Initiatives
Golub-Capital-Board-Fellows
Darden Golub Capital Board Fellows Program
The Darden Golub Capital Board Fellows program connects Darden Second Year MBA students with local nonprofit organizations for a unique opportunity in board service. Fellows serve as non-voting board members while simultaneously participating in classroom courses in board governance. In addition, Golub Capital Board Fellows have a lasting impact on their nonprofit partners by completing a meaningful project for their nonprofit over the course of the program.
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Board Fellows Project
Fellows attend board meetings, engage in subcommittees, meet with a board mentor and design and implement a capacity-building project for their nonprofit over the course of the academic year.
Student leaders for the program are selected by their peers through the Darden Net Impact Club.
Applications are made available during April for Darden First Year MBA students and Professional Degree students who are interested in serving as fellows in their final year.
Sample past project areas include:
- Marketing plans
- Strategizing social media, website content, and advertising
- Considering messaging for stakeholders
- Fundraising plans
- Identifying areas of opportunity and action
- Reporting outcomes
- Managing and analyzing data for greater impact
- Marketing plans
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Board Fellows Curriculum
Darden Board Fellows are expected to complete two of the non-profit governance courses offered at Darden to enhance their fundamental knowledge about key governance concepts and nonprofit management.
Required courses:- Fall Directed Study for Nonprofit Board Fellows
- Leading Nonprofits: Strategy, Impact & Board Governance (8066)
Optional courses:
- Understanding the Nonprofit Sector (8627)
- Strategic Corporate Governance (8013)
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Information for Nonprofit Organizations
Expand the capacity of your nonprofit board with innovative Darden students!
Program Details
Application & Matching: Apply to participate as a nonprofit organization each year before the spring deadline. Selected nonprofits will have one or two students matched with your board in May.
Board Service & Projects: Board Fellows serve for an academic year (August - April) as non-voting board members who attend meetings, serve on committees and take on a curated strategy or governance project that is on your board’s “wish list”. Common projects include benchmarking, board recruitment/onboarding, governance documents, committee implementation/design, fund development strategy, marketing, program evaluation and revenue generation.
Resources & Support: Program staff offer resources, project scoping, support, and student guidance.
Community & Events: Student fellows and participating nonprofits are invited to engage throughout the year in a variety of events designed to build community. Notably, the annual Darden Strategic Insights in Nonprofit Management Conference held in the spring is open to nonprofit leaders both in and outside of the program as a learning and networking opportunity.
Organization Eligibility
- Your organization is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) and is in good standing.
- Your board meetings are held no more than an hour’s drive away from Charlottesville, or Rosslyn, Virginia, or meetings are hybrid/fully virtual.
- Your board will hold at least three meetings between September and March.
- Your organization has an operating history of at least two years.
- Your board has at least five active members.
If your board does not meet one of these requirements but is still interested in becoming a nonprofit partner, please contact us.
Learn More and Apply to Participate with a Golub Capital Board Fellow
Central Virginia applicants will hear back about board fellow matching by May 1, 2026. (Application Closed)
Northern Virginia applicants will hear back about board fellow matching in early June, 2026. (Application Closed)
For questions about the program please contact Anna Caughron, program manager.
If your organization has a more immediate or specific project need, consider posting a summer internship role through the Darden Career Center's Darden Nonprofit Internship Fund.
-
Strategic Insights Conference
Fellows attend board meetings, engage in subcommittees, meet with a board mentor and design and implement a capacity-building project for their nonprofit over the course of the academic year.
Student leaders for the program are selected by their peers through the Darden Net Impact Club.
Applications are made available during April for Darden First Year MBA students and Professional Degree students who are interested in serving as fellows in their final year.
Sample past project areas include:
- Marketing plans
- Strategizing social media, website content, and advertising
- Considering messaging for stakeholders
- Fundraising plans
- Identifying areas of opportunity and action
- Reporting outcomes
- Managing and analyzing data for greater impact
Darden Board Fellows are expected to complete two of the non-profit governance courses offered at Darden to enhance their fundamental knowledge about key governance concepts and nonprofit management.
Required courses:
- Fall Directed Study for Nonprofit Board Fellows
- Leading Nonprofits: Strategy, Impact & Board Governance (8066)
Optional courses:
- Understanding the Nonprofit Sector (8627)
- Strategic Corporate Governance (8013)
Expand the capacity of your nonprofit board with innovative Darden students!
Program Details
Application & Matching: Apply to participate as a nonprofit organization each year before the spring deadline. Selected nonprofits will have one or two students matched with your board in May.
Board Service & Projects: Board Fellows serve for an academic year (August - April) as non-voting board members who attend meetings, serve on committees and take on a curated strategy or governance project that is on your board’s “wish list”. Common projects include benchmarking, board recruitment/onboarding, governance documents, committee implementation/design, fund development strategy, marketing, program evaluation and revenue generation.
Resources & Support: Program staff offer resources, project scoping, support, and student guidance.
Community & Events: Student fellows and participating nonprofits are invited to engage throughout the year in a variety of events designed to build community. Notably, the annual Darden Strategic Insights in Nonprofit Management Conference held in the spring is open to nonprofit leaders both in and outside of the program as a learning and networking opportunity.
Organization Eligibility
- Your organization is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) and is in good standing.
- Your board meetings are held no more than an hour’s drive away from Charlottesville, or Rosslyn, Virginia, or meetings are hybrid/fully virtual.
- Your board will hold at least three meetings between September and March.
- Your organization has an operating history of at least two years.
- Your board has at least five active members.
If your board does not meet one of these requirements but is still interested in becoming a nonprofit partner, please contact us.
Learn More and Apply to Participate with a Golub Capital Board Fellow
Central Virginia applicants will hear back about board fellow matching by May 1, 2026. (Application Closed)
Northern Virginia applicants will hear back about board fellow matching in early June, 2026. (Application Closed)
For questions about the program please contact Anna Caughron, program manager.
If your organization has a more immediate or specific project need, consider posting a summer internship role through the Darden Career Center's Darden Nonprofit Internship Fund.