Building Effective Board Relationships

In today’s nonprofit environment, clear and respectful board–staff relationships are essential for strong governance, effective decision-making, and healthy volunteer engagement. This workshop is designed specifically for board members, executive directors, staff, and volunteers who want to improve board relationships, clarify roles, and build trust across their organization. Through guided discussion and practical exercises, participants will explore why healthy board relationships matter, common relationship pitfalls, and steps to create clearer expectations and better communication. You’ll leave with an actionable checklist for strengthening governance relationships and practical strategies you can apply immediately.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the purpose and impact of healthy board–staff and board–volunteer relationships.

• Identify core elements of strong board relationships (roles, communication channels, mutual expectations).

• Apply practical tools and conversation frameworks to improve clarity and trust between boards and staff.

• Use a checklist to implement and maintain better board relationship practices in their organization.

Facilitator

Dawna Atamanchuk brings over two decades of leadership experience across a wide range of boards, from grassroots initiatives to global organizations. Each role has provided valuable opportunities for learning and growth, continually expanding her perspective and strengthening her leadership capacity.

Throughout her journey, the guidance of mentors and coaches has been instrumental in helping her navigate the complexities of human relationships and board governance. Dawna remains deeply committed to ongoing learning — recognizing that growth is a continuous process—and to contributing meaningfully to her community through leadership.

Accommodations

Volunteer Manitoba strives to host inclusive, accessible workshops that enable all individuals to engage fully. If you require any accommodations to participate in our training, please indicate so on the registration form.

Course Cancellation Policy

Please click on the following link for more information - Terms and Conditions