Chat with AGB Board BotStrategic alignment between the foundation chief executive, the board chair or chair-elect, and the institution president is essential to the foundation’s ability to function as a high-impact strategic partner to its college or university. AGB’s Institute for Foundation Board Leaders and Chief Executives affords a unique opportunity for small teams of foundation leaders to spend time together learning from expert faculty and foundation peers about the governance practices that enable a foundation to go from good to great.
The highly interactive retreat provides a review of fundamentals of foundation governance and leads participants through a process of assessment and visioning, culminating in the development of an action plan to strengthen the CEO-board chair partnership, elevate the work of the board, enhance institution-foundation alignment, and more effectively fulfill the foundation’s mission of support.
While the Institute was originally designed for CEO-board chair teams, in recent years, many participants have elected to bring three- or four-person teams, including the foundation CEO, the foundation board chair, the vice chair, or the immediate past chair. While a close CEO-board chair partnership is essential for effective foundation governance, a closely aligned, collaborative, and trusting relationship between the CEO, the foundation board chair, and the institution president or chancellor is necessary to optimize the foundation-institution partnership. The inclusion of vice chairs or immediate past chairs helps to sustain strategic focus and continuity through board leadership transitions.
Six Key Reasons to Attend:
Step away from the day-to-day, engage in shared planning, and benefit from expert guidance. Board leaders and chief executives will spend dedicated, structured time together. In doing so, they will:
- Establish mutual expectations around roles and responsibilities and a framework for holding each other and the board accountable for advancing the foundation’s strategic priorities.
- Delve into the dynamics of the foundation-institution relationship: focus on alignment and jointly commit to the role of the foundation in advancing the strategic priorities of its partner college or university.
- Assess the board and develop a “governance action plan” to address the organization’s challenges and opportunities and strengthen board leadership in support of the foundation’s mission and critical institution priorities.
- Receive one-on-one consultation with experts.
- Forge a network of peer leaders from other foundations.
- Sustain continuity of leadership and strategic focus across the tenure of successive chairs and through planned or unanticipated staff leadership transitions.
Structure:
- AGB’s renowned institutes are highly engaging, small by design, and for members only—so you get the attention you need.
- The environment and curriculum are designed to support peer-to-peer learning, candid assessment of challenges and opportunities, and the development of an action plan for the collaborative leadership of the foundation.
- Lively, facilitated small-group sessions reveal best practices and innovations in governance and examples of effective strategies from other foundations.
- Institutional team meetings are interspersed throughout the program and one-on-one consultations provide added guidance.
Click to view a list of current and past attendees of the Institute for Foundation Board Leaders and Chief Executives.
2025 Registrants
George Mason University Foundation, Inc.
Medical College of Virginia Foundation
Medical University of South Carolina Foundation
Missouri State University/Missouri State University Foundation
Oklahoma State University Foundation
Texas State University Development Foundation
The University of Vermont Foundation
University of Alaska Foundation
University of North Dakota Foundation
Utah State University/Utah State University Foundation
2024 Registrants
Clemson University Foundation
College of Charleston Foundation
Colorado State University-Pueblo Foundation
Missouri State University Foundation
New Mexico State University Foundation, Inc.
San Francisco State University Foundation
Tennessee Technological University Foundation
University of Colorado Foundation
University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation
Utah State University Foundation
2023 Registrants
Central Washington University Foundation
Cortland College Foundation, Inc.
George Mason University Foundation, Inc.
Medical College of Virginia Foundation
Medical University of South Carolina Foundation
Missouri State University Foundation
New Mexico State University Foundation, Inc.
The University of Vermont Foundation
University of North Dakota Foundation
University of Nevada Las Vegas Foundation
University of Wisconsin Foundation
2022
Auburn University/Auburn University Foundation
California State University Foundation
College of Charleston Foundation
Medical College of Georgia Foundation, Inc.
Medical College of Virginia Foundation
New Mexico State University Foundation, Inc.
San Francisco State University Foundation
The Fort Lewis College Foundation
The Lander Foundation
University of Alaska Foundation
University of Nevada Las Vegas Foundation
University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation
2021
Florida International University Foundation
George Mason University Foundation, Inc.
Georgia State University Foundation
Kansas State University Foundation
Utah State University Foundation
West Virginia University Foundation
Event Resources
Agenda
(subject to change based on curriculum)
*All times Mountain
Day One: Wednesday, June 10
| 11:30 AM | Lunch available |
| 12:00 – 1:15 PM | Welcome and Introductions (over lunch) |
| 1:15 – 1:45 PM | Setting the Stage |
| 2:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Peer Group Confidential Sessions |
| 3:00 – 4:15 PM | The Chair and Chief Executive: Partners in Governance |
| 4:15 – 5:00 PM | Team Meeting #1: Identifying Opportunities for Growth |
| 5:00 – 5:45 PM | Collective Discussion of Opportunities |
| 5:45 – 6:15 PM | Break |
| 6:15 PM | Reception and Dinner |
Day Two: Thursday, June 11
| 7:30 – 8:15 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:30 – 9:00 AM | Setting the Stage: A New Day |
| 9:00 – 10:00 AM | The New and Now Realities for Foundations |
| 10:00 – 10:45 AM | Tabletop exercise around New Realities |
| 10:45 – 11:00 AM | Break |
| 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM | Foundation/Institution Partnership and Strategic Alignment |
| 12:15 – 1:30 PM | Peer Groups Lunch |
| 1:30 – 2:30 PM | An Anatomy of Good Board Governance |
| 2:30 – 4:00 PM | Team Meeting #2 |
| 4:15 – 5:00 PM | Reflective Discussion and Parking Lot |
| 5:00 – 5:45 PM | Open Time |
| 5:45 PM | Reception and Dinner |
Day Three: Friday, June 12
| 7:30 – 8:15 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:15 – 8:45 AM | Reflections on Day 1 and Day 2 |
| 8:45 – 9:30 AM | Building a High Performing Board |
| 9:30 – 10:30 AM | Final Team Meeting: The Leadership Team Action Plan |
| 10:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Plan Presentations, Closing Session, and Lunch |
Faculty
COMING SOON
Registration Information
Registration Fee – $11,990: The registration fee includes program expenses for both the board chair and the chief executive, private lodging for the nights of June 10 and June 11, meals during the Institute, and program materials. (Third attendee $5,995)
AGB’s renowned institutes are limited to a small number of teams and are for members only—so you get the attention you need.
Please apply below and the AGB Registrar will contact you.
Accommodations And Travel
Hotel Park City
2001 Park Ave
Park City, UT 84060
The registration fee includes program expenses for both the board chair and the chief executive, and private lodging for the nights of June 10 and June 11.
The hotel is approximately 40 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to cancellations@AGB.org. AGB will issue a full refund if written notification of cancellation is provided to AGB by April 10, 2026 for the June Institute. AGB will issue refunds after the meeting. No refunds will be issued for attendees who cancel after this date. AGB is not responsible for cancellations due to airline disruption, inclement weather or schedule changes.
