For New Executive Directors and Nonprofit Boards

New Executive Director Program

Start Strong. Lead With Confidence.
Governance training, a connected system, and practical support for a successful start.

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Clarity From the Start

The System to Lead With Confidence

Understand the board, connect the records, and see what needs attention.

An executive director ready to lead with her governance systems organized
People and RolesKnow who does what.
  • Board members, officers, and committee responsibilities
  • Director terms and Chair alignment
  • Board and management authority
Organizational MemoryUnderstand the organization’s history.
  • Existing bylaws, policies, minutes, and resolutions
  • Decisions and outstanding actions from prior meetings
  • A missing-record report to identify the gaps
Governance CalendarSee what is coming.
  • A 12-month governance calendar
  • Director terms, board meetings, and governance deadlines
  • Clear ownership and follow-through
Connected RecordOne system from which to lead.
  • EntityEngine implementation and handoff
  • People connected to meetings, decisions, and actions
  • Mission Control setup for a clear operating picture

Stepping into an Executive Director role means learning the organization while leading it. We organize governance history, clarify board relationships, and connect decisions and deadlines so the first months can focus on moving the mission forward.

Training · System · Support

Support for a Successful Start

Practical governance knowledge, a working system, and an experienced partner.

TrainingBuild a strong board partnership.
  • Board versus management and Executive Director responsibilities
  • Working with the Chair, committees, meetings, and decisions
  • Policies, fiduciary responsibilities, records, and advisor boundaries
SystemPut institutional knowledge to work.
  • EntityEngine connects people, meetings, documents, decisions, actions, governance, and compliance
  • Institutional knowledge stays with the organization as leadership changes
SupportWork with a governance co-pilot.
  • Practical coaching through the first months
  • Board Chair alignment and governance follow-through
  • Optional Fractional Governance Office support for the first year
Choose the Right Support

Three Ways to Build a Strong Start

From governance foundations to a full year of operational support.

Foundation

A clear system from day one.

From $7,500

Program fee · approximately 90 days

  • Governance Continuity Build
  • EntityEngine implementation and training
  • Three governance coaching sessions
  • Executive Director / Board Chair alignment
Explore Foundation scope

For an experienced Executive Director who needs to understand what they inherited and have a working governance system from which to lead.

  • Organize existing governance records and identify missing records
  • Map board members, officers, committees, and director terms
  • Set up a 12-month governance calendar and outstanding decision/action ledger
  • Configure Mission Control and provide governance training
  • Complete the Chair alignment session and initial system handoff
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Most Popular

Accelerator

A governance partner alongside you.

From $15,000

Program fee · approximately six months

  • Everything in Foundation
  • Monthly governance reviews and coaching
  • Board Chair check-ins and meeting preparation
  • Decision and action follow-through
Explore Accelerator scope

For a new leader who wants an experienced governance partner alongside them through the most important early months.

  • Manage the governance calendar and review Mission Control
  • Identify and escalate governance issues
  • Provide a quarterly governance report
  • Complete a six-month Executive Director and Board Chair progress review
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Executive Partnership

A governance office behind you.

From $25,000

Year-one program fee · scope dependent

  • Everything in Accelerator
  • Fractional Governance Office support
  • Board-cycle and governance record support
  • Expanded Board Chair support
Explore Executive Partnership scope

For an Executive Director and board seeking a functioning Fractional Governance Office throughout the first year.

  • Coordinate agendas, board packets, minutes support, resolutions, and signature follow-through
  • Coordinate committees and monitor governance compliance within the agreed scope
  • Maintain governance records and hold monthly operating reviews
  • Provide quarterly board governance reporting
  • Plan the transition to managed, assisted, or self-managed EntityEngine
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All prices are in USD. These are starting program fees; the final quote depends on your organization’s scope and complexity. The required EntityEngine subscription is billed separately under a three-year minimum agreement. View EntityEngine platform pricing.

Built to Stay With Your Organization

The Coaching Ends. The Governance Engine Stays.

Support for the first months. Governance infrastructure for the years ahead.

Your people, records, meetings, decisions, actions, deadlines, and institutional memory remain connected under a separate EntityEngine agreement with a three-year minimum term.

A Strong Leadership PartnershipClarity for the leader and the board.
  • Establish shared expectations between the Executive Director and Board Chair
  • Build governance visibility, clear responsibilities, and institutional continuity
  • Create more time for leadership and the mission
Clear Roles and BoundariesThe board governs. The director leads.
  • We provide training, administration, organization, monitoring, coordination, and operational support
  • We do not replace legal counsel, a CPA, an auditor, HR counsel, or other licensed advisors
  • Questions requiring professional judgment go to the appropriate advisor
Explore Fractional Governance

Start Strong. Lead With Confidence.

Whether you’re stepping into the role or supporting someone who is, let’s discuss what a successful first ninety days could look like.

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