On Board

For nearly two decades, the Berkeley Board Fellows program, part of Haas’ Center for Social Sector Leadership (CSSL), has given MBA students hands-on experience in social impact by placing them on Bay Area nonprofit boards as fully participating, non-voting members. Over the years, interest in the program has skyrocketed. Last year there were 135 student applicants vying for 50 slots. While the program offers a rich learning experience for students, it’s also a boon to nonprofits, who get the energy, diversity, and wide business skill set of Haas MBA students. 

Adjunct Professor Nora Silver, CSSL’s co-faculty director, has long wanted to expand the program. Not only has there been significant interest from students and local nonprofits, but alumni, too, have been keen to participate. Silver regularly talks with former students, and she says that many of them tell her the same thing: They’re looking for purpose, they want to have social impact, but they don’t know how to get started. 

While demand for the program has never been an obstacle to growth, funding was. But now, thanks to support from Golub Capital, the board fellows program—which has been renamed Golub Capital Board Fellows—is in the midst of a major expansion. 

Golub Capital selected Haas’ program, along with programs at six other top business schools, to create the Golub Capital Nonprofit Board Fellows Network. “Our belief is that good board members dramatically improve the effectiveness of nonprofits,” says David Golub, president of Golub Capital. “If we can expand the pool of capable directors, we can accelerate progress across a whole range of nonprofits.” 

The financial support from Golub Capital has already been put to work. There are 72 board fellows this year, up from 50 last year. The plan is to increase the number of students over the next five years, up to a total of 125. In addition, this January, an alumni program was piloted and will officially be rolled out later this year.  

Silver notes that there are over 1.8 million nonprofits nationwide, and they need good governance more than ever. “We’re serious about creating the next generation of board leaders,” she says.