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Nonprofit Action Network

Leadership Advisory Council

  • Foundational Principles

All-nonprofit: Every member must be a current nonprofit professionals in key leadership roles to ensure that “by nonprofits, for nonprofits” remains the focus.

Time commitment: No more than 2-3 hours/month.

  • Leadership Council Structure

Size: 5–7 members 

Term: One year, renewable 

Meeting frequency: Monthly, in person or virtual 60–75 minutes 

Decision model: Consensus-based; no voting required

  • Collective Responsibilities (All Members)
  • Attend monthly Leadership Circle meetings
  • Stay informed on NAN programming and sector conditions
  • Serve as credible, visible representatives of NAN in their networks
  • Recruit members, sponsors, and volunteers from their relationships
  • Provide honest, direct input on NAN’s direction, not just affirmation
  • Model the kind of peer leadership NAN is trying to build in the field
  • What the Circle Is Not Responsible For
  • Day-to-day operations: Handled by volunteer role leads, the Board, and 3fold’s support
  • Legal and fiduciary decisions: Handled by NAN’s formal board structure
  • Fundraising asks: Members make introductions and open doors
  • Staff management: Not applicable in the volunteer-run model
  • What the Circle Is Not Responsible For
  • Day-to-day operations: Handled by volunteer role leads, the Board, and 3fold’s support
  • Legal and fiduciary decisions: Handled by NAN’s formal board structure
  • Fundraising asks: Members make introductions and open doors
  • Staff management: Not applicable in the volunteer-run model
  • Individual Role Responsibilities

Chair:

  • Facilitates monthly meetings
  • Sets agendas in coordination with NAN’s operational support
  • Serves as primary point of contact between the Council and the Board
  • Represents NAN in advocacy, funding or other relevant external conversations when needed
  • • Ensures that the Council focuses on guidance, not operations

Members serve as:

Program Advisors: Keeping NAN’s core offerings grounded in what leaders need
  • Provide practitioner perspective on Action Circles and Action Labs design
  • Review and provide input on Action Updates (monthly general newsletter) and Action Notes (member only learnings) for accuracy and relevance
  • Flags when programming is drifting from real-world utility
  • Connects NAN with potential facilitators from their network
Membership and Community Advisors: Grow and deepens NAN’s member community
  • Identify and personally invite nonprofit leaders into NAN
  • Advise on membership structure, pricing, and accessibility
  • Provide feedback on the member experience
Funder Relations Advisor: Bridges NAN and the philanthropic community without blurring the nonprofit-led identity
  • Advise on funder engagement strategy and sponsorship positioning
  • Help NAN communicate its value in language funders understand
  • Identify prospective funders and makes warm introductions
  • Provide honest intelligence on funder priorities and concerns
Communications and Field Intelligence Advisors: Keeps NAN visible, credible, and connected to what’s happening in the sector
  • Advises on NAN’s voice and messaging (in coordination with 3fold’s communications support)
  • Monitors sector conditions and surfaces relevant news, research, and field trends
  • Provides input on social media strategy and publication content
  • Flags reputational or positioning risks before they become problems