Nonprofit Board Management
User Guide
Everything you need to know about using the Nonprofit Board Management course platform — from creating your account and navigating modules to tracking progress and downloading your toolkits.
1. About the Course
The Nonprofit Board Management is a self-paced, comprehensive training program covering the most critical areas of nonprofit compliance and management. Developed by Build Your Club, LLC, the course is designed for executive directors, board members, and nonprofit staff who need practical, actionable knowledge — not just theory.
Who Is This Course For?
- Executive Directors — Strengthen compliance knowledge, reduce legal and regulatory risk, and lead a more resilient organization.
- Board Members — Understand fiduciary duties, governance responsibilities, and your role in oversight.
- Finance Staff — Master Form 990 reporting, budgeting, and financial controls.
- Program Managers — Learn evaluation frameworks, HR basics, and risk management.
- Development Staff — Understand fundraising regulations, multi-state registration, and donor stewardship.
There are no deadlines or live sessions. Work through modules in any order, on your schedule. Your progress is automatically saved — close the app and pick up exactly where you left off.
2. Getting Started
Access to the course requires a free account. The registration process takes about one minute.
Creating Your Free Account
The sign-in screen appears automatically when you open the app. Look for the Create Account tab at the top of the sign-in card.
Switch to the Create Account tab. Fill in your first name, last name, email address, and a password (minimum 8 characters). Your organization name and phone number are optional but helpful.
Check the consent box if you'd like to receive updates and resources from Build Your Club. Your information is never sold or shared with third parties.
You'll be signed in immediately and taken to the course dashboard. No email verification is required.
Signing In to an Existing Account
Use the Sign In tab (the default view when you open the app). Enter the email and password you used when you registered.
You'll be taken directly to your dashboard with all your previous progress intact.
Your account and progress are stored in your browser's local storage on the device you're using. If you open the app on a different computer or browser, you'll need to create a new account there — progress does not currently sync across devices.
Signing Out
Click your name or the account menu in the top-right corner of the app header and select Sign Out. Your progress is saved automatically before you're signed out.
3. Course Structure
The Nonprofit Board Management is organized into 12 modules, each covering a critical area of nonprofit operations. Every module follows the same structure, making it easy to know what to expect.
The 12 Modules
Lessons, Quizzes & Activities
Each module contains exactly 7 lessons. Every lesson includes:
| Component | Description | Per Lesson | Per Module |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎬 Video Lesson | A 12-minute instructor video covering the lesson's key concepts | 12 min | 84 min (1h 24min) |
| ✏️ Hands-On Activity | A practical exercise applying the lesson to your own organization using the module's Excel toolkit | 1 activity | 7 activities |
| ❓ Self-Assessment Quiz | 3 multiple-choice questions testing comprehension, with full explanations for every answer | 3 questions | 21 questions |
When you answer a quiz question — right or wrong — you immediately see a full explanation of why the correct answer is right. This reinforces learning without having to wait until the end of the module.
5. Tracking Your Progress
How Progress Is Calculated
Progress is calculated at both the module level and the course level:
- Lesson completion — A lesson is complete when all three quiz questions have been answered.
- Module completion — A module is 100% complete when all 7 lessons are complete.
- Overall completion — Course progress is the percentage of all lessons completed across all 12 modules (84 lessons total).
Where to See Your Progress
| Location | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Dashboard — Progress Ring | Overall course completion percentage (0–100%) |
| Dashboard — Progress Bar | Same overall percentage as a linear bar |
| Module Cards (dashboard) | Progress bar for each individual module |
| Module View | Lesson-by-lesson completion status with checkmarks |
| Lesson Cards | Completed lessons show a ✓ checkmark |
Is My Progress Saved Automatically?
Yes. Progress is saved to your browser's local storage every time you complete a quiz question. You don't need to click a Save button. As long as you're signed in to the same account on the same device and browser, your progress will be there when you return.
If you clear your browser's cache, cookies, or site data, your local storage will be erased and progress will be lost. If you share a computer, make sure others don't clear data without warning. For safekeeping, take a screenshot of your dashboard progress percentage periodically.
Course Completion Certificate
When you complete all 84 lessons (100% overall progress), a Certificate of Completion becomes available on your dashboard. Click the certificate button to view and print your certificate, which includes your name, organization, and the date of completion.
6. Your Excel Toolkits
Each of the 12 modules comes with a professionally built Excel toolkit that you use during the hands-on activities and keep for ongoing use in your organization. These are practical, working tools — not just templates.
| Module | Toolkit | What's Inside |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Form 990 Compliance Tracker | Filing checklist, schedule navigator, board review log, deadline tracker |
| 2 | Board Governance Toolkit | Board matrix, meeting templates, policy checklist, recruitment tracker |
| 3 | Fundraising Compliance Toolkit | Gift acceptance log, acknowledgment templates, campaign compliance checklist |
| 4 | Multi-State Registration Tracker | State-by-state filing tracker, exemption log, renewal calendar |
| 5 | Volunteer Management Toolkit | Volunteer agreement templates, hour tracking, background check log |
| 6 | HR & Employment Compliance Toolkit | Classification worksheet, onboarding checklist, policy index, FLSA calculator |
| 7 | Financial Management Toolkit | Budget template, cash flow tracker, internal controls checklist, audit prep |
| 8 | Advanced Revenue Toolkit | UBIT analysis worksheet, earned income model, social enterprise planner |
| 9 | Risk Management Toolkit | Risk register, insurance inventory, crisis communication plan template |
| 10 | Marketing & Communications Toolkit | Brand guide worksheet, content calendar, Google Ad Grants tracker |
| 11 | Program Evaluation Toolkit | Logic model template, evaluation plan, outcomes tracker, impact report template |
| 12 | Strategic Planning & Sustainability Toolkit | SWOT template, strategic plan, funding diversification planner, succession checklist |
Toolkits are provided separately from the course app as Excel (.xlsx) files. Your course administrator will share the toolkit files with you. Each toolkit file name corresponds to its module. Contact steve@buildyourclub.com if you need access to any toolkit.
7. Team Enrollment
The Team Enrollment feature allows an Executive Director (or any team leader) to create a shared team for their organization, invite staff members, and monitor the entire team's aggregate progress from one view. Staff members can join a team by entering a code shared by their ED.
Team Enrollment is designed for organizations sending multiple staff through the course together — for example, an ED who wants to track whether their entire leadership team has completed Form 990, governance, and fundraising modules.
Creating a Team (Executive Director / Team Leader)
Make sure you're signed in with the account you want to be the team leader. This is typically the ED's account.
On your dashboard, look for the Team Enrollment card with a dashed border. Click + Create Team to open the team creation dialog.
Type a name that identifies your team — for example, "Sunrise Nonprofit — Leadership Team." Click Create Team.
A unique 6-character team code is automatically generated (e.g., ABC123). You'll see this code prominently displayed in the Team view. Click 📋 Copy Code and paste it into an email or message to your staff.
The Team View (Leader Dashboard)
Once your team is created, click 👥 My Team in the header (or the View Team → button on your dashboard card) to see your team's full progress view. It includes:
| Element | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Team Overview Stats | Total members, average progress % across all members, total lessons completed by the team combined, and available lessons. |
| Member Cards | One card per team member showing name, organization, individual progress bar, lessons completed, and modules finished. |
| Top Performer | The team member with the highest overall progress percentage is highlighted in the overview stats. |
| Share Code Banner | Your team code is always visible at the top with a one-click copy button for easy sharing. |
| Remove Member | As leader, you can remove individual members using the ✕ button on their card. |
| Dissolve Team | Permanently removes the team and unlinks all members. Cannot be undone. |
Joining a Team (Staff Member)
When creating your account, you'll see a Team Code (optional) field. Enter the code your ED gave you and you'll automatically be added to the team when your account is created.
If you're already registered, look for the Team Enrollment card on your dashboard. Click Enter Team Code, type in the code your ED shared, and click Join Team →.
Once joined, a 👥 My Team button appears in the header and a team summary card appears on your dashboard. Click either to see the team roster and your progress relative to your teammates.
Each account can only belong to one team. If you need to switch teams, use the Leave Team button at the bottom of the Team View, then join the new team with its code.
8. Administrator Guide
The administrator account (steve@buildyourclub.com) has access to an Admin Panel with tools for managing students, monitoring progress, and exporting data.
The features in this section are only available to the administrator account. Student accounts do not see the Admin Panel.
Accessing the Admin Panel
When signed in as the administrator, an Administrator Portal card appears near the top of the dashboard. Click Open Admin Panel to access the full panel, or click any of the quick stats.
Admin Panel Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Student Overview | View all registered students — name, email, organization, join date, and overall course progress percentage. |
| Progress Monitoring | See each student's completion percentage at a glance. Identify who's actively progressing and who may need a nudge. |
| User Detail | Click any student row to see their detailed module-by-module progress breakdown. |
| Export CSV | Click the ⬇ Export CSV button to download a spreadsheet of all student data — names, emails, organizations, join dates, and progress. Use this for reporting or outreach. |
| Summary Stats | At-a-glance cards showing total users, student count, active modules, and total lessons. |
Managing Student Accounts
- Students self-register — There is no manual account creation process. Students create their own free accounts from the sign-in screen.
- No password resets — If a student forgets their password, they will need to create a new account. Advise them to use the same email so their organization information is preserved.
- Progress belongs to the device — Progress is stored locally on each student's device. If a student switches computers, their progress starts fresh on the new device.
9. FAQ & Troubleshooting
| Question / Issue | Answer |
|---|---|
| I closed the app and lost my place. How do I get back? | Sign in with your email and password. Your progress is saved automatically — you'll be returned to the dashboard showing exactly where you left off. Click the module you were in and continue with the next incomplete lesson. |
| I answered a quiz question wrong. Does that hurt my progress? | No. The quiz is a self-assessment, not a graded exam. All that matters for completion is that you answer all three questions. Wrong answers are treated the same as right answers for progress tracking purposes, and every answer shows a full explanation so you learn the correct information. |
| Can I retake a lesson or quiz? | Yes — you can revisit any lesson at any time. Completed lessons will already show your answers, but you can review all the content. If you want to re-answer the quiz questions, the lesson would need to be reset by the administrator. |
| My progress disappeared after I cleared my browser history. | Clearing browser data (cache, cookies, site data) also clears local storage, which is where your account and progress are saved. This data cannot be recovered. Going forward, avoid clearing site data for the device you use for this course, or use a dedicated browser profile. |
| I don't see the video — there's just a gray box. | Video URLs are configured by the administrator. If a video isn't playing, the URL for that lesson may not have been set yet. Contact steve@buildyourclub.com to request the video link be added. |
| Can I access the course on my phone? | The course app is designed for desktop use and works best on a laptop or desktop computer with a screen at least 900px wide. It may display on a tablet in landscape mode. Phone screens are too narrow for the full interface. |
| I created an account but it says my email or password is wrong. | Passwords are case-sensitive and must be at least 8 characters. Try re-entering carefully. If you're still unable to sign in, create a new account with the same email address — you can use a slightly different password. |
| How do I get my Excel toolkits? | Toolkits are distributed separately from the course app. Email steve@buildyourclub.com with your name and module(s) you're working on to request your toolkit files. |
| My dashboard shows 0% even though I've done lessons before. | This usually means you're signed in to a different account (different email), or you're using a different browser or device than the one where your progress was saved. Try signing out and back in with the exact email you originally used. |
| When will I get my certificate? | The certificate unlocks automatically when your overall progress reaches 100% (all 84 lessons completed). A certificate button will appear on your dashboard. |
| How do I get a team code? | Your Executive Director creates the team and shares the 6-character code with staff. If you haven't received one, ask your ED to click 📋 Copy Code in their Team View and send it to you. |
| I entered the team code but it says "not found." | Team codes are 6 characters and case-insensitive. Make sure there are no extra spaces. Ask your ED to confirm the code directly from their Team View — copy-pasting is the most reliable method. |
| Can I be on more than one team? | No — each account can only belong to one team at a time. To switch teams, click Leave Team at the bottom of the Team View, then join the new team with its code. |
| My team member's progress shows 0% but they say they've done lessons. | Progress is stored per device and per account. If they completed lessons before joining the team (or on a different device), that progress is still stored in their account — it will display once the team view refreshes. They may also be signed in with a different email than the one that's on the team. |
Contact & Support
For questions about the course content, toolkits, technical issues, or your account, contact Build Your Club directly:
Email: steve@buildyourclub.com
Phone: 301-332-5939
Website: buildyourclub.com
Build Your Club, LLC · Copyright 2026 · All rights reserved.