Governance Essentials
Build your leadership capacity and learn the essentials of great governance
This online Governance Essentials course equips you with the essential governance skills you need to thrive in today’s dynamic community housing environment. Learn the three pillars of good governance as you enhance your leadership capacity. Walkaway with new strategies to help you navigate the current political and funding landscape with an entrepreneurial approach.
Recommended for: Board members, senior staff, senior leadership, new organizations from a merger or amalgamation, boards of struggling organizations, service managers who oversee struggling organizations.
Next course: April 8 – July 1, 2025.
What you’ll learn
- How to strengthen your vision for the organization
- How to develop strategic leadership and change management skills
- Ways to carry out the organization’s vision and mission
- Understanding of the fiduciary obligations
- Approaches to strategic planning
- Available succession planning programs for ongoing board renewal and competency development
Course content
Here’s an overview of your course curriculum:
Module 1: Introduction to the course
In this module you will learn how to navigate the course and the basic definitions of governance.
Module 2: Foundations of great governance
In this module you will learn the role of governance in non-profit housing, the different board models and how to identify your own, plus a review of the roles and responsibilities of boards, committees, and board members.
Module 3: Fiduciary role
In this module you will learn about the fiduciary pillar of governance, how to identify steps to manage risk for your organization, and how to assess how your organization meets its fiduciary responsibilities. This module also covers policy development and Projects in Difficulty.
Module 4: Strategic pillar
In this module you will learn the purpose and benefits of strategic planning, how to identify emerging needs for both tenants and the organization, how to design and implement strategic initiatives, as well as the five steps of strategic planning.
Module 5: Generative pillar
In this module you will learn how to recognize the generative role and how to assess that your organization meets its generative responsibilities.
Module 6: Self-governance
In this module you will learn how to identify healthy board leadership and culture, components of succession planning, and how to run and support effective meetings.
Pricing
Cost
Upgraded Members
How it works
Developed by experts in the field, this course allows housing professionals to learn through readings, videos, interactive activities such as written exercises and quizzes, and graded assignments.
ONPHA’s online courses can be completed at your own time and schedule from any internet-enabled device. You will have access to the content and a moderator for a period of three months.
Requirements
In order to access this course, make sure you have:
- Internet connection
- Operating systems: Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS X 10.6 or higher
- Browser: Runs JavaScript
- Software: Microsoft Word (or Word processing software compatible with MS Office 2013)
- Additional requirements: Updated versions of Adobe Reader