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Governance Fundamentals
Build governance for lasting impact.
A fully-engaged board that embraces its governance role and confidently performs its responsibilities is the foundation of a resilient organization capable of meeting modern challenges. For many organizations, gaining clarity about the role of the board and its relationship to staff is a good first step toward improving board performance. Other strategies include effective board recruitment and orientation, well-functioning committees, and a solid policy infrastructure.
Designed for Impact
Practical tools, custom content, and curated resources tailored to your mission.
Community Powered
Connect in the LUNA Town Square™, our virtual hub for live sessions, peer interactions, and expert-led discussions.
Guided Growth
Our online and hybrid courses, including the flagship Level-Up Nonprofit Accelerator, will supercharge your organization.
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“I liked the community, and the chances to work together as a group on different topics, and homework sessions to work together. I also appreciate the ability to continue to connect, work with the LUNA leadership, and still participate in related workshops and events”
Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Hands-on learning and personalized support every step of the way
Governance Fundamentals
Course Material
This course considers five key questions:
- Does our board understand and comply with the primary responsibilities of directors?
- Does our board have the right composition to meet the challenges today and going forward?
- How do we effectively recruit and onboard the right board?
- Are our committees and board meetings structured for maximum effectiveness?
- Do our board members embrace their responsibility for fundraising and advocacy?
- Checking your governance compass
- Overview of the roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards
- The roles of board and staff
- Designing the ideal board for your organization
- Recruiting and onboarding directors
- Effective committee structures
- Creating board meetings that don't suck
- The board's role in fundraising and advocacy
Frequently Answered Questions
Our accelerators are designed for people new to various aspects of purpose-driven work including fundraising, marketing, and finance/accounting. We have a particular passion for small and mid-size organizations and tailor our courses for that audience. But individuals from larger organizations will certainly benefit from the learning.
We are welcoming organizations that meet the following criteria:
- Your organization is incorporated, has 501(c)3 status or pending (for US organization) or has a fiscal sponsor.
- You have at least three board members who are not related.
- You are raising less than $250,000 (US) from individuals annually.
- You share LUNA's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Unfortunately, we are not accepting applications from political organizations.
Each accelerator is $699. We offer a 10% discount for two or more people from the same organization.
Thanks to the generosity of a wonderful family foundation and from organizations that have gone through the program before, partial scholarships are available to the organizations that meet these criteria:
- Your organization is incorporated, has 501(c)3 status or pending (for US organizations) or has a fiscal sponsor.
- You have at least three board members who are not related.
- You are raising less than $250,000 (US) from individuals annually.
- You share LUNA's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Each organization is entitled to one scholarship.
Change happens in nonprofits when leadership is on board. That's why we strongly recommend that two people from your organization participate, ideally the executive director (if you have one) and a board member.
Once you join LUNA, at least one person per group must prepare for and participate in all the online sessions and live workshops. If you have to miss a live workshop, you will be able to access the recording. You also need to complete the capstone project assignments (see "The Experience" section of this website).
We understand that life happens, and you may not be able to complete the program. Talk to us, and we'll be happy to let you re-start in a future cohort. But, if you ghost us at any point or don't complete the program requirements, we will invoice you for the full value of the scholarship.
The learning is done completely online, and on your own time. Materials are available each week, and include videos, downloadable presentation decks, templates, and other curated resources.
Our instructors are available by DM through the LUNA Town Square platform to answer any questions you may have. For more in-depth assistance, we have optional coaching packages available with the instructors of each accelerator so that you may ask questions, workshop ideas, or seek advice.
We have carefully designed lessons and assignments that we know will make the biggest difference for you. What you learn every week will be very actionable. At every step of the way, there will be things you can start to implement right away.
LUNA is a community of continuous learners. Your place in that community doesn’t end when the course is finished.
As a member of the community, you will receive:
- Continued access to the course materials
- Free membership to our LUNA Town Square community and access to our resource libraries, forums, and LUNA Live events
- Discounted rates to other LUNA courses
We have optional coaching packages available with the instructors of each accelerator so that you may ask questions, workshop ideas, or seek advice.
Starting in 2026, we will introduce additional courses that take deeper dives into a variety of topics. You will find announcements of those in the LUNA Town Square platform, our website, and through periodic emails.
We want this to be a great experience, so we are limiting each cohort to no more than 15 organizations with two people from each. This will be an intimate, supportive learning environment for everyone.
Each accelerator is approximately six to eight weeks long. Lessons are dropped weekly.
Your journey begins by clicking the APPLY button in the top right corner of your screen.
Once you have started the course, we do not offer refunds.
