ICSB Foundation study plan

Map the ICSB Foundation blueprint to a personal coverage grid, weighting Domains 1 and 2 at the top because they carry 15% each

Define the board's governance-versus-management boundary and write a one-page summary contrasting fiduciary duties of care, loyalty, and obedience

Explain how mission, vision, and strategy cascade into annual plans and performance indicators, producing a draft logic model for a sample nonprofit

Draft ten original practice questions on board composition, committee structures, and strategy formulation, then answer them closed-book

Build a performance management framework that links strategic objectives to measurable KPIs, baselines, and review cadence

Interpret a set of core financial statements and compute liquidity, solvency, and reserve ratios from sample figures you construct yourself

Distinguish financial oversight from financial management, describing what the board approves, monitors, and delegates

Identify the main categories of organizational risk and draft a simple risk register with likelihood, impact, and owner columns

Compare board governance models and recommend one that fits a mid-sized organization, justifying the choice in writing

Design a board meeting agenda and information pack that supports effective oversight without micromanagement

Explain the board's role in budget approval, reserve policy, and financial red flags, listing at least six warning indicators

Practice applying fiduciary duty to two short ethical dilemma scenarios and record your reasoning

Outline the compliance universe for a nonprofit: legal form, filing obligations, fundraising rules, and employment basics

Explain the difference between compliance, ethics, and integrity, and draft a code of conduct outline with reporting channels

Map the internal control components of control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information, and monitoring onto a small organization

Describe the purpose and limits of internal and external audit and how assurance findings reach the board

Segment stakeholders by influence and interest and tailor a communication approach for each group

Draft key messages for a sensitive announcement and identify the channels and timing that fit each audience

Explain the difference between organizational purpose, sustainability, and ESG, and how materiality assessment shapes reporting

Identify the main ESG disclosure themes and describe how boards oversee sustainability commitments without greenwashing

Describe the board's role in digital strategy, technology investment, and cyber risk oversight, distinguishing oversight from operational decisions

Explain core data governance concepts: ownership, stewardship, quality, privacy, retention, and access control

Outline the elements of an incident response and business continuity plan and the board's escalation role

Evaluate a sample technology investment proposal against strategic fit, risk, and total cost of ownership

Integrate governance, strategy, and compliance concepts by working through four cross-domain case scenarios

Diagnose weak board practices in each scenario and recommend specific, actionable improvements

Audit your week 1 coverage grid and re-teach the three weakest subtopics from memory before checking notes

Complete a timed 40-question mixed set you write yourself, then analyze every error by domain and cause

Consolidate the lighter domains through rapid retrieval practice, targeting the specific gaps logged in week 7

Rehearse explaining each domain's core idea aloud in under two minutes to test true understanding

Sit two timed mock exams of 60 questions each and compare scores to set a realistic readiness judgment

Finalize a one-page personal exam-day strategy covering pacing, question triage, and flagging for review