Nonprofit Board Governance Solutions
Tailored Board Education
Orientation and Onboarding
Facilitated Board Retreats
Governance Assessments
Our Process for Instilling Strong Nonprofit Board Leadership
PHASE I: ASSESS
PHASE II: ALIGN
PHASE III: ACTIVATE
Understand Your Board
- Review board structure, roles, and governance practices
- Identify strengths and areas for improvement
Engage Key Stakeholders
- Gather insights from board members and leadership
- Surface opportunities to strengthen alignment and engagement
Benchmark and Evaluate
- Compare practices against leading governance standards
- Clarify priorities for improvement
Clarify Roles and Expectations
- Define clear responsibilities for board members and leadership
- Establish shared expectations for engagement and accountability
Strengthen Structure and Processes
- Refine committee structure, meetings, and decision-making practices
- Introduce tools that support effective governance
Build Board Alignment
- Facilitate conversations that unify the board around priorities
- Create shared understanding of organizational direction
Implement
- Put governance recommendations into action
- Equip leadership with tools and resources for success
Support Ongoing Development
- Provide continued guidance, training, and facilitation
- Ensure governance evolves with organizational needs
Strong governance is more than bylaws and board meetings. It is the foundation that allows your mission to thrive, and the impetus that moves organizations from good to great. An effective board provides clarity, accountability, and partnership, creating the conditions for strategic leadership and long-term impact. When governance is working well, boards make decisions through an abundant lens, CEOs feel supported and guided, and organizations move forward with confidence.
At Benefactor Group, we approach governance with the same discipline and insight we bring to philanthropy. We begin by learning who you are, your mission, your history, and your aspirations, so we can understand what your board truly needs. Our work is grounded in the realities of nonprofit leadership and fundraising, not generic governance theory. This ensures coaching and recommendations that are practical, relevant, and aligned with your organizational goals.
Let's Connect
At Benefactor Group, our team of experts is ready to fuel your cause with tailored board governance. Contact us below for more information on how you can partner with Benefactor Group to develop a foundation for a sustainable future.
Our Nonprofit Board Governance Experts
Senior Consultant
Jenny Bergman is an executive-level operational leader, culture builder, and strategic advisor with more than 20 years of experience guiding nonprofit organizations through complex change, growth, and transition. With a foundation in frontline fundraising and extensive interim executive leadership experience, Jenny is frequently asked to step into high-stakes, high-ambiguity moments to stabilize organizations, establish foundational practices, and create the conditions for forward movement.
Executive Vice President
Abby Shue is an accomplished nonprofit executive and trusted advisor with nearly two decades of leadership in philanthropy, fundraising, and strategy. She brings a distinctive blend of first-hand executive experience and consulting expertise—having both led complex organizations and guided clients nationwide through transformational growth. Throughout her career, Abby has advanced mission-driven organizations across the arts and culture, health, human services, and education sectors—helping leaders navigate complexity, unlock philanthropic potential, and achieve lasting impact.
Founder & Principal
Laura MacDonald has worked professionally in fundraising and philanthropy for more than 40 years, although her interest in serving the common good may be traced to childhood experiences in church, clubs, and a large active family. When she joined a fundraising consulting firm in the early 1980s, she drew on skills learned in television production and corporate communications to tell the stories of hundreds of nonprofit clients. Her fundraising acumen was sharpened in the late 1990s when she served alongside a remarkable corps of dedicated professionals during The Ohio State University’s first billion-dollar fundraising campaign.
Key Insights on Board Governance
Leading the Pack: Governance Lessons from the Detroit Zoological Society
The Detroit Zoological Society has long been a leader in wildlife conservation, education, and animal welfare, advancing innovative approaches that inspire people to care for the natural world. Strong governance plays a critical role in sustaining this mission, and the organization’s recent work to strengthen its board reflects a commitment to thoughtful leadership and long-term impact. Watch now.
Two Hats, One Responsibility: The Art of Nonprofit Board Service
Nonprofit board members are often recruited for what they bring. Their expertise, their networks, their lived experience, their judgment. People who know things. People with opinions. And that is a good thing. The real magic of a strong board happens when members are able to use both of the hats they wear to the fullest, without confusing one for the other. Read on for more about what those hats look like and how to wear them well.
Founder Transitions as an Act of Abundance
Founder transitions are often described as risk, disruption, or loss. An abundance lens offers a different framing. A founder transition is not the end of something working. It is evidence that the organization has grown strong enough to hold more leadership, more voices, and more possibility.
Founders who step aside make room for the organization to evolve beyond a single individual. Incoming CEOs bring new capacity, perspective, and energy. Boards serve as stewards of this moment, ensuring that generosity of spirit is matched with clarity of governance so that abundance becomes sustainable impact. Explore seven essential tips to ensure a smooth transition from Founder to CEO.
