When it comes to success in nonprofit work, it’s hard to overstate the importance of having effective and engaged board members. These key volunteer leaders set the strategic vision, ensure adequate resources, and plan for the organization’s future. Project Partners knows that the health and sustainability of a nonprofit can depend on the performance of its board. That’s why we highlight board development as one of the five key focus areas in any strategic planning we facilitate.
When a former board chair of an education foundation client made a case for boosting their board’s performance via the work of a Governance Committee, I immediately thought, “This is good information worth sharing to our broader nonprofit community.” With her permission we’re passing along the following advice for you and your board members:
We are all deeply grateful when volunteers offer to commit time, energy, and resources to our nonprofits. But identifying high-quality candidates and voting them onto our boards doesn’t guarantee success. While most sign on hoping to put their skills to good use, many board members arrive unfamiliar with how nonprofits operate and uncertain about their role. It’s a great loss when we fail to harness the energies and talents of board members, leaving them feeling ill-equipped and underutilized. The question for nonprofit leaders, then, is what steps can be taken to maximize the performance of our board members individually and as a team?
First, know where you stand. Identifying strengths and areas for improvement is a great place to start.
Ask yourself, how well do your board members function as advocates and champions for your organization? Does your board reflect the diversity of the community where you operate and those you serve? Can board members articulate your mission and why it matters? Do they understand their role in advancing that mission?
Don’t despair if you see lots of room for improvement, even high functioning boards can find opportunities to grow their board’s effectiveness. Considering these questions will help set the stage for improvements.
Engage in year-round efforts to identify, cultivate, and recruit a diverse pipeline of candidates for board vacancies.
When it comes to attracting new members, it’s important to look beyond traditional circles and networks (“who do our board members know?”). A Governance Committee can lead the way with specific actions designed to identify gaps and broaden your search, including:
Develop a matrix tool that identifies key skills and attributes necessary for the nonprofit’s current work and future success,
Use the matrix to analyze current board composition for strengths and gaps,
Engage in targeted recruiting and cultivation based on identified gaps, and
Network and build relationships with new stakeholders and groups not currently represented on the board.
Ensure that all board members -- both existing and new -- are fully informed and empowered to engage meaningfully in the work at hand.
This is an ambitious goal but one that a well-designed Governance Committee can help advance. The Committee can work to identify and eliminate barriers that prevent board engagement and can help individual board members “plug in” based on their interests and talents. Here are some of the concrete ways a Governance Committee can support this deeper level of board engagement:
Draft role descriptions for board members, committees, and officers to help communicate expectations and responsibilities,
Work to match individuals’ skills and interests with organizational needs,
Plan and facilitate a thoughtful onboarding & orientation process,
Identify training opportunities for board members based on individual interests and the needs of the foundation, and
Develop and manage a semi-annual board self-evaluation tool.
Do you see now why I wanted to share this good advice? This nonprofit is positioning its already-successful board for even greater impact. You can do the same!
Ready to grow your board’s effectiveness and impact?
We’re always bragging on the HEB ISD Education Foundation, the client referenced above. If you want to know more about their success, please reach out. Also, please consider connecting with our friends at BoardBuild. Whether your board members need the training they provide, or your nonprofit needs the prospective board member they can offer, the match they help facilitate might be just what you need!