About This Event
Strong nonprofit organizations are supported by engaged and effective boards.
Organizational leadership & board members play critical roles in ensuring boards provide strategic leadership, ensure financial stewardship, strengthen community relationships, and support the organization’s mission.
This training is designed to help organizational leadership & board members better understand their leadership roles and provide practical tools that strengthen board engagement, governance, and organizational impact.
The session will be interactive and discussion-based, allowing organizational leadership & board members to reflect on their responsibilities, share perspectives, and identify specific actions that will strengthen the effectiveness of their board moving forward.
- Date/Time: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Location: Milestones, 314 10th Ave South, Suite 180, Waite Park, MN 56387
- Cost: $35 for in-region, $110 for out-of-region.
Lunch provided!
The training will focus on helping nonprofit leadership & board members:
- Understand the core roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board leadership
- Clarify the difference between governance and management
- Strengthen board engagement and accountability
- Understand the board’s role in fundraising and community advocacy
- Improve the board’s ability to think strategically about the future of the organization
- Identify practical steps to strengthen board effectiveness
Presenter: Jon Ruis of Ruis Consulting Group.
Jon is the Owner and Principal of Ruis Consulting Group. With 30 years of experience in fundraising and organizational leadership, Jon is recognized as a trusted strategist who helps organizations move beyond ideas into measurable results. Throughout his career, Jon has spearheaded organizational strategies across sectors, empowering nonprofits, educational institutions, and community organizations to achieve bold goals. His leadership includes consulting Fortune 500 companies on strengthening employee culture through philanthropy, serving as CEO of the United Way of Central Minnesota, directing a regional law firm, advancing higher education initiatives, and managing international training programs with the Peace Corps.
The Initiative Foundation’s Nonprofit Academy trainings are part of the Foundation’s mission to serve the people of Central Minnesota. Organizations located outside our 14-county and two Native nation service area are welcome to register at the out-of-region rate.
Cancellation policy: Cancellations requested with more than 72 hours' notice before the start date will receive a refund of the registration fee minus any applicable credit card processing fees. Refunds will not be issued for no-shows or cancellations made within 72 hours of the event. The Initiative Foundation reserves the right to postpone, reschedule, or cancel at any time. In the unlikely event that we must cancel, a full refund will be issued. The Initiative Foundation will send a cancellation notification to the email address provided at the time of registration. Please be sure you enter your email address accurately and check your email regularly.
Photo Acknowledgement: The Initiative Foundation may take photographs or recordings of events, trainings, and workshops we sponsor. By attending Initiative Foundation-sponsored events, all participants agree that the Initiative Foundation has permission to take photos and/or recordings and that the Initiative Foundation has an irrevocable right to use these photos and recordings for publicity, advertising, social media posts, and any and all other uses. By attending this event you are releasing the Initiative Foundation from any and all claims relating to the use of your image for any reason. If you wish to be excluded from recording/photography, please email info@ifound.org and identify yourself and the training you will attend. We will work to accommodate reasonable requests.
The Initiative Foundation makes every effort to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) and Minnesota State Board Policy 1B.4. Members of the general public who require accommodations to attend a public event should complete this form at least 10 business days prior to an event when practical.
About This Event
Strong nonprofit organizations are supported by engaged and effective boards.
Organizational leadership & board members play critical roles in ensuring boards provide strategic leadership, ensure financial stewardship, strengthen community relationships, and support the organization’s mission.
This training is designed to help organizational leadership & board members better understand their leadership roles and provide practical tools that strengthen board engagement, governance, and organizational impact.
The session will be interactive and discussion-based, allowing organizational leadership & board members to reflect on their responsibilities, share perspectives, and identify specific actions that will strengthen the effectiveness of their board moving forward.
- Date/Time: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Location: Milestones, 314 10th Ave South, Suite 180, Waite Park, MN 56387
- Cost: $35 for in-region, $110 for out-of-region.
Lunch provided!
The training will focus on helping nonprofit leadership & board members:
- Understand the core roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board leadership
- Clarify the difference between governance and management
- Strengthen board engagement and accountability
- Understand the board’s role in fundraising and community advocacy
- Improve the board’s ability to think strategically about the future of the organization
- Identify practical steps to strengthen board effectiveness
Presenter: Jon Ruis of Ruis Consulting Group.
Jon is the Owner and Principal of Ruis Consulting Group. With 30 years of experience in fundraising and organizational leadership, Jon is recognized as a trusted strategist who helps organizations move beyond ideas into measurable results. Throughout his career, Jon has spearheaded organizational strategies across sectors, empowering nonprofits, educational institutions, and community organizations to achieve bold goals. His leadership includes consulting Fortune 500 companies on strengthening employee culture through philanthropy, serving as CEO of the United Way of Central Minnesota, directing a regional law firm, advancing higher education initiatives, and managing international training programs with the Peace Corps.
The Initiative Foundation’s Nonprofit Academy trainings are part of the Foundation’s mission to serve the people of Central Minnesota. Organizations located outside our 14-county and two Native nation service area are welcome to register at the out-of-region rate.
Cancellation policy: Cancellations requested with more than 72 hours' notice before the start date will receive a refund of the registration fee minus any applicable credit card processing fees. Refunds will not be issued for no-shows or cancellations made within 72 hours of the event. The Initiative Foundation reserves the right to postpone, reschedule, or cancel at any time. In the unlikely event that we must cancel, a full refund will be issued. The Initiative Foundation will send a cancellation notification to the email address provided at the time of registration. Please be sure you enter your email address accurately and check your email regularly.
Photo Acknowledgement: The Initiative Foundation may take photographs or recordings of events, trainings, and workshops we sponsor. By attending Initiative Foundation-sponsored events, all participants agree that the Initiative Foundation has permission to take photos and/or recordings and that the Initiative Foundation has an irrevocable right to use these photos and recordings for publicity, advertising, social media posts, and any and all other uses. By attending this event you are releasing the Initiative Foundation from any and all claims relating to the use of your image for any reason. If you wish to be excluded from recording/photography, please email info@ifound.org and identify yourself and the training you will attend. We will work to accommodate reasonable requests.
The Initiative Foundation makes every effort to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) and Minnesota State Board Policy 1B.4. Members of the general public who require accommodations to attend a public event should complete this form at least 10 business days prior to an event when practical.