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

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

Getting Board Members to Do Things

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

Board members are volunteers. Organizations select them because they have specific skills or connections or because they represent groups whose input is valued by the organization. Some board members are donors, some are connectors, and some are doers. Many fit into more than one category. But what happens when board members say they want to be more involved but then don’t step forward when asked? In this story, one board chair shares her frustration with board members who never raise their hands. She suggests making assignments and taking care about who you ask to join a board. My advice to… Read more

What Are You Willing to Do for Your Beliefs?

Categories: Board Member Roles · LeadershipTags: · · · 1 Comment

This week we celebrate the 4th of July in the US. I have been thinking – what does this holiday mean for those who want to Lead Well, to do good better? Our Founding Fathers Risked Their Lives for Their Beliefs The people who founded this country believed that all men are created equal; that we all have the basic human rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and that government must be by the consent of those governed – not an inherited position for royalty. These founders risked their lives for what they believed: If we had… Read more

The Journey to a Diverse Board

Categories: Board Diversity · Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Good Board Practices · Prospective Board MembersTags: · · · · · · · · 2 Comments

Every board I have served on has wanted to be more diverse – more diverse in many ways: by race and culture, by age and gender, by geography. Yet most boards don’t do a good job at achieving the diversity they strive for. In this post, one ED shares his journey to a truly diverse board. His primary lessons – take your time, build trust, listen, be humble. Diversity is important – having many voices at the table changes not only the conversation but also decisions made and actions taken. Creating a diverse board sends a powerful signal to staff,… Read more