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Step beyond the classroom and into leadership.
The Sanford Board Leadership Initiative (SBLI) offers Duke Master of Public Policy (MPP) students a unique opportunity to gain real-world governance experience while making a meaningful community impact by serving as non-voting board members for local non-profit organizations.
Student participants collaborate with nonprofit leaders, contribute policy-informed insights, and support strategic decision-making at the highest level of organizational leadership. Designed for students who want to lead, influence and serve, the SBLI allows students to see how mission-driven organizations operate, navigate challenges, and translate policy into practice.
Nonprofit partners benefit from the fresh perspectives, analytical skills, and policy expertise of Sanford graduate students, while students build leadership capacity, expand professional networks, and strengthen their understanding of nonprofit governance.
Program Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 17 | Information session for first-year MPP students |
| October 7 | Community mixer for program participants and prospective SBLI students |
| October 8 | Student application opens |
| October 19 | Student application closes |
| October | Program staff outreach to Triangle non-profits to apply for the 2027 cycle |
| November | Student interviews |
| November | Students and non-profit boards notified of successful match |
| January | Student and board mentor orientation |
| January-December | Student attends board meetings, collaborates with SBLI cohort, executes project, connects with mentor |
| May-August | Summer participation is optional for students |
| December | Final projects due to non-profit and SBLI program |
Student Experiences with SBLI
Jesse Davis MPP’26
Jesse served on StepUp Durham's board. He attended monthly meetings to discuss priorities and align project goals with organizational strategy; designed and administered a digital literacy survey for participants, then analyzed responses; translated insights into a board-facing presentation, mapping participant needs to Durham Tech training pathways; and supported fundraising efforts like assisting with an event which raised $150,000.
"The experience allowed me to bridge my technology policy concentration with real-world community needs in Durham," he said. "By collecting original data and mapping it to concrete workforce pathways, I was able to operationalize concepts from my courses, digital equity, reentry policy, human-centered design, stakeholder engagement, and program evaluation. SBLI also gave me hands-on board experience, strengthened my ability to communicate findings to organizational leadership, and reinforced my commitment to public-sector/ nonprofit partnerships that support marginalized populations.
"SBLI is one of the best experiential learning opportunities you can engage in at Sanford. Being on a non-profit board gives you the chance to explore the process of running an organization while also giving back to the local Durham community. By applying the analytical policy framework that you develop in classes to the real challenges that non-profits encounter, you become a better policy professional."
Paige Allen MPP'26
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Paige served on the board for North Carolina Center for Nonprofits. Her main activities included: proofreading, editing, and making additions to the weekly nonprofit policy newsletters that reach hundreds of nonprofits across NC; and researching proposals to increase the de minimus indirect cost rate in North Carolina for nonprofit contracts with state agencies and local governments.
"My experience with the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits allowed me to refine my state- and federal-policy level research skills and make meaningful connections with nonprofit leaders doing critical work on the ground in their own communities," she said. "I am grateful to have been part of a nonprofit that intentionally serves and collaborates with other nonprofits throughout North Carolina. Over the past year, my own roots in North Carolina grew immensely, and I was constantly reminded that passion and purpose work hand-in-hand.
"The SBLI program is one of the reasons I chose to come to Sanford. The lessons you will glean from strategic governance and mission-driven work will be carried with you into any future professional endeavors. You will also have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the power of the nonprofit sector in a place you call home."
SBLI FAQs
The program provides MPP students with insight into nonprofit governance and opportunities to build skills through a year-long board project experience. Through SBLI, students become better connected to the Durham and greater Triangle communities. In addition to skill building, networking and community engagement, students are eligible to waive three of the leadership and management course degree requirements.
Currently, the program is only available for Duke MPP students.
As non-voting board members, Sanford MPP students provide organizations with a fresh perspective. They deliver practical recommendations through their policy projects while supporting expanded outreach to broader community audiences. Organizations also benefit from connections to the Sanford School and access to a public policy-focused perspective.
In the fall, the applications for students and non-profit organizations go live. We ask that boards apply each year because we recognize needs can change over time. Quality of match is what is important. We primarily focus on organizational need, student skill set, student interest in non-profit governance, schedule alignment, and perspective on projects. While student policy interest and previous experience are considered, they are not determining factors to the match. After conducting student interviews and reviewing organization applications, we have a rubric process that helps determine placement.
No, students and non-profits are not guaranteed a match. Every year we have excellent students and boards who apply who, unfortunately, do not receive a match.
Students are asked to dedicate 10-12 hours per month to SBLI engagement. Summer participation during your internship is optional.
The project, due in December, is a policy-focused deliverable that allows students to apply what they have learned in their coursework to their local community. Previous projects have included, program evaluations, strategic planning, advocacy, program development, data visualization, and more.
Please email the program coordinator, Mackenzie Phelps, at mwp28@duke.edu. Note, the application invitation is sent annually in October.
Learn More
For more information about the SBLI program, contact Mackenzie Phelps at mwp28@duke.edu.