students, prepared to join your board through training and coaching by experienced CSSL faculty and staff
- Information about best practices for board excellence and business management
- A strategic project designed in collaboration with the board
- An opportunity to mentor the next generation of board leaders
For the 2023-2024 program, there will be 25 spots for select nonprofit organizations. We encourage you to review the information on this page and apply early if interested. If you have questions about the program or the application process, please email CSSL at [email protected].
Click here to apply!
Expectations and Timeline
As hosts, nonprofits should expect to:
- Secure board and organizational support for hosting Bears on Boards and clearly communicate to staff and board the fellow’s role to ensure they are integrated effectively
- Identify one board member to serve as mentor to the fellow (see below)
- Help the fellow develop an understanding of governance by explaining the board’s goals and challenges
- Invite fellows to meetings, communicating schedules as early as possible, and introduce them to board members and the executive director, ensuring they are included in discussions
- Design a specific project appropriate for an MBA or other Berkeley graduate student, adjusting during the initial month as needed, and provide necessary resources (data, board time, staff time, etc.) to complete the project
- Conduct a final meeting with the fellows
- Have at least one representative attend Bears on Boards events, including a virtual orientation session (September 2023), in-person kickoff (October 2023), and in-person finale (April 2023)
Selecting a mentor, a member of the board who will serve as the fellow’s primary contact and guide throughout the experience, is also critical. The mentor should be available to meet with the fellows on a monthly basis to:
- Onboard and guide the fellows through their participation on the board
- Act as a resource for questions about the organization
Key characteristics for mentors include:
- Established and experienced board member
- Interest in working with and able to commit time to Bears on Boards
- Good communicator
- Reliable and regular attendee at board meetings
- Be proactive in ensuring a positive experience with the organization
- Attend and participate in all board meetings during the seven-month program period, as well as relevant committee meetings
- Work with mentor and CSSL staff to identify and deliver a suitable project to be completed by April
- Attend Bears on Boards orientation, workshops, and finale event
- Participate in small-group discussions with other board fellows to share best practices and discuss challenges
- Complete feedback surveys
- Deliver final presentation to board
Application Process
- Nonprofit Applications – due August 31, 2023
- Student and Nonprofit Notification – September 22, 2023
Program Year
- Virtual Nonprofit Orientation – End of September 2023
- Kick-off Meeting – Early October 2023
- Final project due / Board presentation – April 2024
- Program Finale – End of April 2024
