Bring Out the Best in Your Board

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@UrbanPeakCS #nonprofit #governance

BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOUR BOARD

Urban Peak Colorado Springs Emily Davis, MNM, CGT Emily Davis Consulting

June 26, 2014



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@AskEmilyD @UrbanPeakCS

#governance #nonprofit #leadership

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TURN ON YOUR TECH



WHO AM I?



How many of you are…

q Serving on 1 committee? q Serving on 2 or more

committees? q Currently serving on the Urban

Peak board only? q Currently serving on 2 or more

boards (including Urban Peak)?

QUICK POLL



60 seconds or less Name &

Title

1 Question for Today

1 Governance

or Fundraising Buzz Word



Essential Responsibilities 4:30 – 5:00 Fundraising 5:00 – 5:15

Shared Leadership 5:15 – 5:30

Recruitment 5:30 – 6:00 Retention 6:00 – 6:20

Closing 6:20 – 6:30

WHAT’S ON TAP



•  Step up step back •  Tune out tech, tune in to

engagement •  Challenge each other, ideas to

advance mission •  Every experience and perspective

has value •  Focus on problems, not

personalities •  Facilitator will keep us moving •  Other? •  Parking lot

AGREEMENTS



WHAT ARE YOUR FEARS?



ESSENTIALS OF BOARD LEADERSHIP



1.  Determine mission & purpose

2.  Select the chief executive

3.  Support & evaluate the chief executive

4.  Ensure effective planning

5.  Monitor & strengthen programs & services

6.  Ensure adequate financial resources

7.  Protect assets & provide financial oversight

8.  Build a competent board

9.  Ensure legal & ethical integrity

10. Enhance the organization’s public standing

10 BASIC BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES



How does the board as a whole perform the 10 responsibilities listed?

Rate the board as a whole on a scale

from 1 – 4. 4 = Outstanding

3 = Good 2 = Fair 1 = Poor



Set organizational

direction

Provide oversight

Ensure necessary resources

BOARD ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES



WHY 100% BOARD GIVING??



•  Board giving $$ •  Overall fundraising •  Funds from each category

– Individuals – Grants – government, foundations – Corporations – Earned income – Other

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?



THE GIVING PYRAMID



SPHERES OF INFLUENCE NEW DONORS

direct mail, events

ANNUAL DONORS Direct appeals,

volunteer involvement

MAJOR DONORS Personal relationships Committee and board

involvement

PLANNED GIFTS Personal relationships

& involvement Could be anyone!



FUNDRAISING PROCESS

Prospecting Identification Preparation

Cultivating Build the Relationship

Engage the Donor Ask for the Gift

Stewarding Recognition Reporting Communicating Engagement



FUNDRAISING BY TIME

Prospecting

Stewardship & Cultivation

Acknowledgment

Solicitation



3 POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

YES!!

Yes, but not that much

No





FEARLESS FUNDRAISING: A BOARD MEMBER

CHECKLIST!

Fundraising opportunities and responsibilities for

board members

Be honest. Be realistic. Take a risk!



Legal Hat

Ambassador Hat

Volunteer Hat

THE DIFFERENT HATS WE WEAR…



ENSURE BOARD & ED ENGAGEMENT*

ED is displacing board

GOVERNANCE AS OBSERVATION

ED is in constructive partnership with board

GOVERNANCE AS

LEADERSHIP

ED is going thru the motions with the board

GOVERNANCE AS

ATTENDANCE

ED is displaced by board

GOVERNANCE AS MICROMANAGEMENT

ED ENGAGEMENT

BOARD ENGAGEMENT

* Source: Richard Chair et. al. “Governance as Leadership”



ACTIVITY TIME!

Write “board” in the space provided if you think it is a board responsibility.

Write “staff” if you think it is a

responsibility carried out by the staff.

Write “both” if you think it is a responsibility shared by staff and board.



Board Leads

Shares values thru policies that put mission in action

Hires, supports, assesses ED

Opens funding resources in community

Oversees financial due diligence

Recruits & retains new board members

ED Leads

Develops/ Proposes policy questions

Hires, supervises, motivates staff

Develops & implements programs

Shared Leadership

Strategic plan

Fundraising plan & strategies

Evaluations

Prep board meetings

SHARED LEADERSHIP



CONFLICT MANAGEMENT



EVALUATION





RECRUITMENT & RETENTION… THAT ROCKS!



WHAT DOESN’T WORK?



WHAT WORKS?



PREPARATION

•  Job descriptions •  Letter of commitment •  Board assessment •  Prospect lists •  Language (application,

invitations) •  Point person •  Outreach efforts

APPLICATION

•  Prep application •  Deadlines •  Call to action •  Notification •  Meeting invite •  Board buddies •  Decision making

RECRUITMENT PLAN



BOARD CULTURE



SELF-ASSESSMENT



APPLICATION ELEMENTS



OUTREACH



WHERE’S WALDO?



CREATE A PIPELINE



INTERVIEWS



DUE DILIGENCE



NOTIFICATION



EVALUATION





WHAT MAKES ‘EM TICK*

• Always YES • Wants to help everyone & everything

• Caution!

OVER-COMMITTED

• Need lots to stay engaged

• Don’t let them sit around

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

• Verbal & print

• Use titles & acknowledgment

LIKES RECOGNITION

• Stays focused & on track • Great for events • May get discouraged by others’ lack of support

ORGANIZER

• Lots of ideas for improvement

• Pair with an Organizer to keep things moving

CREATIVE

*Abigail Harmon



GREAT RETENTION = GREAT ORIENTATION



KEY TO GREAT MEETINGS



BOARD REPORTS

•  Keep focus on governance

•  Save meeting time •  Share planning

responsibilities

•  Committee & project reports one week in advance

•  Committee name & month

•  Necessary votes, board discussion items

•  Goal progress related to strategic plan

•  Summary of meeting discussion

•  Timeline & important dates

•  Next meeting



SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES



NEXT GENERATION



PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT



GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE



RECOGNIZE!







Emily Davis, MNM Emily Davis Consulting

(720) 515-0581 [email protected]

emilydavisconsulting.com emilydavisconsulting.com/blog

Government & Nonprofit

Bring Out the Best in Your Board