Institute for Foundation Board Leaders and Chief Executives 2027

The Institute for Foundation Board Leaders and Chief Executives is a highly interactive retreat designed for teams of foundation leaders, including the foundation chief executive, board chair, chair-elect, vice chair, immediate past chair, and institution president or chancellor. The core purpose is to foster strategic alignment between these key individuals, enabling the foundation to operate as a high-impact strategic partner to its college or university. Participants will engage in learning from expert faculty and foundation peers regarding effective governance practices. The program provides a review of foundation governance fundamentals, facilitates a process of assessment and visioning, and culminates in the development of a comprehensive action plan. This plan aims to strengthen the CEO-board chair partnership, elevate the board's work, enhance institution-foundation alignment, and more effectively fulfill the foundation’s mission of support. The institute offers a unique opportunity for board leaders and chief executives to step away from daily distractions, engage in shared planning, and benefit from expert guidance to establish mutual expectations for roles and responsibilities, develop a framework for accountability in advancing strategic priorities, assess the board's effectiveness, and create a "governance action plan" to turn board governance into a value-added asset. Attendees will also receive one-on-one consultation with experts and forge a network of peer leaders, ensuring continuity of leadership and strategic focus through transitions.