Resources
2026 Board Buzz
30-Minute Free Webinars for Strategic Board Leadership
The Board Buzz is a free, monthly, 30-minute governance power-up for nonprofit board members and executives. Each session dives into a specific board topic with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and actionable takeaways. No fluff—just smart, focused conversations to help boards lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
The Board Buzz is led by Beth Ellen Holimon. She has been professionally advising nonprofit boards of directors for over 20 years. As a former chief executive of five organizations and BoardSource Governance Consultant, she is a trusted guide to boards by turning overwhelm into clarity and structure into culture. Through The Hive Collective, she supports boards in building strong partnerships with staff, using their time well, and leading with purpose.
Board-Level Strategies for
the 2026 Funding Drop
January 27, 12-12:30 PM Eastern
Many boards discovered how essential it is to understand their financial runway, especially as revenue patterns, grant cycles, and public funding shifts became less predictable. This session helps boards assess their exposure and explore financial modeling tools that reveal multiple possible futures, so decisions are made with foresight rather than urgency.
What Boards Should Expect from a Strategic Plan
February 24, 12-12:30 PM Eastern
Strategic plans vary widely, which makes it hard for boards to know what “good” should look like or how a plan should guide their work. This session offers a clear way to understand the purpose of a plan and shows how boards can use it to support thoughtful, aligned decision making.
Tools for Boards to Hold Mission Steady Amid Political Crosswinds
March 31, 2026, 12-12:30 PM Eastern
Boards are encountering new forms of political pressure that can complicate decision-making, even when their mission is clear. This session offers practical tools that help boards stay grounded, principled, and steady when external conditions become more unpredictable.
Closing the Board-Organization Values Gap
April 28, 2026 – 12-12:30 PM Eastern
Boards make stronger and clearer decisions when organizational values actively guide their work. This session introduces practical tools that help boards bring values into everyday governance so choices feel more aligned, consistent, and grounded in purpose.
Rethinking Executive Evaluation
May 26, 2026, 12-12:30 PM Eastern
Executive leaders are carrying more complexity than ever, and evaluations work best when they recognize that reality with clarity and respect. This session introduces a values-based approach that strengthens partnership, aligns expectations, and supports the executive’s success and well-being.
Dashboards That Move Board Decisions Forward
June 30, 2026, 12-12:30 PM Eastern
Boards can struggle when they have either too little data or more information than they can meaningfully interpret. This session shows how to design simple, decision-focused dashboards that clarify priorities, illuminate trends, and support aligned action.
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Participatory Budgeting. Why It Works and How to Start
July 28, 2026, 12-12:30 PM Eastern
Participatory budgeting is a way to build community, deepen transparency, and invite more voices into financial decisions. This session explores how the model strengthens trust, improves clarity, and creates a more connected approach to resource stewardship.
The Costs of Executive Burnout and Board Response
August 25, 2026, 12-12:30 PM Eastern
Executive burnout carries real organizational consequences, and boards are uniquely positioned to prevent it by shaping expectations and support. This session offers clear practices for early detection and guidance on how boards can respond constructively when burnout does emerge, protecting both the leader and the mission.
Board Member Onboarding that Ensures Engagement
September 29, 12-12:30 PM Eastern
New board members want clarity, connection, and a sense of purpose, and boards want members who feel confident and ready to contribute. This session explores how continuous, relationship-centered onboarding builds shared understanding and sustained engagement long after the first meeting.
Tools for Board Decision-Making: Every Day or in a Crisis
October 27, 2026, 12-12:30 PM Eastern
Boards make their best decisions when everyday practices are clear and steady, creating a foundation they can rely on when urgency rises. This session introduces practical tools that support thoughtful decision-making in routine moments and provide structure and confidence when a crisis requires faster action.
Archived List Of Podcast Episodes
Host – Beth Ellen Holimon
About Beth Ellen Holimon
Advisor to Nonprofit Leaders | Podcast Host | Board Governance | Strategic Planning | Coach and Consultant for Nonprofit Leaders
Beth Ellen Holimon is a consultant and executive coach who has spent most of her 25 year career in the executive director chair and knows the joys and tribulations of the nonprofit leader. With her expertise as a Certified Governance Consultant at BoardSource, a specialist in Human Systems Dynamics, a CFRE, and a trained executive coach, Beth Ellen will help you in creating adaptive planning systems, help you realize values-based governance, and coach for leadership outcomes. She is a beekeeper who loves gardening and birds.
