The Match Game:
Ensuring Fit as a Nonprofit Board Member
Karmen Lemke Manager - Community Relations/Contributions
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Today’s topics
My background/experience
Basic responsibilities of a Nonprofit Board
Common Board shortcomings
Board Building Cycle – identify, cultivate, recruit, orient, engage,
educate, rotate, evaluate and celebrate
Intentional Board Recruitment– Salvation Army and others want
you!
Before you commit – do your homework – is this the right match
for you?
Resources available
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A Family of Companies
Electric
Generation and
Distribution
Electric Transmission
60% ownership
Natural Gas Distribution
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Serving the Region’s Energy Needs
WEC Energy Group
We Energies
Michigan Gas Utilities Corporation
Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation
North Shore Gas Company
The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
4.4 million customers
8,377 employees + 3,401 contractors
More than 70,000 miles of electric lines
More than 44,000 miles of natural gas lines
Power plant capacity – 8,803 MW
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Local Commitment
Wisconsin Public Service is an integral part of
the communities we serve through reliable
service, active civic involvement and charitable
giving.
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Nonprofit Boards By The Numbers
7.4 - Average number of board meetings a year
3.4 - Average number of hours for each board meeting
3 - Average length, in years, of a board member’s term
16.1- Number of people on an average nonprofit board
3% - Share of nonprofits that pay board members an honorarium
26% - Nonprofits that reimburse board members for travel/meetings
70% - Nonprofits that require a personal contribution from board
members
86% - Share of board members over the age of 40
2 - Average number of boards on which board members serve
82% - % of all board members who are Caucasian
Source: Board Source Nonprofit Governance Index
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Trends in Board Development
1. Boards are smaller.
2. Board meetings are shorter and there are fewer of them.
3. There is an increased reliance on technology.
4. Board members are learning the difference between
governance and support
5. Board members focus on impact and results.
6. Recruitment is harder.
7. The pressure to fundraise is growing.
8. Composition: From personal connections to strategic diversity.
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Trends in Board Development (Continued)
9. Focus on impact and results, not reports.
10. Clarity about risk management issues.
11. Orientation/Training: From informal to formal.
12. Education: Mission related, learn about the issue, understand the
organization’s customers.
13. Evaluation/Assessment: Accountability at all levels.
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Primary Board Responsibilities
Establish Strategic Direction
Determine mission and purpose
Ensure effective planning
Ensure the Necessary Resources
Ensure adequate financial resources
Select the chief executive
Build a competent board
Enhance the organization’s public standing
Provide Oversight
Monitor and strengthen programs and services
Protect assets and provide financial oversight
Ensure legal and ethical integrity
Support and evaluate
62nd annual CP
Telethon
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Common Board Shortcomings
Veering off the mission
Complacency
Misguided motivations
Multiple voices
Micromanaging
Limitless terms
No self-assessment/lack of self-improvement
Knotted purse strings
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Questions to Ask When Invited to Serve
Why me, and why now?
Could I first join a committee?
What skills and talents are needed? If they can't tell you...
How many open board seats need to be filled? Why are the seats
open?
How are the terms laid out?
What are the term limits? The most common is 2 terms, 6-years in
total, if term limits are enforced.
How often do people step down before their term is up, and why?
What is expected of a board member as far as time, talent,
treasure, contacts?
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Questions to Ask When Invited to Serve (Continued)
How can I benefit by being involved? This is NOT a bad question.
In what areas does the board get bogged down in and/or what
issues do they have trouble addressing?
Do the executive director and/or founder serve as a voting member
of the board?
Do 100% of the directors make an annual contribution? What is the
expected amount?
Does the board conduct an evaluation of their overall and individual
performance?
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What’s In It For You?
Meet new people – even your next boss
Community awareness and connections
Intrinsic motivation – want to give back
in a meaningful way and aligns with your
skill set
Learn a new skill – try something new
Gain formal leadership experience
Be apart of solving critical community
issues
Build the capacity of organizations that
are impacting lives
Have fun!
Literacy Green Bay
Annual Literacy Bee event
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Tips to becoming the best
board member you can:
Get to know the organization
Know your responsibilities as a board member
Avoid a conflict of interest
Support the board’s final choices
Maintain confidentiality
Don’t be a board hopper
Be open-minded
Learn how to read the organization’s financial statements
Be prepared to participate in board meetings
Take advantage of training and development opportunities
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Is Nonprofit Board Service Right for YOU???
What type of experience is most fulfilling for you?
How much time are you willing to put into board work?
Are you willing to collaborate with others on a regular basis or
would you prefer to work alone?
Do you have the willingness and the ability to assist a nonprofit
organization with fund development?
Are you willing to be an enthusiastic advocate for an organization
and its mission and encourage others to get involved?
Are you committed to sharing your time and talent to help make the
world a better place?
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What Is Next For You?
You may not be asked – so don’t wait.
Find your passion.
Make a connection.
Start small – committee vs. board
If feeling like an outsider – change it!
Don’t have time? Then what?
Can’t afford the financial commitment?
Remember time and talent counts, too!
Talk to your boss/company – make it a
development goal in 2016
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Time to Make a Connection!
Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know
Share a Board or Committee experience
What are you passionate about?
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Resources
Leadership Green Bay
United Way Impact Councils
Enterprising Nonprofits May 17 in Appleton
Volunteer Center of Brown County
BoardSource.org
www.volunteergb.org.
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Thank you!
Karmen Lemke
Wisconsin Public Service Corp.
920-433-1433