The Civic Bench™
Powered by DiverseForce

Building The Civic Leadership Infrastructure and Engine for Inclusive, Innovative, and Impact-Driven Board Governance Across the Public and Private Nonprofit Sector.

Build The Civic Bench. Strengthen Our Democracy and Shape Our Future.
The Opportunity
The Philadelphia nonprofit sector has an annual spending power of approximately $50 billion (over 1/3rd of Philadelphia GDP.) This substantial financial resource presents a unique opportunity for strategic governance to maximize community investment and impact.
Unlocking and directing this collective spending power is key to fostering inclusive, innovative, and impactful governance across both public and private nonprofit sectors.
DiverseForce on Boards Fellowship
6-month hybrid learning program
Virtual and in-person components
Cohort-based experience
With coaching, board matching, and practical tools
Professional development
Trains mid-to-senior-level professionals for strategic nonprofit board leadership
Since 2017
375+
Alumni Trained
325+
Nonprofit Board Seats Filled
35%
Promoted to the Exec Committee in 2yrs or less
The Two-Part Program Model
Step 1: DiverseForce on Boards (DFOB)
  • 6-month leadership and board governance program
Step 2: The Civic Bench™ Accelerator
  • 1-day leadership bootcamp focused on public board readiness
Together: A powerful pipeline for nonprofit and public governance that reflects and serves our communities
The Civic Bench™ Accelerator
1-day retreat-style bootcamp hosted at the P4 Hub in Philadelphia — the birthplace of democracy
Governance Excellence & Strategic Oversight
AI and Innovation in the Public Sector
Civic Power & Public Voice Panel
Lunch & Reflection with a Call to Action
Designed to prepare leaders for public boards, commissions, and advisory bodies
Why This Matters
Public trust in institutions is declining — governance must be more inclusive and innovative
Philadelphia alone has 75+ boards and commissions with an estimate of over 675 seats — many remain unfilled or underleveraged
There is no shortage of talent — only a shortage of pathways
DiverseForce delivers a proven model with measurable results
Deliverable — The Civic Bench™ Slate
After the bootcamp, DiverseForce delivers:
1
A vetted, curated slate of appointment-ready leaders
2
Including bios, interest areas, and governance resumes
3
Provided to elected officials to accelerate inclusive appointments
4
Support includes onboarding, coaching, and impact tracking
The P4 Partnership Model
Public-Private-Philanthropic Partnership (P4):
Funds the DFOB Fellowship ($5,000 per participant)
Funds The Civic Bench™ Accelerator and matching support ($3,500 per participant)
DiverseForce designs and delivers the full leadership pipeline and civic readiness model.
Return on Investment

A one-time $8,500 investment in a board leader can influence the stewardship over an average of $15 million in annual organizational budgets — year after year, for as long as they serve.

That is less than 1% of the dollars they’ll oversee in a single year, yet the impact continues indefinitely.

Additional value includes...
1
Increased transparency, trust, and innovation in public governance
2
Faster, more informed, and more representative appointments
3
A growing bench of civic-minded, cross-sector leaders
4
A legacy of inclusive leadership that reflects your values and district
The Civic Bench Accelerator™
Powered by DiverseForce at the P4 Hub – Philadelphia, PA
Purpose of the Bootcamp
Inclusive governance
Strategic oversight
Civic leadership
AI and innovation fluency
This experience culminates in the development of a appointment-ready candidates, which DiverseForce presents to elected officials on-demand for consideration and appointment.
Call to Action
Contribute to the budget for 50 leaders in Southeastern PA Counties (Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware Counties) per year at $8,500 each. A total of $425k per year as a pilot for targeted PA Expansion
"We're not asking public officials to build the bench — we're asking them to invest in it."
The Civic Bench™ Accelerator: Full-Day Agenda
Total Duration: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Light Breakfast & Networking
Continental breakfast served
Informal networking and cohort introductions
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks
Presented by: DiverseForce Leadership
Welcome and agenda overview
Frame the Civic Bench™ as a civic infrastructure investment
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM: Working Lunch & Reflections
Engage in table discussions on civic leadership aspirations and complete commitment cards for public service. Includes cohort photo and informal networking.
1:15 PM – 1:30 PM: Break
The Civic Bench™ Accelerator: Full-Day Agenda (Continued)
Total Duration: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Session 2: AI, Innovation & the Future of Governance
Explore DiverseForce’s 4 Pillars of AI Governance, AI’s role in oversight and transparency, and participate in breakout sessions on responsible AI strategy.
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM: Break
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM: Panel: A Conversation with Civic Leaders
Hear from public board members and elected officials on authentic leadership, political navigation, and building trust. Includes audience Q&A.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Wine & Dining Etiquette for Civic Leaders
Learn fine dining protocol, wine pairing insights, and practice conversation skills from a professional etiquette coach or sommelier.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Dinner & Networking
Enjoy a seated dinner with curated networking, with table assignments based on civic interests and regions for deeper connections.