““BOARD BOARD ESSENTIALS”ESSENTIALS”

A Leadership Development A Leadership Development Academy Collaborative Academy Collaborative

ProjectProject

Project ParticipantsProject Participants• Joel Bailey……………………Johnson BankJoel Bailey……………………Johnson Bank• Mike Payne…………………...City of JanesvilleMike Payne…………………...City of Janesville• Janine Peterson………………United Way North Janine Peterson………………United Way North

Rock CountyRock County• Belem Gonzalez-Regan………YWCA Rock CountyBelem Gonzalez-Regan………YWCA Rock County• David Winter…………………Alliant EnergyDavid Winter…………………Alliant Energy

MentorsMentors• Jim Lyke……………….. Forward JanesvilleJim Lyke……………….. Forward Janesville• Gary Smith…………….. United Way North Rock Gary Smith…………….. United Way North Rock

CountyCounty

OverviewOverview• Our initial task was to create a clearinghouse or roster Our initial task was to create a clearinghouse or roster

of local non-profit organizations, their board of of local non-profit organizations, their board of directors, individual board members and prospective directors, individual board members and prospective board members. The goal was to serve as an initial board members. The goal was to serve as an initial match maker for these groups.match maker for these groups.

• We changed the scope of the project: We changed the scope of the project: – The volunteer network currently serves the The volunteer network currently serves the

community by identifying and recruiting individuals community by identifying and recruiting individuals to serve on not for profit boards and other volunteer to serve on not for profit boards and other volunteer opportunities in the communities. opportunities in the communities.

– Accordingly, we altered the scope and choose to Accordingly, we altered the scope and choose to create an informational resource center for non-create an informational resource center for non-profit boards, individual board members, and profit boards, individual board members, and individuals interested in serving on or learning more individuals interested in serving on or learning more about the functions and duties of non-profit boards.about the functions and duties of non-profit boards.

S.W.O.T. AnalysisS.W.O.T. AnalysisStrengths: Strengths: We are a group of motivated and creative individuals We are a group of motivated and creative individuals

with diverse backgrounds in non-profit and for profit activities.with diverse backgrounds in non-profit and for profit activities.Weaknesses: Weaknesses: Initially we had a lack of focus for the project and Initially we had a lack of focus for the project and

overall scope. Also, we did not have strong emotional ownership of overall scope. Also, we did not have strong emotional ownership of the project due to the fact that it was selected for us.the project due to the fact that it was selected for us.

Opportunities:Opportunities: Team members were very interested in completing a Team members were very interested in completing a worthwhile community project. We recognized the need for a worthwhile community project. We recognized the need for a central location of resources for local non-profit agencies and central location of resources for local non-profit agencies and potential board members. We also gained the opportunity to work potential board members. We also gained the opportunity to work with organizations such as The Volunteer Network, United Way, with organizations such as The Volunteer Network, United Way, Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc., and our Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc., and our mentors, Gary Smith and Jim Lyke.mentors, Gary Smith and Jim Lyke.

Threats: Threats: While not rising to the level of a “threat,” our challenges While not rising to the level of a “threat,” our challenges included a lack of time, lack of funding, and the lack of an included a lack of time, lack of funding, and the lack of an organizational structure to continue with the project after the LDA organizational structure to continue with the project after the LDA class ended.class ended.

Action PlanAction Plan We held several team brainstorming sessionsWe held several team brainstorming sessions Defined and agreed to project goals. (Scope needed to change)Defined and agreed to project goals. (Scope needed to change) Changed the name from “Board of Directors Clearing House” to “Board Essentials”Changed the name from “Board of Directors Clearing House” to “Board Essentials” A timeline was developed, with each member given various responsibilities which A timeline was developed, with each member given various responsibilities which

included researching and gathering information from multiple sources, including included researching and gathering information from multiple sources, including the following:the following:- Attended ‘The Board Source Seminar at Beloit College’- Attended ‘The Board Source Seminar at Beloit College’ - Researched other community’s similar projects- Researched other community’s similar projects- Utilized Internet Sites- Utilized Internet Sites - Reviewed Texts- Reviewed Texts- Continued team meetings to monitor progress and changing needs.- Continued team meetings to monitor progress and changing needs.- Met with Volunteer Network to present our idea, gain support and - Met with Volunteer Network to present our idea, gain support and commitment commitment for an ongoing program.for an ongoing program.

Explored fundraising opportunities:Explored fundraising opportunities: - Alliant Foundation, current LDA sponsor.- Alliant Foundation, current LDA sponsor. - Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc.- Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. - R.A.P- Accents Janesville- R.A.P- Accents Janesville

Created a Web page via The United Way home page.Created a Web page via The United Way home page. Developed a plan to create awareness of the projectDeveloped a plan to create awareness of the project Developed a Press Release for Janesville Gazette publicationDeveloped a Press Release for Janesville Gazette publication

About Board Essentials Board Essentials is a collaborative project of the Leadership Development Academy (LDA), and has partnered with United Way’s Volunteer Network and WRAP Accents Janesville, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.

Collaborative team members include Joel Bailey, Johnson Bank; Belem Gonzalez-Regan, YWCA of Rock County; Mike Payne, City of

Janesville; Janine Peterson, United Way of North Rock County and David Winter, Alliant Energy. Team mentors are Jim Lyke of Forward Janesville and Gary Smith of the United Way of North Rock County

For additional informationcontact Julie Cunningham

or Janine Peterson at:United Way’s Volunteer

Network205 N. Main Street, Suite 101

Janesville, WI 53545608-757-3058

volunteernetwork@unitedwayjanesville.org

Want to serve on a Board of Directors…

but don’t really know what theydo?

Would you like to learn more about how non-profit boards work?

This resource is for you!

A Leadership DevelopmentAcademy collaborative project

Board Essentials will helplocal non-profit agencies

and potential board members understand more about non-profit board management.

Board Essentials empowers entire boards, as well as individual board members,

by providing critical information related to their roles and function.

Board Essentials is easily accessible! Resources will be available on-line through the United Way website Volunteer Network page.

Find us online atwww.volunteernetwork@unitedwayjanesville.org

Topics of interestTopics of interest

Legal, Fiduciary Board Governance.

Board Recruitment Orientation

Effectiveness.

Board Structure, Organization and

Strategic Planning.

Glossary of Terms.

Informational Links.

ReferenceMaterials: Books,

Videos.

TableTable of Contentsof Contents• Articles:Articles:

1) Legal/Fiduciary/Board 1) Legal/Fiduciary/Board GovernanceGovernance

• By-Laws Provision Checklist By-Laws Provision Checklist • By-Laws SampleBy-Laws Sample• How We Safeguard Against How We Safeguard Against

Conflict of InterestConflict of Interest• Legal responsibilities of non Legal responsibilities of non

profit boardsprofit boards• Sarbanes Oxley ActSarbanes Oxley Act• What are the legal What are the legal

responsibilities of a non profit responsibilities of a non profit board?board?

• ““Building the 21st Century Building the 21st Century Board: Designed to Work” Non Board: Designed to Work” Non Profit Governance WorkshopProfit Governance Workshop

• General Responsibilities of a General Responsibilities of a Chief ExecutiveChief Executive

• Relationships Between CEO Relationships Between CEO Characteristics and Board Characteristics and Board CompositionComposition

• What is the relationship between What is the relationship between the board and the Executive the board and the Executive Director?Director?

2) Board 2) Board Recruitment/Orientation/EffectivRecruitment/Orientation/Effectivenesseness

• Board EffectivenessBoard Effectiveness• Organizational EffectivenessOrganizational Effectiveness• What are the basic responsibilities What are the basic responsibilities

of a non profit board?of a non profit board?• What are the legal responsibilities of What are the legal responsibilities of

a non profit board?a non profit board?• What are the responsibilities of non What are the responsibilities of non

profit board members?profit board members?• What should I know before joining What should I know before joining

the board?the board?• Checklist to Evaluate Non Profit Checklist to Evaluate Non Profit

Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors• General Responsibilities of a Chief General Responsibilities of a Chief

ExecutiveExecutive• How do we evaluate the Board of How do we evaluate the Board of

Directors?Directors?• Evaluating Non Profit BoardsEvaluating Non Profit Boards• Relationships Between CEO Relationships Between CEO

Characteristics and Board Characteristics and Board CompositionComposition

• What is the relationship between What is the relationship between the board and the Executive the board and the Executive Director?Director?

TableTable of Contentsof Contents33) Board Structure/Organization/Strategic ) Board Structure/Organization/Strategic

PlanningPlanning

• How should the board be structured? (2 How should the board be structured? (2 articles)articles)

• Organizational EffectivenessOrganizational Effectiveness• Strategic EffectivenessStrategic Effectiveness• What are some ways to strengthen the What are some ways to strengthen the

leadership of the board?leadership of the board?• What are the basic responsibilities of a What are the basic responsibilities of a

non profit board?non profit board?• Basic Overview of Various Strategic Basic Overview of Various Strategic

Planning MethodsPlanning Methods• Gaining an Understanding of Strategic Gaining an Understanding of Strategic

PlanningPlanning• Strategic PlanningStrategic Planning• What is Strategic Planning?What is Strategic Planning?

4) Glossary of Terms/Other4) Glossary of Terms/Other

• Board GlossaryBoard Glossary• Board AnalysisBoard Analysis• Evaluating Non Profit BoardsEvaluating Non Profit Boards

5) Workshop Outline5) Workshop Outline

• ““Building the 21st Century Board: Building the 21st Century Board: Designed to Work” Non Profit Designed to Work” Non Profit Governance WorkshopGovernance Workshop

Informational Links To WebsitesInformational Links To Websites• Starting a 501(c)(3) organization: Starting a 501(c)(3) organization:

Latest IRS publication Latest IRS publication www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4220.pdfwww.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4220.pdf

• Board Source Website InformationBoard Source Website Information

Reference Materials/Books/VideosReference Materials/Books/Videos• Orientation & RecruitmentOrientation & Recruitment• Board EffectivenessBoard Effectiveness

Press Release for Janesville Press Release for Janesville GazetteGazette

““BOARD ESSENTIALS”BOARD ESSENTIALS”

A Leadership Development Academy Collaborative ProjectA Leadership Development Academy Collaborative Project

Would you like to serve on a board but don’t really know what they do?Would you like to serve on a board but don’t really know what they do?Would you like to learn more about how non-profit boards work?Would you like to learn more about how non-profit boards work?Then look for the upcoming launch of a Leadership Development Academy Then look for the upcoming launch of a Leadership Development Academy

collaborative project that will focus on the essentials of non profit board collaborative project that will focus on the essentials of non profit board management and board member responsibilities. The Website address is: management and board member responsibilities. The Website address is: www.volunteernetwork@unitedwayjanesville.orgwww.volunteernetwork@unitedwayjanesville.org. .

The goal of the project is to develop a resource library of information that will The goal of the project is to develop a resource library of information that will empower entire boards, as well as individual board members and prospective empower entire boards, as well as individual board members and prospective board members, by providing critical information related to their roles and board members, by providing critical information related to their roles and functions.functions.

Some of the topics will include board governance, structure, duties, liabilities, role Some of the topics will include board governance, structure, duties, liabilities, role of a board member, board and CEO relations and board assessment. The team is of a board member, board and CEO relations and board assessment. The team is working with the Volunteer Network, a program of the United Way to house the working with the Volunteer Network, a program of the United Way to house the resource library. The Volunteer Network links youth and adult volunteers to resource library. The Volunteer Network links youth and adult volunteers to opportunities with non-profit agencies in north Rock County. The funding for opportunities with non-profit agencies in north Rock County. The funding for this project was provided by WRAP Accents Janesville, a component fund of The this project was provided by WRAP Accents Janesville, a component fund of The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin. The team anticipates launching Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin. The team anticipates launching the program in May. the program in May.

Collaborative team members include Joel Bailey, Johnson Bank; Belem Gonzalez-Collaborative team members include Joel Bailey, Johnson Bank; Belem Gonzalez-Regan, YWCA of Rock County; Mike Payne, City of Janesville; Janine Peterson, Regan, YWCA of Rock County; Mike Payne, City of Janesville; Janine Peterson, United Way of North Rock County and David Winter, Alliant Energy. Team United Way of North Rock County and David Winter, Alliant Energy. Team mentors are Jim Lyke of Forward Janesville and Gary Smith of the United Way of mentors are Jim Lyke of Forward Janesville and Gary Smith of the United Way of North Rock County. North Rock County.

Thank YouThank You• We wish to extend our thanks to those individuals We wish to extend our thanks to those individuals

and organizations without whose assistance our and organizations without whose assistance our project would not have materialized, especially:project would not have materialized, especially:

• The Volunteer Network.The Volunteer Network.• United Way of north Rock County.United Way of north Rock County.• Sue Connely and the Community Foundation of Sue Connely and the Community Foundation of

Southern Wisconsin.Southern Wisconsin.• R.A.P.-Accent Janesville.R.A.P.-Accent Janesville.

Finally, we wish to thank Our Project MentorsFinally, we wish to thank Our Project MentorsGary Smith and Jim Lyke, for their direction Gary Smith and Jim Lyke, for their direction

and support.and support.Thank you All.Thank you All.