Do you know what it is?  In my strong opinion, it’s the Board Development Committee.  Sometimes it’s called the Governance Committee, or the Nominating Committee.  I prefer the Board Development committee, because when functioning well, it is doing exactly that – developing a strong, high performing and engaged board.  Year round.

So What’s the Big Deal?  Here is why you need this committee:

1.            Weak or unengaged boards are the top complaints of nonprofit CEOs and board presidents.  If you are committed to changing that, you need a group focused on strengthening your board.  Year round.  If your board numbers are dwindling, it may be tough to form a functioning committee.  Go outside your board if you have to – enlist advisors who you trust and have experience engaging others, or perhaps who have served on strong nonprofit boards.

2.            Effective Board Development committees have robust agendas all year because there is so much to do – outlining board member expectations, facilitating  the recruitment process, coordinating orientation activities, creating engagement and retention strategies, providing relevant recognition opportunities, reviewing evaluation results, etc.  In addition, they will focus on succession planning with a leadership pipeline in mind so you won’t have a weak board again.

3.            Your board recruitment strategy will be aligned with your goals and initiatives so you can achieve your mission.  Assuming you have outlined key priorities for your organization, now you can provide intentional focus through this committee to ensure any gaps in the composition of your board are filled. When you are purposeful and recruit people to your board for a specific reason, you increase your impact in the community.

4.            Your board retention rate will improve.  Everyone wants to be part of a winning team.  Once you are showing signs of increased success, not only will members stick around because they are proud of their work and seeing results, but others will start asking how they can get involved.  How many board members are needed to do the work you envision?  How many seats do your bylaws allow?  Your board development committee will discuss items like this and make recommendations to the board.

Securing the right team, with the right balance of talent, time and connections, is critical to your mission and deserves your full attention.

Are you convinced that a Board Development committee is critical to your future success?  Yes?  Then get more information on executing the details in my book “The Impact Triangle.”

If not, call me and let’s talk it though.  Here’s my number – 858.618.4762.

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