Self-Guided Course

Building a Strong Foundation: Organization

Before a Main Street program can thrive, it needs to function.

It may not be the flashiest part of revitalization—but it’s what keeps everything else running. This course will help you strengthen the internal foundation of your organization through governance, planning, and day-to-day operations. Whether you're starting fresh or fine-tuning an existing structure, you’ll walk away with clear strategies for making your organization stronger, steadier, and better aligned with its mission.

Time: 30 minutes Skill Level: Starting Formal Learning: 100 points

A group of four people works on a sidewalk art installation set within a recessed bed of river rocks. Dozens of slender wooden stakes topped with painted wooden shapes (spheres and cubes in bright yellow, orange, red, blue, and purple) rise from the stones. On the left, a crouching woman in a teal tank top and gray leggings picks up rocks; next to her, a standing woman in a wide-brimmed straw hat and green shirt holds two yellow-and-orange blocks. On the right, a woman in a gray tank top drives a stake into the stones with a mallet, while a man in a gray t-shirt and green shorts bends over to adjust a red cube on its stake. Behind them, a row of brick storefronts and the street with parked cars frame the scene under a clear blue sky. — Photo by Kendall Whittier. Tulsa, Oklahoma

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Identify common Main Street organizational structures and understand how they shape your program’s capacity.
Clarify the roles and responsibilities of board, staff, volunteers, and committees.
Align leadership and operations with your mission and strategic goals.
Apply practical strategies to strengthen governance, communication, and oversight.
Take action to improve the sustainability and clarity of your Main Street program’s internal systems.