Turning Passion Into Brilliant Board Leadership
Supporting Canada's Non-Profit Directors
Want to join a non-profit board or ramp up your skills as a director?
Board Leapfrog will help you gain financial literacy, understanding of the board's role and purpose, and most importantly - help you gain confidence as a non-profit director.
Turn your passion into great board leadership, and make a greater impact.
- 1 DAY BLENDED LEARNING PROGRAM -
Intensive training for board members
Being devoted to your non-profit's mission is not enough
in today's fast-paced and complicated world.
Non-profit organizations are facing complex technological, financial, societal and other challenges. Non-profits need to rely on a strong board of directors for guidance and oversight.
We want to set up non-profit boards for success - and to support directors in being the best board members they can be.
The Board Leapfrog program has been designed to support non-profit board members in gaining the skills and knowledge to be successful, understand what "great governance' looks like, and to provide brilliant board leadership to the organizations they serve.
Financial & Risk
Financial literacy and risk awareness are important skills directors need to develop.
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We teach you how to read financial statements, and ask good questions that will help protect the organization and its stakeholders.
Your #1 Job As A director
Sometimes non-profits are not sure or disagree on the purpose of the board of directors...
which makes it hard for directors to learn their role.
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We help you understand where you should focus your attention, and how to be a great director.
Board Culture
What does a high-performing and effective board feel like? What do great boards talk about?
We'll show you how to have a great board discussion and make effective decisions.
Board ROUTINES
Part of the challenge of board work is getting the board's work organized, following good processes, and knowing what governance activities need to happen - and when.
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We show you better ways to manage the board's work and keep things on track.
Participants and Sectors
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Community-based non-profit organizations
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Federal/provincial not-for-profit organizations
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Health and social services agencies
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Purpose-driven organizations
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Self-regulatory organizations
- Educational institutions​
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Charities
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Social enterprises
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Other types of organizations
Michelle S.
"LOVED the content and LOVED the energy and passion. The binder was AMAZING – let people know they will receive it!
The collaborative nature and ‘safe space’ also was great for sharing."
Robert H.
“I learned so much from this program that it’s difficult to pinpoint 1 or 2 things.
I felt this program was extremely valuable and insightful.”
Barb C.
“I wanted to thank-you for a fabulous 2 days filled with gaining an immense amount of knowledge on being a board member.
It was very informative as well as practical.”
Who should attend?
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Anyone thinking about joining a board of directors - no experience required!
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Brand new board members
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Brand new board chairs
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Board members with some experience, but want to refresh on governance basics
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Executive Directors and senior leaders that engage directly with non-profit boards
Meet Your Coaches
Bringing you Atlantic Canada's
Leading Non-Profit Experts
Kathryn Cosgrove MBA CMC
Founder, Board Leapfrog & Governance Expert
Kathryn is a well-known governance expert and consultant in the field of corporate governance.
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She has spent her entire career helping boards and senior teams align on priorities, make faster better decisions, and level up their collective impact.
She spent seven years as the Chief of Staff and Partner for Firm Governance at Canada's largest professional services firm, Deloitte, and has been a management consultant for over 20 years.
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Kathryn is currently an independent director for Mitigok'aa Development Corporation, a private company providing green energy solutions to indigenous communities in Canada's north.
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Good governance makes boardwork
a more streamlined and enjoyable activity for volunteer directors --
and helps to keep boards out of hot water!
Roddy Macdonald ICD.D CHRP
Co-Facilitator and Governance Expert
Roddy is a sought-after governance consultant, a friend of Board Leapfrog, and long-time collaborator.
Roddy leads Linx Strategies, and provides organizations across the country with services such as board effectiveness evaluations, HR strategies, and governance reviews.
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Roddy has been a senior HR director and labour relations facilitator for many years, serving Crown Corporations, large and small non-profits, and private companies.
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Roddy is currently serving as Chair of the Governance Committee for the Saint Mary's University Board of Directors, and a director for Feed Nova Scotia.​​
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Get in Touch
Board Leapfrog is a social enterprise operated by Cosgrove & Co., the Halifax-based governance consulting firm.
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We support organizations in performing governance review, giving advice, and navigating tricky situations.
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Board Leapfrog
c/o Cosgrove & Co. Strategy Consulting Ltd.
2526 Agricola Street, Suite 6
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 6R3
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