GovernRight Institute
Supporting NFPs to Meet the Challenge of Modern Governance.
Governance theory is everywhere. Practical governance is rare. The GovernRight Institute helps not-for-profit boards meet the challenges of modern governance, pairing a proven framework with real governance experts who help your board and executive actually apply it, so good governance no longer walks out the door when a director does.
Challenge of Modern Governance for NFPs
In today's business environment, meeting the challenges of modern governance can test the most well-resourced and experienced of companies. For not-for-profit organisations (NFPs), faced with managing a range of competing demands within limited financial and resource constraints, addressing the challenges of modern governance can be overwhelming.
A common experience of time-poor, volunteer NFP directors is that the challenge of putting their personally acquired governance training into effective practice is just too difficult. However, there are no excuses for an NFP board that fails to meet its modern governance obligations, with potentially negative regulatory, stakeholder and organisational performance impacts.
Based on 30 years' experience of delivering individual director education, as well as working with more than 300 NFP boards, the team at GovernRight has decided to take positive, practical steps to support this sector to meet the challenges of modern governance, with the imminent launch of the GovernRight Institute.
GovernRight Institute for NFPs
The vision of the GovernRight Institute is for as many NFPs as possible to understand and meet the challenges of modern governance.
The GovernRight Institute will offer member NFPs an efficient and sustainable avenue to embed the theory into practice to make governance work, with access to practical, proven governance training and tools.
Supported by access to the GovernRight Framework and the GovernRight Platform, member organisations will have access to a knowledge bank of quality governance content to help shape their own reporting content, to make governance work for their NFP.
Member organisations will work with the Institute on their path to modern governance by:
- building awareness of both the challenges of modern governance and how the GovernRight Framework can help to meet those challenges
- offering knowledge banks to build practical, relevant governance content focused on the:
- oversight of strategy
- oversight of change
- oversight of management of risk in operations
- embedding modern governance practice through the GovernRight Platform
- improving both board and director contribution through assessment against best practice outcomes and developing personal contribution objectives for directors.
Key NFP Sectors
In three decades of working with more than 300 NFP boards, the GovernRight team has garnered specific expertise in the following specialty sectors:
Sports Bodies
Faith-Based Organisations
Schools and NESA Training
Member Associations
Starting where your board is at and governing through succession
Whether your organisation is a school beginning with NESA-accredited training, a member association working to communicate strategy with substance, or any NFP building its governance from the ground up, the GovernRight Institute will meet you where you're at. Each pathway draws on the same foundation of the GovernRight Framework, the Seven Pillars of Good Governance, and the tools and knowledge to embed them through the GovernRight Platform.
The result is steadfast governance, with practices that last beyond the tenure of any single director, board or executive, so your NFP keeps governing right through every change of hands.
Schools and NESA Training
The GovernRight Institute will focus on embedding good governance in schools. However, the first step on this journey is to understand the need for and benefit of good governance oversight.
For many schools, the journey to modern governance begins with NESA training. GovernRight offers five current training modules accredited by NESA for Responsible Persons. The modules are designed to be completed in sequence, as each one builds on the knowledge gained from the previous module, on the school's path to modern governance.
The Challenge of Modern School Governance
Introduces the challenges of modern school governance, the shift from a compliance mindset to a 'should know' governance mindset, the distinction between oversight and operations and how Responsible Persons can build sustainable schools through good governance.
Building Governance Beyond Compliance for Schools
Covers various aspects of good governance practices for schools such as developing a consistent governance language, an appropriate risk culture, the distinction between oversight and operations, documenting and considering emerging governance items and understanding the Responsible Person's role in implementing strategy to build a sustainable school.
Oversight of the Management of Risk
Equips participants with skills and knowledge to identify and manage risks within a non-government school context. The module emphasises the need for the governing body to set risk appetite and develop processes for recording and reporting risks (including legal compliance). Participants will better understand establishing a risk management framework, devising strategies to oversee management of identified risks and creating an appropriate risk culture for a compliant environment.
Understanding Financial Drivers in Schools
Equips Responsible Persons with a better understanding of their obligations related to finance in non-government schools. The program covers topics such as the fundamental makeup of financial reports, effective budgeting and how to involve relevant stakeholders in the process and the importance of forecasting beyond the financial year. Responsible Persons will have a better understanding of financial management and be better equipped to support the running of their non-government school.
Building Accountability and Engagement at All Levels in Your School
Designed to help build a culture of accountability and engagement at all levels in a school. It emphasises the board's role in resource allocation and stewardship and the importance of setting key performance targets to articulate the collective risk appetite of the governing body. Participants will learn that an 'orange' or 'red' in board reporting is a signal for resource deployment, not incompetency.
*Modules 3, 4 and 5 can be delivered individually or combined into the comprehensive 12-hour course called "Embedding Modern Governance for Schools".
Member Associations
While a member-based board ensures the association supports its members at an operational level, it must do more than this. A member-based board is responsible for strategically positioning the organisation in a way that optimises member performance. It is a critical role of the board to drive growth of the organisation, where growth is measured not just in revenue or membership numbers but in improved outcomes for those members and the community those members serve.
The implementation of strategy often requires resource investment before demonstrable results flow. However, if an organisation's strategy is not well communicated to members and, therefore, is poorly understood, members may prematurely push for a board change, at the worst possible time. A board that explains and garners support for its vision places members in a better position to understand the big picture and to accept a possible short-term dip in performance through the implementation process.
GovernRight helps member-based boards communicate strategy with substance, not just a wordy vision: articulating the critical success factors that underpin the vision, and documenting and measuring the building blocks, so the board is equipped with measurable, tangible substance to achieve its organisational aspirations.
Want your NFP to join the GovernRight Institute?
Contact us today to find out how the GovernRight Institute could support your board, executive team and members.