Fundraising Success Series

Lisa Hoffman – Foundation Center

February 24, 2015

Surfs Up: Moving from the Board You Have

to the Board You Need

What I’ve Been Hearing at the Office Lately…

LISA HOFFMAN – COACH – CONSULTANT –

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Daily calls

Brainstorming

Rubberstamping

No ED evaluation

Backroom dealing

Noble Service – Community Trust

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Governance Role Support Role

Represent Community Represent Organization

Board’s Leadership Role

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Governance Support

Planning – Policies

Finance – Legal

Fund Development

Sound Management

Board Governance

When Do Boards Get Stuck?

Confuse governance and support

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What Does This Look Like?

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Daily calls

Directives

“Staff fundraises…”

What else?

What is Your Board’s Developmental Stage?

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Kitchen Table

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Nonprofit

Beginning Stage

Board

Organizing

•Modest budget

•Tiny – no staff

•Little structure

•Small – friends of

•Hands on

•“Family” – informal

Following Leading

Governance

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Nonprofit

Middle Stage

Board

Governing

•Growing budget, staff

•Professional management

•More formal structure

•Larger, diversifying

•Kitchen = conference table

•Committees

Institutional

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Nonprofit

Mature Stage

Board

Institutional/Fundraising

•Significant budget

•Formal structure

•Senior management

•Very large – up to 100

•Fundraising role

•ExCom governs

When Do Boards Get Stuck?

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When Do Boards Get Stuck?

Stay in kitchen table stage

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When Do Boards Get Stuck?

Caught between stages

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What does this Look Like?

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Brainstorming

Rubberstamping

No ED evaluation

Backroom dealing

How to Get Moving?

What are the meta-issues?

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Meta-Level Action Plan

Board leadership engages board:

Identify board stage

Determine governance-support role awareness

Develop action steps

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Meta-Level Action Plan Steps

Training:

Board support and governance roles

Board’s appropriate developmental stage

Intentional board culture

Nonprofit – corporate culture

Conflict resolution

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Meta-Level Action Plan Steps

Governance Housekeeping:

Job description

Accountability

Committees

Rotation: terms – term limits

Recruitment

What else?

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How are Meta-Issues Manifesting?

At meetings

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At Meetings:Dealing with Board Member Behavior

Facilitate to board governance role

Facilitate for equal time

Shut-down (skillfully) brainstorming, etc.

Follow up outside meetings

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How are Meta-Issues Manifesting?

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Between meetings

Between Meetings:Dealing with Board Member Behavior

Bring shadow issues – decisions forward:

Place shadow issues on agenda; or

Board chair handles one-on-one

Real decision-making process

Zero tolerance for gossip – board culture

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Strong Leadership

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Board Chair

Executive Director

ExCom – Governance

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# Yes No Governance and Support Questions

1 X Do individual board members contact staff directly with advice and suggestions without

formal role?

2 X Do individual board members give performance feedback to your ED outside of the

evaluation process?

3 X Do board members engage in meaningful, useful discussions and decision-making at

board meetings that reflect the boards governance role?

4 X Do board members as a governance body participate in fund development planning?

5 X Do individual board members raise money in coordination with staff/development

committee?

6 X Do all board members participate in recruiting new members, coordinating with

governance or nominations committee?

7 X Do board members brainstorm ideas for staff to implement at meetings?

8 X Do board members participate in strategic planning to fulfill the organization’s vision?

9 X Do board members view budget strategically in relationship to mission and program

priorities?

10 X Do you find out after the fact that board members have participated in an activity relevant

to the organization’s mission?

Governance and Support Worksheet Key

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Governance and Support Worksheet Key

10 correct = superior governance and support role clarity!

Your board should train other boards!

8 correct = good governance and support role clarity – train

to move board from good to great

5 correct = fair governance and support role clarity –

training needed

< 5 correct = poor – the board needs help immediately!