Application period open for Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s 2024 Board Institute

Dec. 10 deadline set, with training dates in February 2024

Image from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation homepage

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) is accepting applications for its Winter 2024 Gulf Coast Board Institute (GCBI), the nonprofit has announced.

The online application and overview for the program are available at www.gulfcoastcf.org/GCBI, a news release notes. “This high-demand program is delivered through Gulf Coast’s Invest in Incredible consultants to active and prospective nonprofit board members in the Gulf Coast region,” the release explains. The deadline to apply for this governance training series is Sunday, Dec. 10.

Thus far, more than 400 individuals have graduated from the Gulf Coast Board Institute, the release points out.

“If you are looking for a comprehensive, interactive, educational, deep dive experience on becoming a better board member, Gulf Coast’s Board Institute is for you. In this program, you will be given valuable resources, peer support, and the opportunity to learn and thrive as a nonprofit board member,” said Invest In Incredible Director Betsy Steiner in the release.

The group will participate in training experiences on the following Fridays, the release adds: Feb. 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2024 at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Sarasota Philanthropy Center, which stands at 1549 State St. in Sarasota. Among the topics that will be covered are the “fundamentals of nonprofit board governance, becoming an ambassador for your organization, financial and legal oversight responsibilities, fundraising and resource development, and how to create a diverse, highly functioning, and engaged board,” the release points out. “The training is led by certified consultants who are part of Gulf Coast’s Invest in Incredible nonprofit capacity-building initiative,” the release adds.

“Participants will be selected through a competitive process with the intent of creating a group of individuals with a variety of experiences,” the release continues. “Gulf Coast provides all training and resources at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to serve as advocates for good board governance in current and future nonprofit board roles.”

The release also explains that Gulf Coast prefers that applicants be active board members at nonprofits in the region, although prospective board members also will be considered.

“Because of strong demand for this high-quality training opportunity,” the release notes, applicants also must sign a commitment that they will attend all four days of training if selected.

To learn more, visit www.gulfcoastcf.org/GCBI.