Proactive compliance for nonprofit boards for 2026

Kira Ciccarelli is Senior Research and Programs Manager at the Diligent Institute, where she leads research into how boards and governance professionals are navigating today’s rapidly evolving risk landscape.

In this episode, we explore what nonprofit boards can learn from emerging trends in the corporate world — and how they can apply those insights to strengthen compliance, oversight and stakeholder trust. We discuss why regulatory risk is climbing so sharply and which areas are set to demand even more attention in 2026, from policy and procedure updates to targeted ethics and compliance training and more robust internal monitoring.

Kira shares fresh data from the Diligent Institute’s GC Risk Index and explains what it signals for charities, foundations and other mission-driven organizations that are already stretched thin. We also talk through practical steps boards can take to put the right governance around AI, even as they experiment with new technology.

We also dig into the fundamentals of future‑ready governance for nonprofits: building and maintaining a clear board skills matrix, planning succession at both board and C‑suite level, leveraging board management platforms like BoardEffect as a single source of truth, and using scenario planning and tabletop exercises to prepare for regulatory shocks before they hit.

Throughout, Kira offers concrete advice on fostering a culture of proactive compliance and communicating clearly with donors, regulators and the public to protect and grow stakeholder trust.

Stay tuned to the end as Kira shares her best advice for board chairs and governance professionals on future‑proofing their organizations against regulatory uncertainty and staying one step ahead of emerging risks.

Further resources on regulations for nonprofit boards

You can find the guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.boardeffect.com/leadingwithpurpose.