The Rise on Boards+ Program: Apply Now to Boost Your Impact as a Young Leader in Canada
- Omran Aburayya
- Sep 21
- 3 min read
If you’re a young leader navigating gender-based discrimination, passionate about community change, and interested in governance, the Rise on Boards+ (RB+) program offers an excellent opportunity. Applications are now open. This program gives you the skills, confidence, and connections to step into non-profit board roles, with flexible/self-paced modules plus mentorship to match your schedule. Here's everything you need to know.
🌎Program Summary
Location: Canada (applicants must reside in Canada for the duration of the program).
Organizer: Fora: Network for Change.
Program Type: Leadership training / board governance program for emerging leaders (non-academic course).
Target Group: Young people aged 18-29 who experience gender-based discrimination (young women or gender-marginalized youth).
Fields of Focus: Non-profit governance; leadership; financial literacy; fundraising; professional communications; navigating bias, tokenism, microaggressions; gender-based analysis; board recruitment processes.
Coverage: There is no financial stipend or direct scholarship payment specified; covers the training, mentorship, access to resources, network, and directory of board opportunities.
Duration: The program is self-guided, flexible; training modules, workshops etc. Group coaching, peer networking. The exact duration isn’t fixed to traditional semesters, but earlier versions of the program suggest about 18 months for combined Rise on Boards / Rise on Boards+ cohorts.
Application Deadline: September 21, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.
📚 Program Overview
RB+ builds on the success of the earlier Rise on Boards program (which since 2017 placed over 200 leaders in governance roles).
Because people have different schedules and commitments (work, school, family etc.), Rise on Boards+ is built to be flexible and self-guided. That means:
Training modules, workshops, and supplementary learning resources that you can go through at your own pace.
Group coaching and peer networking to offer support, feedback, and space to build connections.
An E-Directory / Board directory: a pool of non-profit boards in Canada that are ready to receive applications from trained young leaders. Helps you find board placements that match your interests.
Curriculum / Syllabus includes:
Finance Fundamentals
Fundraising 101
Game-Changing Governance
Gender-Based Analysis+ (GBA+)
How to Join a Board
Leading with Authenticity
Mock Boardrooms
Navigating Tokenism & Microaggressions
Professional Communications
🎁 Programme Benefits
Here’s what participants can expect to gain:
New skills and knowledge in governance, financials, fundraising, professional communications, leadership.
Tools and resources to find, apply, and secure a position on a non-profit board.
Increased confidence to create social change; to impact decision making in organizations; to meaningfully participate in boardrooms.
A peer network of young leaders and group coaching from senior professionals.
Flexibility: ability to learn on your own schedule.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To apply, you must:
Be between the ages of 18-29.
Identify as young women or gender-marginalized youth, meaning you have experienced or experience gender-based discrimination.
Reside in Canada for the duration of the program (i.e. you need to be a Canadian resident for the program period).
Be passionate about community engagement and growing as a leader.
Not be a past or current Young Director in the original Rise on Boards (i.e. those already served cannot apply again for RB+).
✍🏻 Application Procedure & Documents Required
You must register with SurveyMonkey to complete the application.
Fill out the Young Director Application. This will include questions about your identity, leadership experience, community engagement, motivations, and possibly some background about your experience and how you hope to use the skills.
No fee.
📂 Documents you should prepare:
A résumé / CV showing your education, community work / volunteering / leadership.
A short statement of interest or personal statement explaining why you want to join, what you hope to gain, and how you plan to contribute.
Demonstration of community involvement or prior experiences, to show alignment with program goals.
ℹ️ Useful Information
Language Options: The modules are offered in English and Francophone (French) content is increasing; some French translation tools are available.
Board Participation: Non-profit boards can apply to be part of the directory that participants use to find placements. Virtual boards are accepted. Boards should be committed to equity, diversity, inclusion.
Group Coaching / Peer Support: Offers mentorship and coaching and meetings with senior professionals.
Placement Not Guaranteed: The program improves your skills and gives access to opportunities, but it does not guarantee a board placement. You’ll be expected to actively apply.
