A Blended Learning Program


The Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations created and owns Alberta Board Member Essentials.



Overview

Alberta Board Member Essentials (ABME) is a 5-module program that combines self-paced online coursework with in-person or real-time virtual instruction and hands-on learning to give Alberta's board members the tools to effectively guide their organization toward its mission and vision.

This course was designed with both beginner and seasoned board members in mind. By emphasizing the latest provincial policy developments, emerging trends, and best practices in board leadership, participants will expand their skills and capacity regardless of their experience serving on boards.

About the Alberta Board Member Essentials Program.


Designed to support the growth of new and developing board members, the Alberta Board Member Essentials (ABME) program was built by Albertans for Albertans.

ABME is a five-module training program that combines online learning with either in-person or real-time virtual instruction to give new and developing board members the tools to successfully serve on a non-profit board.

For new board members, the ABME program helps build the foundational knowledge needed in order to be an effective board member. For developing and seasoned board members, ABME encourages a broader understanding of the role they and their organization play in the larger social sector ecosystem.

The full program consists of 3 on-demand online sessions, 1 hour of pre-reading, and either 2 in-person or real-time virtual sessions.

On-demand sessions take up to 3 hours each to complete. All three online sessions must be completed prior to the in-person or real-time virtual sessions. In-person and real-time online sessions are 3.5 hours in length. Access to the on-demand sessions is made available immediately upon registration.


Please note, the live sessions are group-based and interactive, therefore they will not be recorded.


Though it is possible to attend with a phone and or a tablet it is strongly recommended that participants registering for ABME have access to login through a computer.

What Students Are Saying:


Stuart Muir
Stuart Muir, BBA, PMP

Thank you for the great learning opportunity you provided through the Alberta Board Members Essentials Program. It has been a long journey which started in December of 2019 with the online learning and was interrupted by COVID-19 in March 2020.


The reimagined online experiential learning components challenged my thinking about my role as board member for the Edmonton Music Festival Society. My interactions with my fellow students, our breakout session guides and you helped me see and practice ways I can be a more effective board member. Your interventions, facilitation and reflections brought many valuable insights.


I will be recommending this program and your other EVCO sessions to my board members.

Gabrielle Battiste, BA, JD
Gabrielle Battiste, BA, JD

I am a lawyer that advises organizations, including not-for-profits, on policy & governance. 


For me, ABME was an invaluable experience. I got to meet other peers in the not-for-profit sector and appreciated the diverse perspectives & backgrounds that everyone brought to the in-person sessions.


I gained a lot of insight from the program, and walked away with some great information on how to manage perspectives and different ways to conduct board meetings.


I would encourage every person involved in a not-for-profit organization, whether staff, board members, lawyers, accountants or others, to take this course.

COURSE COMPONENTS

Alberta with a Heart
Module 1: Overview of the Alberta Non-Profit Sector

Online on-demand learning (approx. 3 hours)


The non-profit sector represents a substantial segment of our society. It plays a significant role in shaping our community’s quality of life as well as being a major economic driver and employer. It is important for board members to understand the environment in which they operate, including other organizations that may be partners, collaborators, or even competitors, as well as the legal framework that influences and drives the operations and behaviours of their organization.

 

This module gives participants the tools to:

  • explain the impact non-profits have in their community.
  • define the differences between non-profits and explain how the laws affect their governance and activities differently.
  • explain the differences between bylaws and policies and how they impact and are impacted by the board.
  • explain the role of membership within organizations.



Module 2: Board Member Fundamentals

Online Learning (approx. 3 hrs)

This module provides an overview of the role of governance and shared leadership as it relates to the non-profit sector, including charities. A specific focus of this module will be the roles and responsibilities of both individual board members and as members of the collective board. The session explores both the board’s and board members’ legal, ethical, and fiduciary responsibilities.


This module will provide participants with the tools to:

  • make connections between the role of the board and the role of the executive director.
  • explain how the roles of the board, individual board members, and the executive director differ and complement each other.
  • recognize a conflict of interest and determine the proper steps to address it.
  • explain the difference between legalities and ethics and understand the laws that impact board members and their organizations.
  • explain the different ways boards make decisions and the advantages and disadvantages of each method.


People working at a table
CCVO NPO Sector Data

Module 3: Understanding Financial Matters

Online Learning (approx. 3 hrs)

This module provides clarity on essential non-profit and charitable financial documents and best practices to support board members in the fiduciary duties that will keep their organization financially stable, legally compliant, and well-equipped to achieve their missions and mandate.

This module will give participants the tools to:

  • properly interpret critical non-profit financial statements and documents.
  • interpret key trends about the organization from its financial data.
  • recognize common indicators of financial problems.


Session A: Working as a Sum of the Parts

In-person or real-time virtual instruction.



This is the first of two in-person or real-time online attendance modules

Module 4 is where participants transition their learnings into practice.

Using case studies and collaborative role-playing, participants explore how decisions are made, how relationships and leadership are maintained, and how organizational leadership as a board member is different than leading a team or organization.

This module gives participants the tools to:

  • recognize a conflict of interest and determine the proper steps to address it.
  • explain the different ways in which boards make decisions and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
  • feel comfortable participating as a member of a decision-making body.
  • make connections between the mission, vision, and values of the organization and its operations, policies, and strategic plan.
  • make governance decisions in alignment with an organization’s mission, vision, and values.


Group Bonding
Natural Step ABCD Model

Session B: Strategic Board Leadership

In-person or real-time online attendance



The second in-person or real-time online session module gathers participants to reflect on their experiences and provides insight into how to strategically advance an organization's mission and vision.

Participants will spend time exploring how boards build, implement, and lead strategy through decisions and policy. There will be an examination of how boards and organizations work can advocate for their cause legally, morally, and ethically. Participants will also explore emerging trends in organizational messaging.


This module will give participants the tools to:

  • lead strategic governance conversations at a board meeting.
  • explain the role that advocacy plays in achieving strategic outcomes, and the laws that influence how organizations advocate.
  • make the connections between organizational outcomes and the work of the executive director.


The Course Breakdown

  1.1 Introduction
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  1.2 Environmental Scan of the Non-profit Sector
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  1.3 Introduction to the Non-profit Legal Context
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  1.4 Special Thanks
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  2.1 Introduction
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  2.2 Types of Boards
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  2.3 The Roles and Responsibilities of the Board
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  2.4 The Roles and Responsibilities of a Board Member
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  2.5 Understanding the Role of the Executive and the Executive Committees
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  2.6 What Is Fiduciary and How Does It Apply to Me as a Board Member?
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  2.7 Role of the Executive Director
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  2.8 Legal and Ethical
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  2.9 Conflict of Interest
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  2.10 Working as a Board
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  2.11 Special Thanks
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  3.1 Introduction
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  3.2 Each Board Member Accountable for the Organizational Finances
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  3.3 Special Thanks
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  Part A - Live Course
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  Part B - Live Course
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  The Wrap Up
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ABME Delivery Partners:

Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations





Empowering Non-profits and Volunteers in Metro Edmonton.


For more capacity-building opportunities, to find your next volunteer adventure, or to learn more about the mission and mandate of the ECVO, please visit www.ecvo.ca.






Located in and supporting the Alberta Capital Region


www.ecvo.ca

Volunteer Lethbridge

Volunteer Lethbridge exists as a support network for both volunteers and non-profit organizations to help them build capacity and thrive.


Our aim is to safely provide opportunities for people to contribute to their community, and to offer continued aid and guidance to the change-makers.


Located in and supporting the

Lethbridge Region


https://volunteerlethbridge.com/

The development of this program was made possible by:
Suncor Energy

City of Edmonton Logo

Edmonton Community Foundation Logo

United Way Alberta Capital Region Logo

Alberta Government Logo

Learning Tools and Platforms

THE ONLINE LEARNING PLARTFORM


Teachable logo

Alberta Board Member Essentials makes use of recorded video from various Alberta non-profit leaders to give you diverse perspectives on the state of the sector and what it takes to be a successful board leader in Alberta. 


Combined with readings, case studies, short quizzes, and face-to-face instruction, ABME's blended learning structure is a dynamic approach to learning the essentials of non-profit governance.


Online components are hosted on Teachable, the easy-to-use online platform for interactive course work.

Live Session Platforms

The delivery partners use the tools best suited to connect with their audiences. Below are just some possible conferencing platforms used for the Delivery of ABME.

Zoom Logo
Zoom

Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams

Google Meet logo
Google Meet

Need Financial Assistance?


Check out the bursaries provided by the Muttart Foundation https://www.muttart.org/granting-programs/