Williams releases self-assessment tool for nonprofit board members

Denver, January 15, 2015 - Secretary of State Wayne Williams announced today the release of a self-assessment tool to complement the Department's five-module eLearning course entitled Board Education and Effectiveness. The course is aimed at helping nonprofits train and strengthen their boards of directors. The self-assessment tool will help nonprofit directors optimize their time by accessing those modules that most closely meet their needs. All five of the modules are free and open to the public.

"The Department’s eLearning courses have benefited Colorado’s non-profits tremendously." Secretary Williams said. "The new self-assessment module is a great addition to continue our office's mission of supporting and strengthening Colorado’s non-profit community."

The board effectiveness training project originated from a series of meetings in 2012 between the Secretary of State’s office and nonprofit community leaders centered on strengthening nonprofits in Colorado.

The Secretary of State worked in conjunction with leaders in the Colorado nonprofit community to produce and review course content, including the Colorado Nonprofit Association, Community Resource Center, Metro Volunteers, the Colorado Ballet, Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver, the Sand Creek Regional Greenway, and Kids in Need of Dentistry (KIND). The review team also included legal professionals from Leaffer Law, a Denver-based firm that specializes in providing counsel for nonprofit organizations.

Since the launch of the first module, over 8,000 unique visitors have accessed the courses: Fiduciary Duties of Nonprofit Directors, Board Governance, Understanding the Form 990 and Financial Ratios, Regulatory Compliance, and Personnel Issues. The entire series of five courses and the self-assessment tool are available online at http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/charities/boardTraining.html.