Queer Governance Series
Join PFund for this four part governance training series. The program aims to strengthen community-led organizations by building board and leadership capacity and promoting sustainable governance practices. All sessions will meet virually via Zoom from 5:30-7:30pm CST. After completing this form registrants will be sent a calendar invitation with the Zoom link.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the legal and fiduciary responsibilities of nonprofit boards
Navigate the dual role of being a board member while holding a position within the queer community
Build healthy, thriving board cultures
Create sustainable boards, leadership, and organizations
This page is your one-stop resource for finding resources for PFund’s Queer Governance Series.
2026 Queer Governance Series Resources
Session 1: Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities
Date: February 9, 2026 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Virtual: Recording Link
Recording Password: 1hTTLN$+
Summary: This foundational session distinguishes governance from management and explores the legal duties of board service. Participants examine the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience while addressing how patriarchy and white supremacy culture show up in traditional governance structures. The session covers core board functions including establishing policy, securing resources, managing executive performance, and ensuring accountability.
Presenter: John Sullivan
Key Topics: Corporate Governance Fundamentals | Fiduciary Duties of the Board | Governance vs. Management | Board Trustee Responsibilities | Committee Structure & Oversight
Session 2: Building Healthy Board Cultures
Date: March 9, 2026 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Virtual
Summary: Participants explore alternatives to patriarchal boardroom practices, including consensus building, non-Robert's Rules approaches, and culturally responsive meeting structures. The session emphasizes values-based culture, psychological safety, transparency, and how queerness can inform governance practices. Discussions address the unique relational dynamics between executive directors and boards, particularly in small organizations.
Presenter: PFund Foundation
Key Topics: Board Culture
Session 3: Navigating Community & Conflict
Date: April 13, 2026 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Virtual
Summary: This session focuses on managing workplace conflicts and navigating boundaries within small queer communities. Participants learn conflict management strategies, accountability practices, and "calling in" rather than "calling out" approaches. Case study breakouts explore challenges including overlapping relationships, racism, transphobia, misogyny, and situations where board members are also beneficiaries of the organization's work.
Presenter: Irene Greene
Key Topics: Community and Conflict
Session 4: Sustainability & The Nonprofit Lifecycle
Date: May 11, 2026 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Virtual
Presenter: PFund Foundation
Summary: The final session examines organizational lifecycles, including growth, de-growth, and rightsizing. Participants discuss avoiding mission drift, knowing when to consider closure or merger, and ensuring no single person carries the organizational burden alone. Topics include board and ED evaluation, succession planning (both conceptual and technical), leadership pipeline development, and creating a culture of documentation.
Key Topics: Sustainability
Questions/Support
Please reach out to us any time for answering questions or providing support and resources.
Mercedes Plendl | Senior Director of Programs | PFund Foundation
Lilly Knopf | Program Associate | PFund Foundation