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 institution president, and the vice chair or 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 Local
Day One: Monday, June 14
| 11:30 AM | Lunch Lunch Available |
| 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Welcome and Introductions |
| 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Peer Group Confidentials Closed-door conversations afford foundation board leaders, chief executives, and institution presidents an opportunity to get to know their peers and explore issues of shared interest in confidential conversations. |
| 2:00 – 2:15 PM | Break |
| 2:15 AM – 3:00 PM | Partners in Success Develop an understanding of the distinct roles and responsibilities of the foundation board chair, foundation chief executive, and institution president and practices to foster a close collaborative partnership. |
| 3:00 – 3:45 PM | The Institution – Foundation Partnership This discussion unpacks differences in foundation structure, common challenges arising between institutions and foundations, and practices to foster stratagic alignment between the institution and foundation |
| 3:45 – 4:45 PM | Team Time 1: Reflection on Critical Relationships Teams meet on their own around the facility and complete assigned tasks to identify strengths and challenges in the chair-CEO-president relationships, the broader institution-foundation partnership, and what you hope to accomplish during the current/incoming chair’s term. |
| 4:45 – 5:15 PM | Day 1 Debrief |
| 6:00 PM | Networking Reception and Dinner |
Day Two: Tuesday, June 15
| 7:45 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast Roundtable Discussions |
| 9:00 – 9:15 AM | Setting the Stage: A New Day |
| 8:30 – 9:15 AM | Building a High Performing Board |
| 9:15 – 10:30 AM | Foundation Fundamentals: “If You’ve Seen One Foundation…” This unit provides an overview of different foundation structures, functions, and business models and fundamental principles applicable to all foundations. Optional peer group breakout discussions are available for institution presidents and foundation CEOs who have attended previous institutes.
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| 10:30 – 10:45 AM | Break and Regroup |
| 10:45 – 11:00 AM | The Now Realities for Foundations A confluence of factors is transforming public higher ed. What are the implications for your foundation and board? |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Peer Discussions regarding “NOW Realities”
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| 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Networking Lunch |
| 1:00 – 1:15 PM | Break |
| 1:15 – 1:30 PM | The Now Realities for Foundations Peer Group Discussion Debrief |
| 1:30 – 2:30 PM | High Performing Boards |
| 2:30 – 3:30 PM | Board Conundrums: Scenario Discussions Foundation board chairs and CEOs have a shared responsibility for organizational culture. Scenario discussions help equip Chair-CEO teams to lead through common but complex boardroom challenges. |
| 3:30 – 4:30 PM | Team Meeting #2: Assessing Your Foundation Board – Strengths and Opportunities Location: Teams meet on their own around the facility and follow the term meeting guide to identify opportunities to elevate the board’s composition, focus, culture, policies, and other facets of board governance. |
| 4:30 – 5:15 PM | Reflective Discussion on Day 2 and Prepare for Day 3 |
| 5:15 – 5:45 PM | Open Time |
| 5:45 PM | Reception and Dinner Connect with peers and continue the day’s candid conversations. |
Day Three: Wednesday, June 16
| 7:00 – 8:15 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:15 – 9:30 AM | Final Team Meeting: Pillars of the Action Plan and Roadmap to the Future Location: Please meet on your own around the facility. Teams meet and identify the primary initiatives for your action plan. |
| 9:30 – 9:45 AM | Break |
| 9:45 AM – 12:15 PM | Plan Presentations In the Institute Capstone, each team shares insights from their assessments, the goals they have identified as “pillars” of their action plan, and specific steps they will be taking to accomplish those objectives. |
| 12:15 – 12:30 PM | Closing Remarks |
Faculty
George Watt
George P. Watt Jr. joined AGB as a senior fellow in July 2017, supporting institutionally related foundations. In this role, he assists and advises on programs and research supporting the work of public university foundation boards, including AGB’s Foundation Leadership Forum & AGB’s Institute for Foundation Board Leaders & CEOs. George is also an AGB Senior Consultant and frequently is called upon to advise on Board Governance assessments and to facilitate Board Workshops and Retreats. Prior to joining AGB, he served as the executive vice president of institutional advancement at the College of Charleston and the executive director of the College of Charleston Foundation. Watt came to the College of Charleston from the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, where he served as the first joint president and chief executive officer for both organizations. Prior to his tenure at the Naval Academy, he held executive positions with First Union Corp.’s Enterprise Solutions Group, as well as IBM Consulting Group’s North American Financial Services practice. He is a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserves and a 1973 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. George and his wife Peggy reside in Charleston South Carolina.
Leonard (Len) Raley
Leonard Raley is president and CEO emeritus of the University System of Maryland Foundation, Inc. (USMF) and vice chancellor emeritus for advancement for the University System of Maryland (USM), where he served for twenty years. He was responsible for the oversight and investment of more than $2.5 billion in assets under management on behalf of 11 institutions within the USM and five Maryland community college foundations, and for providing leadership in support of USM’s fundraising efforts. Working with a board of 48 members, Raley helped guide the USMF to engage in best governing practices for nonprofit institutionally related foundations. Prior to the USM, Raley served as executive director of the Ohio University Foundation and vice president for university advancement at Ohio University, and before that worked in institutional advancement at the University of Maryland College Park, and at Towson University. He is an experienced foundation executive with 45 years of demonstrated history working in public higher education. He is skilled in institutionally related foundations, private philanthropy, capital campaigns, board assessment, strategic planning, and higher education leadership.
Raley earned his BS degree from Towson University and his MBA from the University of Baltimore. He is past vice chair and treasurer for the State of Maryland’s Marketing Partnership Board of Directors, past chair of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s National Committee on Institutionally Related Foundations, past board chair of the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber, and past board chair of St. Mary’s Ryken High School, an independent school in Maryland.
Registration Information
Team Registration Fee – $12,230.
The registration fee covers all program expenses for both the board chair (or chair elect) and the foundation CEO inclusive of private lodging for the nights of June 14 and June 15, meals during the Institute, and program materials.
Many foundations are represented by teams of three or four including the institution president or vice chair/chairs elect in addition to the foundation CEO and chair. The registration fee for additional attendees is $6,115.
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
Wild Dunes Resort
5757 Palm Blvd
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
As stated above, the registration fee covers private lodging for the nights of June 14 and June 15. AGB staff can assist you in booking additional nights.
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 14, 2027 for the June program. 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.
