​Past Symposia

About the 2018 Theme:

People, Place, Performance – The Triple Bottom Line for Nonprofit Governance

There is growing recognition that our social well-being, the environment, health and vitality of the places where we live, and our economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive but rather interdependent. With this in mind, an increasing number of organizations are embracing a triple bottom line, aligning traditional financial performance considerations with the need to integrate issues of social equity, as well as community and environmental concerns.

In the nonprofit context, people constitute the social or human capital bottom line as it relates to fair and beneficial treatment of an organization's workforce and the populations they serve. Place is the community and environmental bottom line as it pertains to practices both within the organization and the locality or region where it works. Performance is the financial bottom line, which takes into account the full cost for organizations to deliver their purpose for social good.

Three Essential Modes of Good Governance

Fiduciary, Strategic and Generative

Good governance is the process of giving fiduciary, strategic and generative leadership to a nonprofit organization to help it reach its full potential. Fiduciary governance is the stewardship of tangible assets, through oversight of operations, legal compliance and fundraising. Strategic governance moves the organization wisely into a preferred future, shaping the work to meet it and offering technical assistance along the way. Generative governance defines the context for both fiduciary and strategic governance, making sense and meaning of complex challenges, problems, opportunities and questions.

Download the 2018 Program

"What Can I Do?"

January 13-14, 2017

What Can I Do? is the latest in a long series of uplifting songs from the Grammy Award winning gospel group, The Blind Boys of Alabama and their producer Chris Goldsmith. The song implores people to become more involved in helping a friend, or a group or a community, in any way they can.

Governing well is one of the most profound ways to help our communities. And when it's exceptional, it has the biggest reach of all. The Blind Boys and their co-writers want to be part of a movement that catalyzes more people. To this end, they gave us this anthem to use in our work here and across the country.

This Nonprofit Governance Symposium focused on how we can grow exceptional boards, engage our communities and use "What Can I Do?" to support our work. Going into the 13th year, this conference was designed to help nonprofits and philanthropies govern more effectively. Its objectives were simple: to educate participants about the sector; inspire them to make positive changes to their organizations, and connect them with one another so that all can better understand the regional context that they operate within.

Download the 2017 Program

Exceptional Governance Days

January 7-9, 2016

Download the 2016 Program

CommonSense Governance

January 8-10, 2015

The Eleventh Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium, held January 9-10, 2015, at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice reached over 550 individuals and resulted in over $50,000 being raised for the nonprofit leadership and management master's program scholarship fund. Close to 70 percent of survey respondents said that they were already using information gained at the symposium and 90 percent of respondents were satisfied with the event overall.

With more than 35 workshops, fascinating keynotes by Dean Paula Cordeiro and Marjory Kaplan as well as Jan Masaoka, plus a plenary with the San Diego Opera, many felt that it was the best Symposium ever.

"I thought the [Symposium] was EXCELLENT. I just wish I could have attended more workshops."

"I have attended for the last 4 years, but this one was the best. Jan Masaoka was the highlight for me: both her keynote and her plenary sessions were inspiring, fun, and packed with info."

Kids Included Together (KIT) was the recipient of the Ninth Annual Kaleidoscope Award for Board Excellence. Each year the Kaleidoscope Award committee, comprised of faculty and alumnus of the nonprofit leadership and management master's program, honor a nonprofit organization who exemplifies excellent board governance.

Download the 2015 Program  Download the 2015 Session Materials

Connecting the Dots: The Social Architecture that Undergirds Exceptional Governance

January 10-11, 2014

More than 330 participants showed up over two days to learn, network and get re-energized at the 10th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium.

The 2014 symposium focused on practical and coherent design, best practices and successful examples of exceptional governance. An outstanding group of field experts shared best practices for building and sustaining exceptional governance.

Here's what participants of the 10th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium had to say about their experience:

"Outstanding! I have recommended [the symposium] to other boards I serve on and to friends on boards."

"[The symposium] was an excellent investment; I've been telling all of my colleagues to attend next year and my board members are telling the other board members the same."

"The symposium was really important for the progress in our organization. Thanks all of you for your hard work."

"It was [time] very well spent. Got to connect with some of friends, meet other NP professionals, and become refocused and energized about this amazing San Diego sector."

"I highly recommend this event to new and seasoned board members. It's interesting, inspiring and validating to learn we share common experience in the nonprofit sector."

"I made new, valuable contacts. I have a new perception of the nonprofit community. I took away practical applications that I will use. I was inspired by the high quality speakers and the rich experience they shared. I will recommend this to my fellow board members of two different organizations."

Download the 2014 Program Download 2014 Symposium Materials View the 2014 Photo Gallery