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The Stanford GSB Board Fellows program, an offering of the Center for Social Innovation (CSI), is a unique opportunity for Stanford MBA students to engage with and contribute to Bay Area nonprofits as non-voting board observers. Originally founded in 1997 and relaunched in 2025, this program builds on two decades of success, having previously paired hundreds of students with nonprofit boards, while inspiring similar initiatives at other leading business schools.
Program Highlights
- Pairs of MBA students volunteer with nonprofit boards as observers, participating in meetings with “voice, but no vote.”
- Students engage in board committees, undertake substantive projects, and gain insights from experienced board mentors.
- Students dedicate approximately 8-12 hours per month to the program, including attendance at workshops focused on board service and nonprofit governance.
Nonprofit Partners
We seek a select number of established Bay Area nonprofits with high-performing boards for each calendar year. Organizations that fit well will have:
- A well-defined leadership structure with active board committees.
- A board member willing to mentor the students.
- A senior staff member to act as a liaison.
- Board meetings on a quarterly or more frequent basis.
Specific Projects
The program will take on specific projects designed to enhance board effectiveness or other strategic priorities, such as:
- Board assessments and capacity-building.
- Strategy development and goal evaluation.
- Fiscal oversight improvements.
- Enhancements in governance processes.