Evolve Board Fellowship

The Nonprofit Leadership Center’s Evolve Board Fellowship is a 12-week program that provides comprehensive board governance training and mentorship to local professionals. Through an intentional matching process, these professionals are connected with Tampa Bay nonprofit organizations, establishing a clear pathway toward board service in their communities.

Evolve was developed to address a long-standing issue: nonprofit boards often do not reflect the communities and people they serve. Research from BoardSource shows that:

Nearly half of nonprofit executives don’t have the right board members to establish trust within the communities they serve.
Only 38% of nonprofit executives and 29% of board chairs say their boards reflect their constituency.

Meanwhile:

Only a third of boards (32%) place a high priority on “knowledge of the community served.”
Even fewer (28%) place a high priority on “membership within the community served.”

The Evolve Board Fellowship is designed to:

Advance community representation on nonprofit boards throughout Tampa Bay.
Deepen the board governance knowledge and skills of community professionals.
Facilitate matches between fellows and Tampa Bay nonprofit organizations seeking exceptional board members.

Schedule & Sessions

The fellowship program will take place September 22 through December 15, 2026. During this transformative learning and networking experience, fellows participate in the following sessions:

Sep. 22 – Session 1: Orientation | Impactful Board Governance
Oct. 6 – Session 2: The Tampa Bay Nonprofit Landscape
Oct. 20 – Session 3: Choosing the Right Nonprofit for You
Nov. 3 – Session 4: Board Roles & Responsibilities
Nov. 17 – Session 5: Resource Development
Dec. 1 – Session 6: Financial Management
Dec. 15 – Session 7: Defining Your Legacy, Leadership Panel & Celebration

All sessions will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern. Session 1 and Session 7 will be held in person. The remaining will be held virtually via Zoom.

The fellowship also includes a robust group mentorship component. Fellows meet with mentor leaders after every other session, providing an opportunity to deepen their learning.

All courses in the Evolve Board Fellowship program are taught by experienced subject matter experts and practitioners at the Nonprofit Leadership Center.

Meet our fellowship trainers:

Kadian Douglas, CPA, CISA, managing partner, Douglas CPAs & Consultants
Charlie Imbergamo, CFRE, CEO, Nonprofit Leadership Center
Chris Johnson, Philanthropy Executive & Nonprofit Strategist
Sara Leonard, CFRE, founder, Sara Leonard Group
Meriel Martínez, director of program strategy, Nonprofit Leadership Center
Nestor Ortiz, president | founder, 16 Point Compass Consulting
Cheryl Pollock, M.Ed., chief advancement and community engagement officer, Premier Community HealthCare Group, Inc.
Michelle Sanchez, member, Warren Averett | Board Member, NLC
Vernetta Walker, J.D., president and CEO, Walker & Associates Consulting, senior governance consultant and advisor for BoardSource, and nonprofit board member
Rebecca Watson, CEO, Limitless Leader, Inc.

APPLY BY AUGUST 31

Acceptance into the Evolve Board Fellowship program is by application only. All fellows must be professionals based in the greater Tampa Bay area.

FOR INTERESTED NONPROFITS

If your nonprofit is based in the greater Tampa Bay region and is interested in being considered as one of the organizations fellows can select upon graduation for potential board service, please complete our interest form by November 1.

What fellows

are saying:

This was not about going through a program and remembering information; it was about living the experience. I will never forget this life-changing opportunity and what I learned, and I’m excited about what it has prepared me to take on next.