Previous Cohorts

In just the last two years, we have worked with over 100 board members, representing more than 150 different local, national, and international organizations. And we are just getting started.

The Board Member Institute has redefined the standards for board member development. Through four cohorts, we have begun to transform the culture and ecosystem of volunteer leadership in the Jewish sector.

The First Chicago Cohort

The program launched in 2018 with our first cohort of 28 leaders from the Chicago community. Comprised of presidents, committee chairs, treasurers, vice presidents, and more, this inaugural cohort demonstrated the impact we can have when we invest in a leader's board experience.

PORTRAIT OF OUR PARTICIPANTS FROM CHICAGO-1

90% of participants in the first cohort reported significant improvements in:

How to be prepared and ready to serve as a board member

Engaging other board members in educational or developmental opportunities

Confidence as a board member

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Testimonials

"What a night! The first session at Northwestern tonight was great. Such a fantastic cohort and curriculum, I'm honored to be a part of this program! Keshet is going to benefit from our involvement. Thanks for including us!"

Chicago-1 Participant

"The panel was terrific! Thank you so much for your efforts to get great panelists!! Lots of energy and enthusiasm, good Q&A - the whole thing was a big success!"

Chicago-1 Participant

"The information I have learned or that has been reinforced - whether through faculty presentations or experiences shared by members of the cohort - is empowering."

Chicago-1 Participant

"The learning has been amazing. My thinking about who is a good board member has totally changed."

Chicago-1 Participant

"I feel more confident as a board member and am speaking up way more often."

Chicago-1 Participant

"Great speakers so far. They keep on trying to network us into the best leaders around Chicago and the world."

Chicago-1 Participant

"Honored to be a part of this inaugural cohort with many new friends and several other brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity."

Chicago-1 Participant

The National Cohort

The National Cohort expanded the principles and material taught in the first Chicago Cohort, taking the BMI's reach to a national level. The cohort of 19 participants from across the country came to Kellogg in Chicago to enhance their board skills and governance knowledge.

PORTRAIT OF OUR PARTICIPANTS FROM NATIONAL

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FROM NATIONAL

"I am taking more ownership and going to the chair before he needs to come to me."

National Participant

"I think I am better engaged because I learned to focus only on boards that I believe I can have the most impact on."

National Participant

"I stepped up to be President of the board."

National Participant

"I am more informed about how I should decide whether or not I should serve on a board - both for my own understanding of what I am committing to, and to understand the health of the organization."

National Participant

"Having the experience gives me a lot of credibility, which naturally turns into confidence."

National Participant

"I understand better how I need to behave in the group, relative to my position, age and experience."

National Participant

"I feel like I know how to do my job better."

National Participant

The Second Chicago Cohort

In response to growing demand, we launched the Second Chicago Cohort of 19 participants in January 2019. Participants who served on boards of organizations based in Chicago met bi-monthly for evening and half-day sessions.

PORTRAIT OF OUR PARTICIPANTS FROM CHICAGO-2

Hybrid Cohort

The Hybrid Cohort began in November 2019 and, due to pandemic safety precautions, will conclude virtually in December 2020. This cohort boasts 32 participants from different communities across the United States, Canada, and Israel.

The Hybrid Cohort features two new program components:

An individual Leadership Insight tool to help individuals understand how leadership traits and competencies impact their behavior as board members; and
Thematic tracks in Women's Leadership, Day Schools, Foundations, and General Applied Learning. Facilitated by experts in the respective fields, tracks allow participants to gather for customized curriculum and small group discussion.

At the midpoint of the Hybrid Cohort, 98% of participants reported improved:

Skills and abilities to influence the organizations they serve

Knowledge of principles of effective governance