Board members and nonprofit leaders together hold the promise of what an organization can become and the impact it can have on the lives of those served. Honored to spend a day last week in Fort Worth, Texas with the Board and senior leadership team of Child Care Associates. When learning begins in the very first years, children benefit for the rest of their lives. That’s why Child Care Associates works constantly to create the finest possible early learning system for families and children in need. As one of the largest child development programs in North Texas, Child Care Associates is recognized as a leader in early education, both regionally and nationally.
Reunions come in many different forms and for many different purposes. Class reunions. Family reunions. Team reunions. Many nonprofits are preparing for their own type of reunion over the coming weeks and months -- a Board reunion.
Over the past year or so, nonprofits have adapted to the challenges of the pandemic and most Boards have met virtually. This conversion has brought benefits such as improved attendance, and also challenges such as lack of personal interaction among Board teams. As Boards begin to return to some form of in-person gathering, here are some tips to ensure a smooth transition.
Devote time to relationship building.
While virtual platforms offer outstanding features to ensure effective meetings, many nonprofit Boards have missed that element of social interaction, of getting to know one another as colleagues and teammates. Through departures from and additions to the Board, your nonprofit may have several Board members who have never actually met one another in person. Before diving back into the business of the Board, consider the ways in which you might offer Board members an opportunity to re-engage with one another and develop the types of relationships found in healthy teams.
Tip: Consider a Board retreat or intentionally create other opportunities for Board members to get to know one another.
Assess the current strengths, challenges, and priorities of the Board.
We can’t forget that the past year has been highly disruptive for nonprofits and Boards -- personally, professionally, and organizationally. The health of your Board today may be very different (positively or negatively) than it was a year ago. Rather than assuming these changes will disappear upon a return to in-person meetings, consider pausing to assess that state of the Board.
Tip: Whether through a formal Board assessment or informal checkup, offer Board members the opportunity to reflect and hold a mirror up to the Board team -- what is going well, where are we struggling, and what are our most important priorities.
Develop new norms and expectations as a team.
Just as the strengths and challenges of the Board may have changed over the past year, the norms and expectations of the team may have evolved also. For example, many nonprofits are now evolving to a hybrid platform for Board meetings, where some members are comfortable being in-person and others more comfortable with joining remotely. Is your meeting frequency and schedule still optimal for the team or does it need to be altered? These are just a few of the questions your Board may want to address.
Tip: Board members tend to have greater ownership of norms and expectations they help create.
Know that the road is not always smooth. There may be bumps along the way. Like any team, Boards are challenging! Know that Nielsen Training & Consulting is your partner on this journey and we are here to offer any support or guidance you may need. We want to hear from you as you get the band back together!
Certain habits and routines are so familiar to us that we do them as a matter of practice. Once a year, it is recommended that we visit our doctor for a physical. Every 3,000 miles or so, we change the oil in our car. Every 6 months, we check the batteries in our smoke detectors at home. We don’t do these things because something is wrong or broken. Rather, we do them because there is value in checking in, value in a tune up, and value in establishing priorities for the future. Board assessment is similar in many ways.
In Part 1 of this 2-part blog series, explore the value of a Board Assessment as a tool for enhancing the health and performance of your Board. In Part 2, we will look at various tools and methods of Board Assessment and address frequently asked questions to maximize the impact on your Board.
Like any team, most nonprofit Boards will go through periods in which they are clicking on all cylinders and periods in which performance or effectiveness may dip. Just as having an annual physical may catch any symptoms of declining health at an early stage, so too can a Board Assessment help surface any early signals of declining effectiveness. A Board Assessment process offers the following benefits:
Greater Self Awareness
Boards are not able to address issues unless they first have a mechanism for identifying them. By providing Board members an opportunity to hold a mirror up to their own performance, a Board Assessment provides a safe and effective means of surfacing issues before they lead to conflict or dysfunction. Often, Board members will say during a discussion of the assessment results, “I had a feeling that was something we needed to address, but it is reassuring to see that others feel the same way.” On the flip side, a Board Assessment can also offer teams an opportunity to celebrate the areas in which they are thriving.
Alignment of Board Practices with Organizational Strategy
Boards, like nonprofit organizations themselves, proceed through stages of a life cycle. The practices of the Board of a fledgling nonprofit often differ from those of an established organization. Likewise, as the strategic priorities of a nonprofit evolve, so too must its Board habits to promote alignment and effectiveness. A Board Assessment helps align the priorities of the Board with the strategic imperatives of the organization.
Goal Setting
During Board retreats, I will often ask Board members, “What are your top priorities for the coming year as a Board?” Often, I will hear responses such as, “Be more engaged” or “Just be better.” While there is nothing wrong with these sentiments, they are akin to your doctor telling you at your physical to “Just be healthier.” The truth is that Boards have many responsibilities -- governance, fundraising, oversight, strategy, ambassadorship. It can seem overwhelming at times. A Board Assessment serves as an effective goal-setting process for Boards, helping members identify what’s important now (W.I.N.) and what 2-3 aspects of their governance responsibilities are most critical to address in the coming year. By providing tangible areas of focus and action steps, a facilitated Board Assessment can provide greater clarity and focus for your Board.
Be sure to check back for Part 2 of this blog series for discussion of the various types of Board Assessment and the benefits of each, along with answers to frequently asked questions! If you have additional questions about Board Assessment, or would like to explore bringing the Nielsen Training & Consulting Signature Board Champions Assessment to your organization, please reach out to us at gregory@nielsenconsults.com.
Developing a Board team that is engaged and effective in their fundraising role requires expectations, support/training, and accountability. Some excellent tips to help in developing your Board's fundraising effectiveness in this free e-book from Rachel Muir and Bloomerang.
Exciting weekend in Minneapolis facilitating a Board/Staff retreat with the team of Camp To Belong. Camp to Belong is an international organization dedicated to reuniting brothers and sisters who have become separated in foster care through a week of camp in the summer and other events throughout the year. Exciting things to come from these talented and passionate leaders!
#Nonprofit #Board #Philanthropy #Charity #BoardChampions
Last month, we celebrated the 1 year anniversary of the launch of Nielsen Training & Consulting. Over the past year, I have been honored to work with nonprofit organizations from New Jersey to San Francisco, Miami to Denver, and of course here at home in Kentucky.
As we begin year 2, I recognize that developing a highly effective Board doesn’t happen overnight, but is the product of intentionality, engagement, and effort.
That is why I am thrilled to announce the launch of Board Champions.
This is a year-round, fully customizable Board development program, designed to partner with you in building a Board team capable of translating bold vision into reality.
Flexible enough to meet the needs of your nonprofit, Board Champions begins with a customized Board Self Assessment and facilitated Board retreat and subsequently may include the following services:
CEO or Board coaching
Defining Board expectations
Assessing the skills and diversity of your Board team
Building an effective orientation program
Aligning committee engagement with strategic objectives
Click the button below to learn more or connect with Greg to set up a consultation. Let’s work together to develop your team into Board Champions!
Calling all #SanDiego #nonprofit leaders! Pleased to share that I will be in San Diego on Monday, September 9. I invite you to join me as I co-lead a workshop entitled "Building a Championship Fundraising Board" with my friend and colleague Janeal Ford of Fordable Fundraising. Click the link below to check out the details and register!
#fundraising #philanthropy #Board
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07egi7yuav71f6e689&llr=e78ijryab&showPage=true&fbclid=IwAR1oOh9M4zYcUZ5d9EPHyVUt-bccYqPVVHJ_5z9MRicw7bllQ1mPCmkvrc0
It is undeniable that #Board #diversity remains a challenge for the #nonprofit community.
Starting early in 2020, the United Way of Central Ohio plans to include “board diversity” as part of the criteria in its next grant-application process. Charities seeking funding from the United Way will need to have diverse boards or a board-approved plan for achieving diversity.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this:
- Is this the best way to enhance Board diversity?
- Are there other concerns such as tokenism?
- What are some other alternatives?
When I facilitate a #nonprofit #Board or staff retreat, I focus on 3 key goals -- to inform, to engage, and to inspire those who attend. It is truly one of the most rewarding and enjoyable areas of my work. When planned thoughtfully and executed well, a Board retreat can be a key step in transforming or elevating a team. Check out the article below for some additional tips. If your Board or staff would benefit from this experience, let's connect!
https://boardable.com/blog/nonprofit-board-retreats-tips/
"The idea that elite organizations like #foundations have #boards that continue to choose not to reflect and represent the #diversity of civil society sends a message to the growing communities of color that they are not part of the solution and have nothing to contribute to solving the societal challenges we all share."
https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/you-can-diversify-if-you-want-to
#WhatIAmReading
Nonprofit Board governance requires hard work and commitment, but it can be fun too! Honored to facilitate the Board retreat this weekend for Fuller Center for Housing.
Check out this month's e-newsletter for tips for a successful #Board retreat, new #podcast episodes, #WhatIAmReading, and MORE! CLICK HERE to read this month’s newsletter.
One of the primary responsibilities of a #nonprofit #Board is to select and support the #CEO. This article provides some great reminders for Board members and tips to strengthen the partnership. How strong is the partnership between the Board and CEO in your organization?
https://trust.guidestar.org/top-6-ways-a-board-can-help-its-ceo
Check out this month's e-newsletter for tips to elevate Board fundraising success, information about our new nonprofit leadership podcast, and more! CLICK HERE to access!
Had a great time this morning speaking with Scott Furkin and the Louisville Bar Association about #nonprofit #Board #governance and tools to build a dynamic Board.
As an #attorney, I especially enjoy working with #nonprofits, #lawyers, #lawfirms, and associations on legal and fiduciary aspects of Board governance.
#continuinglegaleducation