Our Services
Strengthening Nonprofit Boards & Supporting Nonprofit Leaders
The Sorkin Center at Compass provides a range of services from introductory sessions for prospective board members and capacity building for experienced boards to peer support for Executive Directors. Click below to learn more.
Board Training
The Sorkin Center provides customized one- to two-hour training sessions for individual boards. Our tailored sessions can cover the fundamental responsibilities and requirements of board service, as well as more advanced sessions including strengthening fundraising, understanding nonprofit finance, ensuring board impact, and engaging and supporting Executive Directors. We work with nonprofits to design a training session that fits their specific needs. We can also facilitate board retreats for nonprofits to achieve alignment between staff and board members, develop short- and/or long-term strategic priorities, or address critical issues and opportunities.
Board Retreat Facilitation
A Board Retreat provides a unique opportunity for a nonprofit board to come together for a specific purpose. While board members, the Executive Director, and staff give extra time, ideas and energy to the event, an outside facilitator can help maximize the productivity and effectiveness of a retreat. A facilitator also allows board leaders and staff to fully participate in the retreat, because they aren’t managing the day itself.
Sorkin’s Retreat Facilitators work with a nonprofit’s Executive Director and Board Chair through the entire retreat process: designing and planning the retreat, guiding and facilitating the event, and recording and summarizing discussions, decisions and next steps.
Board Matching: On Board Program
Through our signature On Board program, we pair mission-driven organizations with committed board members. Our time-tested practice includes:
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- Conducting interviews to identify talented and dedicated individuals interested in board service.
- Matching individuals with nonprofits tailored to their passions and strengths using our extensive nonprofit network.
- Providing new board member orientation sessions and opportunities for On Board participants to meet and network with peers.
Click here to learn more. Download our informational PDF here.
Sorkin Summit 2023
The Sorkin Summit is an annual governance conference that brings current and prospective nonprofit board members, community changemakers, and social entrepreneurs together to connect, learn, and lead. The Summit features expert panels and community building, with essential training and discussions around nonprofit best practices and emerging challenges. We cover a wide variety of topics, from the fundamentals for building highly effective boards to fundraising to long-range planning.
Strategic Planning Services
The Sorkin Center offers fee-based strategic planning services for nonprofits. Establishing a three- to five-year strategic plan aligns the entire organization, including board and staff, on its highest priorities, focusing everyone on achieving goals in a coordinated way. The strategic plan also helps nonprofits communicate their efforts to donors and funders to help them understand the impact of their funding.
Click here for Corporate Services for Employees or Foundation Services for Grantees.
For more information, please contact Wendy Gualtieri, Managing Director of the Sorkin Center, at wgualtieri@compassdc.org.
History of the Sorkin Center
The Sorkin Center for Nonprofit Governance was established in honor of Jerry Sorkin, a former senior executive at Corporate Executive Board (CEB). Sorkin’s passion for nonprofit work and board service led him to develop a nonprofit board training program for CEB staff members interested in joining nonprofit boards.
After his death in 2016, Sorkin’s colleagues at CEB decided to honor his legacy by extending his mentorship to a future generation of leaders through the Sorkin Center, where his training and passion for nonprofit governance will continue to inspire individuals. CEB selected Compass as the home for the Sorkin Center.
The Sorkin Center is commitment to staying in tune with the evolving needs of our nonprofit communities by creating programs such as Compass Connect Conversations and DEI cohorts. Through Compass Connect Conversations, nonprofit leaders and experts were able to share their knowledge and insights via virtual webinars, while DEI cohorts provided nonprofit leaders with facilitated sessions and one-on-one meetings to assist in the creation of an actionable DEI plan.
“Our goal is to help these nonprofit leaders and their organizations reach their full potential so they can have an even greater impact in our communities.” – Jerry Sorkin
Support the Sorkin Center
As a nonprofit, our work is made possible by the generous support of individuals, foundations and corporations who believe in our mission to provide best practices, tools, and a network of practitioners for nonprofit boards. To donate by credit card, please click below and select the Sorkin Center:
Checks can be mailed to:
Friends of Compass
2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW #7000
Washington, DC 20006
For additional ways to donate, click here. Contact Wendy Gualtieri at wgualtieri@compassdc.org for additional information.
