Center for Nonprofit Leadership > Faculty

Gretchen Hartnack Milligan
Board Focus
ghmilligan@boardfocus.com

As founder and principal of Board Focus, Gretchen Milligan is dedicated to sharpening the vision of independent school and nonprofit boards by focusing on the connection between organizational mission, planning, and governance. She works with boards to help them plan strategically and govern effectively. Her customized services add value by helping institutions increase their organizational effectiveness.

As a graduate of Marlborough School in Los Angeles, Gretchen holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. This business education background has given Gretchen a solid framework for creative and practical problem solving, and her early career in commercial banking has given her the tools and experience to analyze organizations in terms of finance and accounting as well as quality of management, effectiveness of planning, and strength of leadership.

Gretchen brings over 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience to her work with nonprofit boards. Recently, as board president at Marlborough School, board president at Crane Country Day School in Santa Barbara, and chair-elect of the board of Cottage Health System in Santa Barbara, she has led boards through executive transitions, strategic planning, capital campaigns, and transformative building projects. In addition, she is joining the board of the Santa Barbara Foundation. A dedicated volunteer for Stanford since graduation, she has been recognized three times for her effective volunteer leadership, most recently as the inaugural recipient of The Stanford Medal.

Gretchen has facilitated the following CNL courses:

• Boards and Fundraising