About the Board Leadership Program
Pipeline
Be part of a pipeline of diverse and talented leaders and board members who are serving the needs of the nonprofit community. |
Contribute
Contribute your knowledge, resources, and/or networks to the nonprofit, and challenge yourself to contribute in other ways. |
Connections
Deepen your connections with nonprofit and community leaders, and with like-minded peers and board members. |
The BLP (Board Leadership Program), in partnership with APCF (Asian Pacific Community Fund), responds to the need for greater API and minority representation on nonprofit boards by developing a pipeline of diverse leaders who can provide strategic resources and expertise to strengthen the nonprofit. Participants gain first-hand knowledge of what it takes to be a board member, and have the opportunity to join a board after completing an internship.
Benefits
Workshops
The BLP program consists of four workshops and an executive panel.
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Internship
Apply what you learn in the BLP classroom to the nonprofit board room. During the 6-month program, you will have the opportunity to intern with a non-profit board. You will attend regular board meetings and have the chance to observe what it really takes to be a board member. Interns should be prepared to dedicate at least 2-5 hours a month with the nonprofit, including but not limited to attending meetings, communication with Board Chair and/or Executive Director, committee work, events, etc. |
Placement
After completing your internship, you have the option to choose if you would like to join the nonprofit as a board member. If there is a match, you will join the board as an official member. The following nonprofits have accepted BLP participants for board placements: AAPA (Asian American Professional Association), FACE (Faith Action for Community Equity), AYC (Asian Youth Center), PACS (Pacific Asian Counseling Services), ThaiCDC (Thai Community Development Center), and more! |
Upcoming Events
Hear experts from nonprofit organizations and corporations on topics such as finance, fundraising, governance, marketing, strategic management, and more.
(in-person events (held at SoCalGas Learning Center, 1801 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754) are contingent upon local public health orders and venue policies. Other venues will be located within Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley, CA. Virtual events will be held via Zoom.)
(in-person events (held at SoCalGas Learning Center, 1801 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754) are contingent upon local public health orders and venue policies. Other venues will be located within Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley, CA. Virtual events will be held via Zoom.)
- BLP Informational Session - Monday, March 4th, 2024 at 5:30pm (virtual) - Register here to learn more about the BLP!
- Sessions #1-3 - Saturday, April 20th, 2024 from 9am-4pm PT @ SoCalGas Learning Center (in-person)
- Session #4 - Wednesday, May 15th from 5:30-7pm PT (virtual)
- Session #5 - Wednesday, July 10th from 5:30-7pm PT (virtual)
- Headshot Day and Programs Mixer ~late July 2024 (exact date/location TBD) (in-person)
- Sessions #6-8 - Saturday, August 17th, 2024 from 9am-4pm PT @ SoCalGas Learning Center (in-person)
- Programs Graduation - Wednesday, December 4th, 2024 (tentative) (in-person)
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previous Speakers:
Who should join?
The Board Leadership Program is ideal for professionals with 5+ years of experience. You may already be serving on (or seek to join) a nonprofit board. You are a high-caliber and resourceful professional, and you seek to make an impact in the community.
APPLICATIONS OPEN JANUARY - FEBRUARY
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Board Leadership Program FAQs
Who? What? When? Where?
- WHO: Open to professionals at junior, mid, and advanced career levels who seek to serve as a board member in a nonprofit organization, and/or learn how to be a more effective board member.
- Everyone is encouraged to apply.
- AAPA will not discriminate due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin and veteran or disability status.
- WHAT: A 6-month leadership development program that provides diverse professionals with the skills, knowledge and networks to be an effective nonprofit board member.
- WHEN: Program runs on Saturdays and weekday evenings from April to September each year.
- WHERE: In-person events will be contingent upon local public health orders and venue policies (venues will be located within Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley, CA). Virtual events will be held via Zoom.
What are the application deadlines?
- The application period is open in January of each year. Sign up to receive the latest AAPA updates!
- This year's application is due March 8th, 2024. Early submission is encouraged.
What is the relevance of the board internship experience?
To be an effective and impactful board member, it requires strong foundational knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of a board member, experience, and a good understanding of the needs of the organization. If you are looking to join a board, the BLP board internship will give you the right experience.
Participants may intern with a non-profit board during the course of the 6-month program. In the beginning of the program, you will have the opportunity to meet all the participating nonprofits to gauge your interest in interning on their board. If there is a match, you will be invited to join as an intern.
Benefits of internship:
Participants may intern with a non-profit board during the course of the 6-month program. In the beginning of the program, you will have the opportunity to meet all the participating nonprofits to gauge your interest in interning on their board. If there is a match, you will be invited to join as an intern.
Benefits of internship:
- Apply what you learn in the classroom to the board room.
- Attend regular board meetings.
- Take on any assignments to gain experience.
- After the internship, if there is mutual agreement, you may be invited to join as an official board member within the nonprofit.
Do you have any tips for applying?
- IDENTIFY YOUR GOALS: Understand what you want to get out of the program. Developing clear goals and objectives at the beginning will set you up for greater success.
- DO YOUR RESEARCH: Conduct your research on the program, attend a few events, talk to board leadership participants, alumni, speakers, and mentors.
- APPLY: Be as detailed and as specific as possible. The Review Committee wants to know that you are committed to developing yourself, committed to serving the community, and if accepted, that you will be committed to making the most out of the program.
What topics will the BLP Program cover?
Board Leadership Program Topics:
The following will be covered at the sessions:
The following will be covered at the sessions:
- Advocacy: Understand the importance of advocacy to nonprofit success and how to effectively advocate.
- Finance Management: Determine the financial health of organizations through financial statement analysis.
- API Community: Take an in-depth look at the diverse Asian and Pacific Islander community, its needs, challenges, and opportunities to serve them.
- Fundraising: Identify key tools and frameworks to successfully fundraise and establish the role of every board member as a fundraiser.
- Board Governance: Explore the various roles of the board of directors and why each role is essential to the function of the nonprofit.
- Marketing & Public Relations: As the steward and representative of the nonprofit, learn how to present, position, and promote the nonprofit.
- Challenge of Leadership: Discuss the tools and skills for navigating generational, age, and cultural diversity within a board of directors.
- Meeting Management: This workshop will discuss the basics of Robert’s rules, including facilitation and effective meeting management.
- Executive Director Evaluation/Care: Recognize the importance of the relationship between the Executive Director and the board, and how to evaluate the Executive Director.
- Strategic Planning: Learn the importance of long-term strategic planning and how to build consensus among board members for a strategic vision.
- Executive Session: Hear from business and nonprofit leaders who will share about their personal experiences about leading and serving on nonprofit boards.
What are the program/graduation requirements?
To graduate from the AAPA Board Leadership Program (and receive your completion certificate), you will need to fulfill the following program requirements:
- Event Attendance: Attend a minimum of seven (7) out of eight (8) Board Leadership Sessions. There are 8 total sub-sessions (6 Saturday sessions + 2 weekday evening sessions). We highly encourage BLP participants to attend all the sessions.
- Internship: Participate in an internship with a nonprofit (if you are not already a board member)
- Volunteer [optional]: Apply your leadership skills as an AAPA Volunteer. Help volunteer for at least one BLP session (e.g. registration, food, A/V).
BLP’s training program provided a unique perspective and helped me understand what it takes to serve on a non-profit board. I was very fortunate to be placed with AAPA as an intern, where I gained hands-on experience of how board meetings were conducted. Now, as an official board member, I am supported and mentored by seasoned members, and challenged to do more.
Rosalind Lu
MUFG Union Bank | Board Member & Treasurer, AAPA | BLP Alumnus
Rosalind Lu
MUFG Union Bank | Board Member & Treasurer, AAPA | BLP Alumnus
Nonprofit Partners
Corporate Sponsors
