Program Overview
For nearly 20 years, the Berkeley Board Fellows program has been shaping future board leaders by offering hands-on experience in social impact through nonprofit board service. This eight-month experiential learning program places pairs of MBA students on local Bay Area nonprofit boards as non-voting members.
Fellows commit 8-10 hours per month towards attending 3-4 board meetings, designing and implementing a board-related project, engaging in subcommittees, and meeting with their board mentor.
Fellows complete a strategic project for the board. Past examples of projects include:
- Developing onboarding materials
- Creating a board composition matrix
- Administering and analyzing CSSL’s board self-assessment tool
- Developing KPIs for board effectiveness
- Developing a board-level fundraising strategy
- Designing Board recruitment strategies
- Financial modeling for budgets
Fellows are expected to complete a non-profit board governance course offered at UC Berkeley, to enhance their fundamental knowledge about key governance concepts.
2025-2026 Partner Organizations
