When it comes to board meetings, this is one of the fastest ways to make me nuts. I'm begging you....please don't. Let’s think about why you have board meetings: * To build relationships amongst board members so they work well together * To focus their attention on the most important priorities of the organization * [...]
You’re working hard to support your board and manage their work. You prepare for meetings. You teach them how to fundraise. You encourage their strategic discussions. You know their kids. And how do you know if it’s working? Is your board effective? Do they feel engaged in the right ways? If you follow best practices, [...]
As I review current trends for nonprofits, I can’t help but notice what’s going on with boards now. We’ve discovered a lot about nonprofit boards in the past year. Some of you have shared issues like this: Your boards don’t have the right players anymore. What you needed in the past has shifted. [...]
As I’ve been connecting with Executive Directors and Board Presidents lately, I’m happy to see you focused on shoring up items related to your board structure. You’re reviewing processes and refining things like committee charters. Committee charters are considered a necessary part of good governance and are essential for several reasons: [...]
Just because something has always been done that way, doesn’t mean it works for you anymore. If you’re struggling to achieve an effective and high-performing nonprofit board, rethink your approach and know it’s ok to turn your board structure upside down to get the results you need. Not everything is etched in stone. Here are [...]
I get asked that question pretty often – What's the right board size? The answer is – it depends. What are your goals? Do you currently have a composition that makes sense? You may have seen studies that will tell you the average nonprofit board size is around 17. So what? That includes hospitals, universities, [...]