The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is an independent, not-for-profit, section 501(c)(3) founded in 1977 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. NACD's membership includes the entire boards of 1,700+ corporations as well as several thousand individual members, for a total of more than 23,000 members. Membership is open to individuals serving on boards of public, private, and nonprofit organizations from both the United States and overseas. The organization is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. NACD operates at both a national and local level, with more than 20 chapters across 35 major metropolitan cities within the United States providing educational programs and networking opportunities. The organization collaborates with various other organizations such as Heidrick & Struggles, KPMG's Audit Committee Institute, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Pearl Meyer & Partners, and Sidley Austin. History NACD was founded in 1977 with the goal to educate directors. In 1978 it announced the first comprehensive Director Education Program. Ten years later, NACD recognized the first Director of the Year. In 1993, NACD published its first Blue Ribbon Commission Report, offering ten principles to guide audit committees and their oversight of financial reporting as well as risk management and internal and external auditors. In the early 2000s, NACD's Blue Ribbon Commission Report on Board Evaluations helped optimize board composition, while the organization helped shape Sarbanes-Oxley and influence the new New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ listing rules. In 2004, NACD co-found the Global Director Development Circle, launched in response to the need to keep directors ahead of international corporate governance and legislation. This program led NACD to globalize the Certificate of Director Education program in 2006. The program has since evolved into the Global Network of Director Institutes. In 2010, NACD acquired Directorship magazine, a magazine dedicated for today's corporate officers and board of directors. Mission NACD's mission, as stated on its website, is to elevate board performance by providing the information and insights that board members need to confidently navigate business challenges and enhance shareowner value. Advocacy NACD serves as a resource during the legislative process by regularly sending research, publications and comment letters to the United States Congress, the United States Security and Exchange Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. NACD employees have testified and conferred with key committees as they prepare for