nonprofit insights: building a future-friendly nonprofit board

Building a Future-Friendly Nonprofit Board

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March 19, 2014

Meet Our Speakers

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Jenifer HollandDirector of ConsultingBoardSource@jlgagerholland@BoardSourceBoardSource.org

Shayla PriceExecutive DirectorNational Search Dog Alliance@shaylapricen-sda.orgShaylaPrice.com

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Building a Future-Friendly Nonprofit

BoardJenifer Holland, Director of

Consulting

© 2014. Not to be reproduced or distributed without express permission from BoardSource.

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About BoardSource

• Advances the public good by building exceptional nonprofit boards and inspiring board service

• Supports and promotes excellence in nonprofit board service

• Is the premier source of cutting-edge thinking and resources related to boards

• Engages and develops the next generation of board leaders

© 2013 BoardSource #vmlearn

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Before– Identify board

needs– Cultivate & Recruit

On Board– Orient– Involve & Educate

Over Time– Evaluate, Rotate &

Celebrate!

Identify

Cultivate

Recruit

Orient

Involve

Educate

Evaluate

Rotate

Celebrate!

Context: The Board Building Cycle

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“Identify” Step: Whose Job is It?

Nominating Committee• Short-term• Narrow focus

– Elections– Officers

• Self-contained

Governance Committee• Ongoing• Holistic focus

– Composition– Policies and

Practices• Involves others

Sample committees that have responsibility for identifying board candidates

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Nominating Committee

Governance Committee

Nominating• Short-term• Narrow focus

– Elections– Officers

• Self-contained

Governance• Ongoing• Holistic focus

– Composition– Practices

• Involves others

Evolution of Board-Related Committees

Board Developme

nt Committee

Board Development

• Ongoing• Broader focus

than Nominating

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Poll

Does your board have a:

• Nominating committee• Governance committee• Nominating and governance combined• Other• N/A or don’t know

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Identify Your Board’s NeedsThink Strategically: What skills and talents

does your organization need to drive its mission forward and to advance key strategies over the next 2, 5 and 10 years?

Identify Gaps: Which of those skills and talents are currently represented on your board, and which ones are missing?

Be Specific: How would you describe the skills, expertise, and personal attributes of the “ideal candidate”?

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Tool: Board Matrix(exerpt)

1 2 3 4 5 6 A B C D E F

Areas of Expertise

Marketing

Program focus

Strategy

Technology

Financial

Fundraising

Investments

Legal

Fundraising Abilities

Personal financial giving

Access to corporate & philanthropic connections

Access to individuals with gift potential

Ability to support special events

Which Best Describes You:

Bridge builder

Leader/Strategist

Visionary

Worker bee

Current Members Prospective Members

S A M P L E

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What does your board need?

Good Board Members Typically Possess

• An Ability to:– listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively, work well

with individual people and groups

• A Willingness to:– prepare for and attend board and committee

meetings, ask questions, take responsibility and follow through on a given assignment, contribute personal;

– financial resources in a generous way according to circumstances, open doors in the community, evaluate oneself; and

– develop certain skills if they don’t already have them

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Step 1: IDENTIFY Board Needs

• Skills, knowledge, perspectives, and connections, etc., needed to implement strategic plan.

• Board needs assessment– What expertise do you have? – What is missing?

• Identify sources of board members with the desired characteristics.

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Step 2: CULTIVATE Potential Leaders

• Ask current board members and others to suggest potential candidates with needed characteristics.

• Find ways to connect with those candidates.• Get them interested in your chapter, and keep

them informed of your programs.

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Step 3: RECRUIT Prospects

• Describe why a prospective board member is wanted and needed.

• Explain expectations and responsibilities of board members, and don’t minimize requirements.

• Invite questions, elicit their interest, and find out of if they would be prepared to serve.

• Recruit a diverse board.

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Step 7: EVALUATE Board

• Evaluate the board as a whole, as well as individual board members.

• Examine how the board and chief executive work as a team.

• Engage the board in assessing its own performance.

• Identify ways in which to improve. • Encourage individual self-assessment.

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• Identify gaps between expected and actual performance

• Ensure that all board members have a shared understanding of the board’s roles and responsibilities

• Provide a context for discussing opportunities to strengthen the board

• Model accountability and enhance credibility for the organization among staff, volunteers, donors, and other constituencies

Board Self-Assessment

© 2014 BoardSource#vmlearn

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BSA data sets the stage forboard development plan

0 = Poor , 1 = Fair , 2 = OK, 3 = Good, 4 = Excellent

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How are Assessment Results Used?

© 2014 BoardSource

DATA seldom leads to action if the numbers aren’t explained

INFORMATION exchanged between you and your BoardSource team gives data meaning

KNOWLEDGE is created when experience and context is blended with information

WISDOM occurs when knowledge is applied

D = Data

E = Expertise

C = Coaching

K = Knowledge

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+Cultivating Future-Friendly Boards

Identifying Board Prospects

Engaging Board Members

Retaining Board Members

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+Identifying Board Prospects

Past Experiences

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+Identifying Board Prospects

Soft Skills

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+Poll

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Do you ask board prospects

about industry trends in their professions?

+Identifying Board Prospects

Knowledge of Industry Trends Books, Blogs Connect the Dots Areas of Interest

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+Identifying Board Prospects

Individual Development Plan Goals Interconnection Time Investment

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Engaging Board Members

+Engaging Board Members

Brainstorming Prompts Wouldn’t it be great if… If I had total control, I… Because we have excess resources, we can…

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+Engaging Board Members

Cheerleaders Guest Speakers Attendance Door Prizes

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+Question

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How do you currently motivate your board

members?

+Engaging Board Members

Cross Sector Collaboration

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+Engaging Board Members

Personal Commitments I will accomplish X

before the next meeting.

Visuals Reminders

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Retaining Board Members

+Poll

How often do you ask for feedback from your board

members?

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+Retaining Board Members

Ask for Feedback SurveyMonkey Updates Improvements

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+Retaining Board Members

Create a Valued Culture Norms Acknowledgements Implementation of

Ideas

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+Retaining Board Members

Support Members’ Goals Speaking Opportunities Workshops/Seminars Recommendations

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+Retaining Board Members

Show Appreciation Honor Their Service Highlight Achievements Say “Thank you”

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Questions?

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Jenifer HollandDirector of ConsultingBoardSource@jlgagerholland@BoardSourceBoardSource.org

Shayla PriceExecutive DirectorNational Search Dog Alliance@shaylapricen-sda.orgShaylaPrice.com

Next Webinar:

How Nonprofit Data and Volunteers Can Save the World

http://learn.volunteermatch.org

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April 8, 2014