Your board plays a critical role in overseeing your organization's mission, finances and strategic direction. So it's equally critical that these board members are supportive of the changes in tools and practices necessary to help your organization stay relevant and viable in today's rapidly changing world.
For the March 2014 Nonprofit Insights webinar hosted by VolunteerMatch focused on how to cultivate, engage and retain great board members that are "future-friendly." Jenifer Holland, Director of Consulting at BoardSource, shared best practices and strategies for finding and engaging the best board members for your organization. We were also joined by Shayla Price, Executive Director for the National Search Dog Alliance, who shared her first-hand experience working with boards from the nonprofit side, as well as serving as a board member herself.
Wondering how to build a board that will support your organization as it moves forward into the future? This webinar will provide ideas and strategies so you'll never need to "fight" your board for change again.
2. Meet Our Speakers
2
#vmlearn
Jenifer Holland
Director of Consulting
BoardSource
@jlgagerholland
@BoardSource
BoardSource.org
Shayla Price
Executive Director
National Search Dog Alliance
@shaylaprice
n-sda.org
ShaylaPrice.com
8. 8
Poll
Does your board have a:
• Nominating committee
• Governance committee
• Nominating and governance combined
• Other
• N/A or don’t know
#vmlearn
9. 9
IdentifyYour Board’s Needs
Think 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”?
#vmlearn
10. 10
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
11. 11
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
#vmlearn
12. 12
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.
#vmlearn
13. 13
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.
#vmlearn
14. 14
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.
#vmlearn
15. 15
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.
26. +
Engaging Board Members
Brainstorming Prompts
Wouldn’t it be great if…
If I had total control, I…
Because we have excess
resources, we can…
#vmlearn
34. +
Retaining Board Members
Create a Valued Culture
Norms
Acknowledgements
Implementation of Ideas
#vmlearn
35. +
Retaining Board Members
Support Members’ Goals
Speaking Opportunities
Workshops/Seminars
Recommendations
#vmlearn
36. +
Retaining Board Members
Show Appreciation
Honor Their Service
Highlight Achievements
Say “Thank you”
#vmlearn
37. Questions?
37
#vmlearn
Jenifer Holland
Director of Consulting
BoardSource
@jlgagerholland
@BoardSource
BoardSource.org
Shayla Price
Executive Director
National Search Dog Alliance
@shaylaprice
n-sda.org
ShaylaPrice.com
38. Next Webinar:
How Nonprofit Data and
Volunteers Can Save the
World
http://learn.volunteermatch.org
#vmlearn
April 8, 2014
Notas do Editor
Jenifer
Address: short-term and long-term needs. What are your terms? How many slots are you likely to be filling at any given time?
* cultivate and solicit funds; cultivate and recruit board members and other volunteers; read and understand financial statements; learn more about the substantive program area of the organizationPossess: * honesty, sensitivity to and tolerance of differing views; a friendly, responsive, and patient approach, community-building skills; personal integrity; a developed sense of values; concern for your nonprofit's development; a sense of humor