GovernRight Institute
Governance theory is everywhere. Practical governance is rare. The GovernRight Institute helps not-for-profit boards meet the challenges of modern governance, pairing a proven framework with real governance experts who help your board and executive actually apply it, so good governance no longer walks out the door when a director does.
Governance built for not-for-profits
GovernRight’s vision is for as many not-for-profit organisations as possible to understand and meet the challenges of modern governance, through its support of the GovernRight Institute.
To fulfil this vision, it makes both the GovernRight Framework and GovernRight Platform available to GovernRight Institute members, on their path to modern governance.
Initially supporting members with an awareness of the challenges of modern governance and the principles needed to meet those challenges, GovernRight also makes available a knowledge bank that provides guidance on appropriate governance content. Finally, it helps members embed governance theory into practice through the support of the GovernRight Platform.
This efficient and sustainable approach supports NFP organisations to build the governance practices their boards need to govern right.
Schools and NESA Training
For many schools, the journey to modern governance begins with NESA training. GovernRight offers five current modules accredited by NESA for Responsible Persons. Each provides four hours of accreditation, and the modules are designed to be completed in sequence, each building on the last, as a school’s path to modern governance:
The Challenge of Modern School Governance
introduces the challenges of modern school governance and the shift from a compliance mindset to a ‘should know’ governance mindset, and the distinction between oversight and operations.
Building Governance Beyond Compliance for Schools
covers developing a consistent governance language, an appropriate risk culture, the distinction between oversight and operations, and documenting emerging governance items.
Oversight of the Management of Risk
equips participants to identify and manage risks in a non-government school context, establish a risk management framework, and set risk appetite.
Understanding Financial Drivers in Schools
builds Responsible Persons’ understanding of their finance obligations, financial reports, budgeting, and forecasting beyond the financial year.
Building Accountability and Engagement at All Levels in Your School
builds a culture of accountability and engagement, the board’s role in resource allocation and stewardship, and how an ‘orange’ or ‘red’ in board reporting is a signal for resource deployment, not incompetency.
Member Associations
A member-based board must do more than support members operationally. As well as supporting its membership at an operational level, a member-based board is responsible for strategically positioning the organisation in a way that optimises member performance. It is a critical role of the board to drive growth of the organisation, where growth is measured not just in revenue or membership but in improved outcomes.
Where an organisation’s strategy is not well communicated to members, and is consequently poorly understood, members may push for board change at the worst possible time, as strategy implementation often requires investment before results flow through. A board that explains and “sells” the future puts members in a better position to understand the big picture and to accept a short-term dip in performance.
GovernRight helps member-based boards communicate strategy with substance, not just a wordy vision: articulating the critical success factors that underpin the vision, and documenting and measuring the building blocks, so the board gives measurable, tangible substance to its organisational aspirations.
Wherever your board starts
Whether your organisation is a school beginning with NESA-accredited training, a member association working to communicate strategy with substance, or any not-for-profit building its governance from the ground up, the GovernRight Institute meets you where you are. Each pathway draws on the same foundation: the GovernRight Framework, the Seven Pillars of Good Governance, and the tools and knowledge to embed them.
The result is governance that holds. Practices that outlast any single director, board or executive, so your organisation keeps governing right through every change of hands.
Want to know more?
Contact us today to find out how the GovernRight Institute could support your board, executive team and members.