This document discusses strategies for developing a nonprofit board of directors to help them meet organizational challenges. It covers assessing the board's skills and needs, identifying and cultivating potential new members, orienting and engaging current members, providing training, and evaluating the board's effectiveness. The role of the board development committee in leading these efforts is also addressed.

1. Fulfilling a Role or Just Filling a Seat? Developing your Board's Capital in Challenging Times Instructor: Anne Ackerson THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDS FROM THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS, A STATE AGENCY

2. What we’ll cover today: Building a board to meet your organization’s challenges Strategies to blend and build competencies The role of the Board Development Committee 2

3. It’s Tough Out There! competition too few resources high expectations keeping audiences engaged, growing and coming back what else is making you want to tear your hair out? 3

4. Are Our Boards Up to the Task? right skills? right attributes? right support? right culture? How many of you feel you’ve got the right mix of talent and systems and environment in place for your board to do its best work? 4

5. Board Development Committee Needs Assessment Ongoing Training Identification Evaluation Rotation Cultivation Training Recruitment Engagement Orientation 5

6. Board Development Committee What is its role? What are its specific tasks? Who needs to be on it? How often will it meet? 6

8. Vision-Values Discussion: Vision and Mission Statements, Strategic or Long Range Plan

10. Talent Identification Matching skills and attributes to potential candidates Characteristics to think about: forward-looking, optimistic, comfortable with risk or uncertainty Using existing and new networks to identify potential candidates Image from: www.managerfactory.com/.../social_network.jpg How can you identify new and different board members for your organization? 9

11. Cultivation A PROCESS THAT MAY REQUIRE SEVERAL INTERACTIONS OVER VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME Tailored to individual Could include Multiple conversations by phone and in person A tour of the facilities and meeting of staff Sitting in on a board meeting Meeting board members Attending an event 10

12. Recruitment Based on your research Describe why a prospect is wanted and needed Explain expectations and responsibilities Is the prospect interested and ready to serve? Does the prospect need more cultivation? What if the prospect says “no”? 11

13. Orientation Make orientation of new board members (or prospects) a formal activity Orientation should include: Overview of the organization Tour of facilities Observation of programs Overview of the board and staff Board Member Handbook – a handy reference for new and veteran board members 12

14. Engagement Pair up newbies and veterans Involve all board members in committees or task forces right away Ask for one-on-one help; opinions Hold them accountable Thank them often 13

15. Checklist of Items to Include in aBoard Member’s Orientation Packet/Handbook Section I: Organizational Background Section II: Governance Section III: Finance Section IV: Policies Section V: Staff /Key Volunteers Section VI: Program Board Member’s Bookshelf Bibliography 14

16. Training Formal Conferences, seminars or workshops In-house speakers Field trips Retreats Joint meetings with other cultural organizations Short “tutorials” Informal Distribute mission/issue-related articles Post-board meeting get-togethers Drop-in opportunities to observe programming Website area just for board members 15

17. Evaluation Who and What Needs to be Evaluated? The board as a whole Committees Individual board members What are the tools? Assessment forms Strategic or Long-range Plan Annual workplans Board member job description 16

18. Two Words About Board Member Rotation DO IT! 17

19. Questions?Comments? Session 2 | Webinar Wednesday, June 30, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Getting Beyond the "Bored" Meeting You've probably been there: the report-driven board meeting that keeps you looking at your watch or stealing glances at your smart phone; or the board meeting that is so over-the-top with ideas that you leave it dazed and confused. These are two ends of one continuum known as the board meeting. Where does your organization fit?This webinar will look at some basics, like what board meetings should accomplish, building meaningful agendas and dashboards, and using breakouts, facilitator and conversation recorders. 18