RISE ON BOARDS

THE RISE ON BOARDS PROGRAM IS BUILDING MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE BOARDROOMS ACROSS CANADA.

By training and placing emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds at the board table for the first time, Rise on Boards is reimagining decision-making spaces,
and we want YOU to be part of it!

Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for opportunities unless they believe they have all the necessary experiences. The only eligibility criteria is being located in Canada for the tenure of the program and age limit.

We warmly invite you to apply, as you think broadly about your background, experiences, and skill set.

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!

2025-2026 Applications for Rise on Boards Young Directors & Coaches are open from March 11th, 2025 with an application deadline of April 10th, 2025.

apply now

Are you interested in being a Rise on Boards Coach?
You can now apply here.

ABOUT OUR RISE ON BOARDS PROGRAM

Since 2017, Fora’s Rise on Boards program (formerly Girls on Boards) has trained and placed 200+ emerging leaders from a range of backgrounds and experiences at the board table for the first time.

These Young Directors champion gender equity and shape decision-making on governance boards across Canada.

Prior to their board appointment, Young Directors receive in-depth training from expert facilitators in matters of governance, financials, fundraising, communications, and problem-solving, as well as personal and team leadership.

THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, RISE ON BOARDS PARTICIPANTS GAIN:

Access to an incredible, experiential leadership opportunity through a one-year placement on a governance board

New skills in governance, financials, fundraising, professional communications, and leadership

The opportunity to create social change, impact organizational decision-making, and positively impact community

1:1 mentoring from senior professionals, who will invest in and support your personal leadership and career development journey

OUR IMPACT

235

YOUNG DIRECTORS TRAINED & MATCHED

116

COACHES INVOLVED IN MENTORSHIP

140+

GOVERNANCE BOARDS PARTICIPATING

Rise on Boards vs. Rise on Boards+

Which program is right for you?

Learn more about rise on boards+

Meet the Latest Cohort of Young Directors

Read their bios here

YOUNG DIRECTOR TRAINING SYLLABUS

Explore different approaches and develop new strategies for authentic communication in professional spaces. Participants will build strong communication skills and learn how to leverage effective communication as an essential leadership tool.
Delve into the 3 foundational pillars of fundraising: relationships, storytelling and making the ask to learn how to garner support for an organization’s work. This tactical workshop will provide participants with new techniques and tips to implement, and a pitch to practice for effective fundraising.
Navigate non-profit board governance by learning about the roles and responsibilities of a board of directors, how to conduct board operations and different governance models. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of a board’s duties in directing the mission and vision of an organization, including strategic planning and risk management.
Unlock the power of advocacy and learn how to inspire and lead action for social change. This impactful workshop will cover effective approaches and strategies needed to become influential advocates in spaces of power, including the boardroom.
Learn the basics of organizational finances, including how to read non-profit financial statements and budgets. Participants will develop the foundational knowledge to ask the right questions as a new board director to understand the implications of financial decisions and actions on the organization
Understand how tokenism and microaggressions materialize in decision-making spaces, particularly governance boards and how to unpack their impacts. Participants will learn strategies to advocate for anti-oppression and anti-racism at the boardroom table and communicate the value of having diverse lived experiences.
What actually happens in a board meeting? This workshop will provide a trial run of your first meeting, including how to effectively prepare for your meetings, as well as an overview of meeting procedures and committee work.
Learn valuable techniques to maximize outcomes in negotiations and navigate win-win strategies effectively. This workshop will provide participants with a comprehensive foundation for honing their negotiation skills and achieving successful outcomes in a variety of contexts.
Understand and identify experiences of Imposter Syndrome and the origins of self-doubt. With a focus on empowerment and personal growth, this workshop will equip participants with strategies to embrace their accomplishments and navigate Imposter Syndrome with confidence and resilience.
Learn to create a sustainable, balanced approach to achieving goals while maintaining well-being. Learn to recognize signs of imbalance, set realistic goals, and manage stress effectively. Gain practical tools to perform at your best without burnout.
Deeper understanding of anti-oppression, power dynamics, and systemic barriers in governance. Participants will explore strategies for equitable decision-making, navigating resistance, and fostering inclusive board cultures.

ARE YOU A NON-PROFIT BOARD INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING?

Rise on Boards actively recruits governance boards in all major Canadian cities throughout the year.

Fora works to match all Young Directors with a board in their city of residence (as indicated in their application). Board placements for our 2024 - 2025 cohort have begun in Winter 2024.

We encourage you to apply if your board is…

A non-profit board • Located in Canada (all major cities and virtual boards welcome to apply) • Committed to advancing gender equity and inclusion at the board table

Any questions? Read our FAQs here.

APPLY HERE

SO WHY ‘RISE ON BOARDS’?

In 2017, Fora launched the “Girls on Boards” program, which trains and places emerging leaders navigating gender discrimination at board tables across Canada.

As the program grew and our organization evolved, we realized that the name “Girls on Boards” was no longer reflective of our community, our participants, or our values.

We heard our Young Directors, Coaches, Boards, and our community when you told us the program name was exclusionary and infantilizing.

At best, it did a disservice to our community. At worst, it caused harm.

Throughout 2022, our team consulted with the experts – our community. We conducted consultation sessions with program stakeholders, sent surveys, and met with gender and branding experts to gather feedback.

What clearly came out of consultations and conversations were the following:

A NAME THAT WAS:

action-oriented

memorable

simple and clear

positive

non-gendered

and didn’t include buzzwords that may discriminate or exclude minority groups

It was important to our community that the name can be easily connected to our established Girls on Boards brand, hence the name includes the word “board.” We wanted a name that had positive connotations and captured the program’s mission, without feeling tokenistic.

When we think of Rise, we think of moving forward. Of rising to the challenges we face as leaders (and especially as leaders facing gender-based and other intersecting forms of oppression and discrimination). Of sunrises that stop us in our tracks. And of the long history of the word’s association with positively empowering marginalized groups.

We think of new beginnings – and of the ripple effect that one leader in this program can have on boardroom dynamics, organizational decision-making, and uplifting their communities to rise along with them.

And so, we’re excited to launch the same impactful program with a new name! We know that our program name is just one piece of changing the language in our program to truly reflect our community’s needs and wishes, and to make it a space that’s free of harm and welcoming for anyone who navigates gender-based discrimination. As we implement this name change in our organization, we’re also implementing changes to our language and overall communications to better reflect these same core values and principles. We acknowledge that this is a work in progress that takes dedicated time, resources, and capacity. As we work on these changes, we ask for gentleness from our community as we work on making sure this change is reflected across the program.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Since 2017, our Rise on Boards program has been dedicated to building more equitable and inclusive boardrooms across Canada. The program has been so impactful that we continue to see extremely high demand and every year, receive far more (impressive) applications than we have the capacity to take on. Rise on Boards+ was launched so that even more young leaders access governance training and board opportunities.
Rise on Boards+ offers a condensed, self-paced version of Rise on Boards, enabling participants to receive the necessary training and support to become board members. By addressing issues of sexism, racism, and ageism in the non-profit sector, Rise on Boards+ aims to promote equity and enhance representative governance in Canada.
Rise on Boards+ delivers many of the benefits of our Rise on Boards program in a condensed and flexible, on-demand format. It includes comprehensive training, access to board opportunities, professional group coaching, and a supportive community of like-minded leaders. Rise on Boards+ offers participants essential workshops that cover key topics from our Rise on Boards curriculum in areas of board governance, finances, fund development, and leadership, which aim to develop participants' skills and confidence for their first board positions. The program allows participants the flexibility to complete workshops, readings, and quizzes at their own pace, over a three-month period.
While the program does not facilitate a board match of a one-year placement with non-profit organizations, it enables participants to take the lead in finding governance positions that are right for them. After the completion of the governance and leadership training modules, each participant is provided with virtual self-paced training on how to join a board, and access to a network of organizations and board opportunities.
Rise on Boards and Rise on Boards+ applications are open to individuals who:
- Reside in Canada;
- Identify as young women or gender-marginalized youth;
- Are between the ages of 18-29.
Participants must demonstrate an interest in governance and social impact, have the goal of joining a non-profit board in the near future, and be committed to advancing equity in boardrooms. Participants should have prior leadership experience (formal and informal leadership experiences are both recognized) and dedication to community work and volunteering.
Fora is a Canadian registered charity working to advance the full participation of young leaders navigating gender-based discrimination in decision-making spaces for over a decade. The Rise on Boards program is funded by the generous support of the RBC Foundation, with contributions from other generous partners.
If you’re interested in supporting the Rise on Boards program, please contact Marija at marija.shaw@foranetwork.org to learn how you can get involved.