Better boards make better nonprofits. And better nonprofits make better communities.

That’s why the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business and Aly Sterling Philanthropy, a full-service consulting firm based in Toledo, are coming together to offer a proven, one-of-a-kind program for training nonprofit board members.

Called the Board Member Accelerator Series (BMA), the program takes a fresh, community-wide approach to board training, by opening the door to board service for people from all industries/sectors and with a range of experience and interests.

The goals are twofold: to encourage more people to serve the community and prepare the next generation of leaders. BMA training provides the education and skills people need to find the right board to serve, and serve confidently. While BMA was created to encourage young professionals to step up, it also appeals to long-time volunteers looking to brush up on skills or find the right fit.

“We’re excited to partner with WSU to bring the Board Member Accelerator Series to Detroit,” said Aly Sterling, president and founder of Aly Sterling Philanthropy. “There’s so much energy and excitement in the city right now, and this training program will give people the confidence they need to join the renaissance. Board membership is a great way to get involved, and everyone can do it — and do it well — with a little training.”

Participation in this two-session workshop will cover:

• The board member’s purpose, roles and responsibilities
• Signs of a healthy board and organization
• Basic training on governance best practices
• How to align your interest and skills with the right nonprofit

The program will be hosted Nov. 10-11 at WSU’s Prentis Building. To encourage attendance, registration is priced reasonably at $169 per person. Please visit ilitchbusiness.wayne.edu/bma for more information and to register.

About Aly Sterling Philanthropy

Aly Sterling Philanthropy is a full-service consulting firm specializing in building sustainable solutions for nonprofits. We provide fundraising, board governance, strategic planning and executive search services to organizations of all shapes and sizes. Please visit alysterling.com for more information.

About the Mike Ilitch School of Business

The Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business prepares students for challenging and rewarding careers, advances the boundaries of scholarly and practitioner knowledge, and enhances the economic vitality of the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and beyond through its programs, research and community engagement. Established in 1946, the business school was renamed in 2015 in recognition of a $40 million gift from Mike and Marian Ilitch. Thanks to this lead investment, a new state-of-the-art building is slated to open in the heart of the District Detroit in 2018, and entrepreneurial programming and collaboration with city businesses are expanding. For more information, visit ilitchbusiness.wayne.edu.