Investing in Leaders Who Invest in Youth
June 25, 2026
In our latest strategic plan, JA Worldwide has set an ambitious goal: deliver 100 million youth learning experiences each year by 2050. Few organizations possess the scale, access, and partnerships to achieve such a goal, but one thing is certain: Achieving this goal will require exceptional governance.
Across the JA network, nearly 6,000 volunteer board members guide strategy, steward resources, manage risk, and ensure long-term sustainability. Their decisions influence how effectively JA can serve young people in more than 120 countries. That’s why we’re making an unprecedented investment in board leadership, creating what may be the world's most connected and comprehensive nonprofit board development ecosystem.
To support this vision, JA Worldwide is introducing the JA Board Orientation, an app-based experience designed to strengthen governance and build a more connected global board community. The orientation includes ten asynchronous lessons that combine video and text-based learning, plus a synchronous cohort of board members to share similarities, discuss differences, and learn from each other, help making the experience accessible, flexible, and relevant for board members across regions.
This initiative reflects a broader commitment to ensure excellence in people development across every part of the JA network. Although many recognize JA for preparing young people for entrepreneurship, financial success, and the future of work, this initiative extends that level of quality and intention to board leadership. The goal is clear: to build best-in-class boards that guide and sustain our work over time.
JA Board Orientation grew out of a multi-year effort to better understand the needs of JA's governance structures. With support from McKinsey & Company, JA Worldwide conducted a global analysis to explore how board members engage with the organization and where gaps exist. One key insight emerged early: Many board members did not fully realize they belonged to a global network, or how their role connected to a broader ecosystem of peers and shared practices.
As part of this work, JA Worldwide and McKinsey examined governance practices across the nonprofit sector. Another finding stood out: Although many organizations invest heavily in staff development, few make comparable investments in connecting, educating, and continuously developing their board members at scale.
JA saw an opportunity to lead. Rethinking our approach to board orientation as a one-time onboarding exercise, JA began designing a global approach to board excellence, one that helps board members learn from one another, share best practices, and develop a deeper understanding of their role within a worldwide movement.
From that starting point, the initiative evolved significantly. What began as an introductory overview became a more comprehensive learning experience focused on governance, accountability, and consistency. Today, the orientation—which launches next month—not only welcomes board members into the global JA community, but also provides practical guidance on policies, safeguarding standards, communications and partnership opportunities, and resources that support effective governance. This approach ensures that every board members has the tools to guide their JA location to unprecedented impact.
The initiative also reflects JA's fixed, flexible, freestyle approach. Core content provides a consistent foundation across the network, while JA regional operating centers and member locations can customize elements to reflect regional and local context. This structure allows JA to maintain global standards while honoring the local leadership that defines our model. JA is local first, with a global network that enables shared learning and collective progress.
Boards in JA Americas and JA Africa have already piloted the initiative, with further refinements underway ahead of a broader rollout. As the initiative expands, it offers an opportunity to strengthen individual boards and the connections between them, creating a global community of board leaders united by a shared commitment to young people and equipped to help guide JA toward our long-term aspiration
JA Board Orientation is only the first step. Over time, JA Worldwide plans to create additional opportunities for board members to connect across regions, learn from peers, and strengthen governance practices together. We’re building a governance engine capable of supporting one of the most ambitious growth goals in the social sector.