The Kellogg School Center for Nonprofit Management is a partner of the Board Leadership Institute.
Visit SiteTraining Tomorrow's Leaders to Build a United Chicago
Each training cohort is designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of community opportunities and challenges, along with the tools to best leverage their skills in service of Greater Chicago.
Applicants will be selected based on demonstrated commitment to community and will include mid to established career professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and industries.
Benefits of Participating in the Board Leadership Institute
Join a cohort of civic-minded professionals from a variety of sectors
Learn about the issues facing our community from experts in the field
Gain the skills needed to successfully serve on a nonprofit Board through training with Kellogg faculty
Be matched to a Board upon successful program completion
Joining Board Leadership Institute
Applications for the Fall 2026 Cohort are now open. Deadline for submissions is Monday, August 31, 2026.
For questions, contact Caitlin Closser Peart at PublicPrograms@liveunitedchicago.org
Apply Today
Board Leadership Institute Curriculum
The Spring 2026 cohort will have 6 scheduled sessions on Friday mornings, and the first session as a full day.
The first and last sessions will be held in person in the Chicago Loop.
All other sessions held virtually.
Community Topic
(with United Way Experts)
Board Skill
(with Kellogg Faculty)
September 25*
(Full Day Session)
(Full Day Session)
State of Poverty in Chicago
Addressing Inequalities in Education
The Nonprofit Landscape (How Nonprofits Work) & Board Roles & Responsibilities
Board/Staff Relations & Principles of High Performing Boards
October 9
Income Inequality and People's Financial Lives
Fundraising: How to Do it and Why it Matters
October 23
How Trauma Affects Public Health
Driven by Mission: Nonprofit Accountability - Impact Measurement
November 6
Our Housing & Homelessness Crisis
Nonprofit Financials
November 20
Addressing Chicago's Racial Wealth Gap
Managing Risks
December 11*
The War on Chicago's Neighborhoods
Wrap-up and Presentations
*Session held in person in the Chicago Loop.
Corporate Fee Structure
Please note that the submission of an application does not guarantee placement in the program. Please contact Caitlin Closser Peart at publicprograms@liveunitedchicago.org with questions regarding program fees.
Company
Program Fee
United Way Corporate Partner
$4,000
Other Corporations
$6,000
Additional Information
BLOG: LEADERSHIP WITH PURPOSE
Why does board service matter? Our program director, Caitlin Closser Peart, explores this question in a recent blog post.
Read The Blog
RECORDING: VIRTUAL INFORMATION
SESSION
United Way and our partners from the Kellogg School Center at Northwestern University hosted a virtual information session for interested applicants to learn more about the Board Leadership Institute.
View The Recording
FAQ
Partners
LEARN ABOUT OTHER LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Associate Board Basics
Associate Board Basics
BoardBuild
BoardBuild
The State of the Social Safety Net In Local Communities