Should You Have Agendas for Board Meetings?

Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Good Board PracticesTags: · · · · 3 Comments

In this post, I share how a diverse board handles some different cultural norms around agendas and meetings. It’s a good lesson about being transparent and inclusive. How One Board Changed the Way Agendas Were Developed and Meetings Were Run Told by a Board Chair somewhere in the US Many years ago, I was board chair of a small nonprofit that had a very diverse board. At one meeting, a board member suggested that we not use agendas. He said that there were cultures where following a strict agenda was uncomfortable and — to respect those individuals — we should… Read more

Eight Steps to Getting Your Board in Order

Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Conflict of Interest · Good Board PracticesTags: · · · · · · · · · 3 Comments

Happy New Year. I hope everyone had a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday and all are staying healthy! A new year is an opportunity to get your organization and your board organized. Here are eight items to consider. Some you will want to do every year, others periodically. 1. Create, Update, and Approve Committee Charters If you have Committee Charters, each committee should review them at the first meeting of the year. If you do not have them, ask each committee to develop a Charter that spells out responsibilities, membership, terms, leadership, and meetings. For example, responsibilities for a Board Development… Read more

Changing Course for More Impact

Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO RolesTags: · · · · Leave a comment

How a Supportive Relationship Between Board Chair and ED Led to Successful Change By a Dedicated Board Member, Somewhere in USA I was board chair when the organization made a big shift in its work to drive more community impact. To me, the most interesting thing that came out of that experience is the reflection that leadership and management are very different skills. When an organization decides to go through significant change, it is often a charismatic, high-energy leader who initiates it, gets people inspired, and drives it forward. But often a really inspirational leader still may not have the… Read more

Is Your Board Thankful?

Categories: Board Member Roles · Fundraising · Good Board PracticesTags: · · · 2 Comments

Next week is Thanksgiving which got me thinking about thanking. Since I have been doing a series of posts on fundraising, I decided to focus on the role of board members in thanking donors. My first post on fundraising talked about a successful capital campaign and the many ways donors can make a stretch gift. My second fundraising post stressed the importance of connecting your organizations’ values to your fundraising efforts. My last post suggested ways to board members involved in fundraising and the role of the fund development committee chair in this effort. Have Board Members Thank Donors Every… Read more

Effective Fundraising: Staff Does Heavy Lifting

Categories: Board Member Roles · Fundraising · Good Board Practices · Nonprofit FundingTags: · · 2 Comments

This is my third in a series of posts about the role of the board in fundraising. In this post, a board member describes their role as Fund Development Committee chair. They also broadly address how board members can be involved in fund development and the necessity of having staff do the heavy lifting. In my last post, a board member explains the importance and impact of connecting an organization’s values to their fundraising plan. In the previous post, a board member outlines ways donors can contribute to a successful capital campaign. Board Members Play Different Roles in Different Size… Read more