Tips for increasing the productivity of your nonprofit board Anisha Robinson Keeys Lance Lee Planning Counsel and Services in Fundraising and Special Events Web: www.lance-lee.com Phone: 888.900.9726

1. Send email early in the week People are most likely to be responsive to emails sent early in the week Give board members the chance to address your message before the weeks business takes over.

People are most likely to be responsive to emails sent early in the week

Give board members the chance to address your message before the weeks business takes over.

2. Be PDA compatible Busy board members will likely be reading email on a Blackberry or similar device.

Busy board members will likely be reading email on a Blackberry or similar device.

3. Start and end meetings on time One hour meetings are good for productivity and focus.

One hour meetings are good for productivity and focus.

4. Go Green Save paper and time Email documents before your meeting and have board members come prepared with questions

Save paper and time

Email documents before your meeting and have board members come prepared with questions

5. Make it easy to meet Consider online web casts and conference calls

Consider online web casts and conference calls

6. Be specific about what you need Assign bite sized tasks rather than an overall goal Example: assign a dollar goal to each of your fundraising committee members

Assign bite sized tasks rather than an overall goal

Example: assign a dollar goal to each of your fundraising committee members

7. Set timelines and deadlines Set clear deadlines for completing tasks Send weekly updates to help keep everyone on track.

Set clear deadlines for completing tasks

Send weekly updates to help keep everyone on track.

8. Give thanks and recognition Share success stories and triumphs fast Most members don’t need plaques, etc to feel recognized Creating the great experience for your board is often thanks enough

Share success stories and triumphs fast

Most members don’t need plaques, etc to feel recognized

Creating the great experience for your board is often thanks enough

Some Resources Article: The Boards Role in Fundraising. Link also includes additional readings, recommendations and resources Board Source Essentials - Great non profit knowledge center from one of leading sources for non-profit consulting Boardnetusa - Helps match prospective board members to non profit organizations Idealist.org Non-Profit FAQ - General information, definitions and facts about non-profit boards including links to additional information Toolkit for Boards - Covers the main topics for running a non-profit board properly

Article: The Boards Role in Fundraising. Link also includes additional readings, recommendations and resources

Board Source Essentials - Great non profit knowledge center from one of leading sources for non-profit consulting

Boardnetusa - Helps match prospective board members to non profit organizations

Idealist.org Non-Profit FAQ - General information, definitions and facts about non-profit boards including links to additional information

Toolkit for Boards - Covers the main topics for running a non-profit board properly