The co-authors of Nonprofit Board Service for the Genius advise nonprofits to connect board members to a charity’s mission, to recruit trustees who can provide needed skills, and to make expectations clear from the outset. These and the other steps they outline below will help a nonprofit fully engage its board.
1. Connect to Mission
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Use storytelling to regularly share success stories.
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Encourage (or require) periodic involvement with programs or clients.
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Incorporate “mission moments” into board meeting agendas.
2. Recruit Strategically
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Seek out candidates who have a strong connection to the organization’s mission.
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Identify skill sets needed to support board governance and staff.
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Develop a process that gives both candidates and the organization an opportunity to assess a mutual fit.
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Use a board commitment form as a recruitment cornerstone; this document should clearly state expectations for, among other things, financial contributions, time, fundraising, and leadership.
3. Develop Leadership
4. Nurture a Culture of Philanthropy
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Develop board members as ambassadors of the mission.
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Require individual giving from each board member.
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Create a customized fundraising plan for each board member.
5. Expect Financial Stewardship
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Ensure that board members have baseline financial literacy.
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Recruit at least one, ideally two, crackerjack financial experts.
6. Support the Executive Director
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Cultivate a partnership that encourages trust, transparency, and open dialogue.
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Acknowledge achievements and accomplishments.
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Offer constructive feedback at least annually.
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Give the executive director opportunities for professional development.
7. Plan Well
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Conduct strategic planning and use the plan to guide the work of board and staff.
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Identify key goals and objectives that board and staff will work together to achieve during a defined period of time.
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Develop meeting agendas that focus on decision points and respect everyone’s time.
8. Measure Impact
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Confirm that all programs align with the mission.
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Develop indicators to measure mission impact.
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Ensure that impact and mission are aligned.
9. Evaluate Board
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Convene a governance committee to assess board performance and provide ongoing improvement feedback.
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Assess each board member’s performance annually using a defined process and criteria; expect underperforming members to “step up or step off.”
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Allow the executive director to provide feedback regarding board engagement and effectiveness.
10. Monitor Risk
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Establish financial, personnel, and other relevant policies to guide board oversight.
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Secure and periodically review appropriate insurance coverage.
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Monitor policies and insurance coverage to ensure they are current.
11. Learn Together
12. Celebrate and Socialize
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Celebrate organizational successes and acknowledge accomplishments of staff and individual board members.
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Organize social events—with no organizational business—to build community and deepen trust among board members.
© Susan Schaefer and Bob Wittig. Reprinted with permission.
Susan Schaefer is principal of Resource Partners LLC, and Bob Wittig is executive director of the Jovid Foundation.
