We recently partnered with a small nonprofit who approached us for help with developing their strategic planning process. One focus of every strategic plan we help build is board development, and when addressing this area, we discovered that five board of directors had been in place for 20 years! Two additional members had joined in 2008, followed by two more in 2019.
That kind of tenure shows an incredible amount of dedication to the organization and its mission! However, it can also mean weary board members and a lack of fresh perspectives and input.
During our consultations, and among other board development advice, we recommended amending the organization’s bylaws to include term limits for the board members. As is sometimes the case, this was initially met with a little resistance. When people care about an organization and feel closely tied to its work, it can be hard to take a step back. But stepping back does not have to mean stepping away!
As directors rotate off the board, it can be a great opportunity for them to step into another role serving the organization, perhaps as an ex-officio advisor or member of a program committee. A Director Emeritus status, for example, can provide a one-year break before being eligible to be invited back to the board for a new term. The seat they vacate when rolling off then allows the nonprofit to welcome new talent to the board who bring fresh ideas, new energy, and different skill sets.
Once you create some movement within the group, former directors may take the opportunity to rejoin the board in the future, re-energized and ready to look at the organization with a new perspective. Or they may rest easy that committee or advocacy work is a perfect fit or take pride that their good work at that organization is done. Either way, the movement creates an ongoing system of new leaders on a rotating basis – a healthy board development cycle.
Encouraging movement via term limits within a strong board governance structure often translates to forward momentum throughout the entire organization. What is your plan for keeping your board member pipeline moving?