Agency Information

What we look for in our partner organizations
A successful fellowship is one in which the board fellow gains insight into the challenges and rewards of nonprofit board governance and real world experience serving on a board of directors. In addition to the fellow, two primary partners play a critical role in the fellowship experience: the mentor and the CEO of the nonprofit. Below is a brief list of expectations for the CEO of the nonprofit and the mentor from the board of directors.

The CEO of the Nonprofit should:

• Facilitate the fellow’s participation on board and relevant committee meetings during the year.
• Put the fellow on the board mailing list so he or she receives board materials and notices before the board meetings and invitations to special events at the nonprofit.
• Identify for Kellogg Board Fellow staff the primary contact. Most often, this is the CEO. Notify KBF staff of any changes in the primary contact.
• Send the fellow’s resume and description of the Board Fellows Program to the board before the fellow’s first board meeting.
• Provide the fellow an orientation to the nonprofit and its board of directors.
• Identify and select a mentor from the board of directors for the fellow. The mentor should be a current member of the board of directors.
• Identify, in association with the fellow and the mentor, a project or projects related to the work of the board, in which the fellow can participate actively and productively.
• Participate in the KBF Transition Breakfast at the end of May.
• Attend the orientation to the Kellogg Board Fellow Program.
• Complete evaluations (mid-year and end-of-year) sent by the Kellogg Board Fellows Program.

The Board Mentor should:

• Help introduce the fellow to the workings of the board and ensure that the fellow is included on all communication to the board.
• Discuss the norms for participation at board meetings with the fellow.
• Ensure that the fellow is introduced at his or her first board meeting.
• Provide the fellow and the Board Fellows Program with ongoing and end-of-year feedback.
• Be available to provide guidance and insight throughout the fellowship.
• Help the fellow identify a project (or projects) that advance the work of the board.
• Complete evaluations (mid-year and end-of-year) sent by the Kellogg Board Fellows Program.
• Attend the orientation to the Kellogg Board Fellow Program.
• Participate in the KBF Transition Breakfast at the end of May.

• November/December — Applications accepted to host the incoming class of board fellows. This fellowship lasts approximately 15 months. It begins in April of the next year and continues through June of the following year. If an organization currently has a fellow, there is a two- to three- month period of overlap with the board fellows.
• February/March — Fellows take first Nonprofit Board Governance course.
• February — Fellows interview a potential nonprofit host organization.
• May — The Transition Breakfast is held at the end of May, typically on a Wednesday morning.
• April through June — Fellowship begins, including:
  • Board fellow is introduced at first Board meeting.
  • A mentor from the board of directors is assigned.
  • The project or project area is identified before student leaves for summer internship.
• June through mid-September — Most fellows leave for summer internships and often need to participate via e-mail and conference calls. Those who remain in Chicago often attend board meetings or board retreats.
• Late September — Fellows return to school for fall quarter and begin actively participating with the host organization and nonprofit board of directors.
• September through June — Fellows take the second course in the fellowship, Advanced Board Governance. In this course, they study best practices in board governance and learn how to become a more effective Board member.
• October — The fellow must turn in the outline of his or her project.
• October through March — The fellow works with the organization’s board of directors to complete the project.
• May — All participants attend the transition breakfast.