Board Development & Governance Framework for Courageous Women Association

We want to create a practical, board-ready Governance & Board Development Toolkit that strengthens how our Board of Directors leads, makes decisions, and shares leadership through committees. Specifically, with a skilled volunteer we want to produce:

-A clear definition of the board’s role in governance, oversight, and fiduciary responsibility
-Written board member duties, expectations, and accountability practices aligned with nonprofit best practices
-Subcommittee charters (Finance, Development, Governance, Programs) that define scope, authority, meeting cadence, and reporting structure
-Recommended board collaboration practices (decision-making process, meeting structure/norms, conflict resolution, and evaluation tools)
-A consolidated Board Handbook that organizes all of the above into a usable reference for onboarding and ongoing board effectiveness

This project will support CWA’s mission by strengthening the governance foundation that makes our direct services possible and sustainable.

Courageous Women Association helps women and children heal from violent environments and achieve self-sufficiency through housing, career development, and holistic support. A clear, confident, and well-organized Board of Directors is essential to protecting that mission—especially as we grow.

By clarifying board responsibilities, strengthening subcommittees, and improving collaborative practices, this project will:

-Increase board capacity for fundraising, strategic oversight, and resource development that directly sustains our housing and empowerment programs.
-Improve accountability and transparency to donors, partners, and the community, building trust and long-term support.
-Strengthen decision-making and risk management, helping ensure our programs remain safe, compliant, and mission-aligned.
-Reduce operational strain on staff by empowering committees to take ownership of key functions and follow clear reporting structures.
-Build leadership continuity through a Board Handbook and onboarding tools that keep future board members aligned and effective.
-Ultimately, this project ensures the women and children we serve are backed by an organization with strong governance, consistent leadership, and the capacity to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed services over the long term.

We will set this project up for success by ensuring the volunteer has clear access, strong internal buy-in, and fast feedback loops so their work can move from draft to board adoption quickly.

Strong leadership commitment: Our Executive Director and Board Chair are committed to the project, and board members have voiced readiness for clearer role definitions and committee structures.

Groundwork already completed: We have adopted revised bylaws (terms, transparency policies, financial thresholds), completed a Strategic Plan refresh, and are finalizing our Policy & Procedures manual—so the volunteer can build from an established foundation rather than starting from scratch.

Dedicated point of contact: A designated staff liaison will serve as the volunteer’s primary contact, coordinate scheduling, gather board input, and keep timelines on track.

Access to materials and people: We will provide key documents (bylaws, strategic plan, existing committee notes, board rosters, meeting agendas/minutes, and any current onboarding materials) and ensure availability of board members for targeted input.

Structured workplan and milestones: At kickoff, we’ll agree on scope, deliverables, and a simple timeline with milestone reviews (e.g., role clarity draft → committee charter drafts → board practices → handbook compilation).

Timely review and decision-making: We will schedule brief review windows with the Board Chair and a small review group to provide consolidated feedback quickly, reducing revision cycles.

Implementation plan baked in: Final deliverables (board role descriptions, subcommittee charters, collaboration guidelines, and Board Handbook) will be formally adopted by the board, incorporated into onboarding materials, and used in ongoing evaluation—so the work is implemented, not shelved.