Event Details

An evening focused on being and becoming a nonprofit board member will be hosted by the Ross Alumni Club of Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan.

Since 2003, the Club has organized and presented training and informational sessions on nonprofit board governance. Over the years, these events have introduced newcomers to the board’s role and responsibilities and helped experienced board members learn about topics impacting their organizations. The sessions have informed hundreds of individuals and connected them with others serving and leading nonprofit organizations in the Southeast Michigan community.

This event is open to the public, you do not have to be an alum to attend. If you already are involved, or are interested in becoming involved with a nonprofit, you won’t want to miss this opportunity.

To facilitate connections between alumni, nonprofit organizations and the work being done with the sector on campus, this year’s program will be a collaboration with the Ross School’s Board Fellows program:

5:30 – 6:30       Networking Reception

Attending alumni can join and meet current Board Fellows students and their nonprofit board mentors. The program has matched about 25 graduate students with nonprofit boards across many service sectors and missions. These students and their mentors will be attending a session earlier in the afternoon and are staying to network with event attendees.

6:30 – 8:00       Open Informational Sessions

Following the reception, two informational sessions will be held at the same time. Attendees are welcome to choose either one based on their personal level of experience:

• A “Board 101” workshop facilitated by the NEW Center of Ann Arbor on the role & responsibilities important to serving on a nonprofit board. Prior to attending, those registered will receive a link to online information which should be reviewed before the session. At the event, the NEW Center facilitators will discuss and explain how that information applies to the boardmember and the nonprofit they lead.

• “Nonprofit Affiliations and Mergers” -- Today’s environment is challenging many organizations’ abilities to address their missions and service areas. This session, facilitated by nonprofit attorney and Ross alum Mark Lezotte, will explore the reasoning and factors involved with combining efforts which can help boards decide if that is an effective option.