Joining the Team: Covering Your Board Bases

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#nonprofit
#governance/emilydavisconsulting /AskEmilyD
JOINING THE TEAM:
COVERING YOUR GOVERNANCE BASES
Emily Davis, MNM, CGT
Emily Davis Consulting
May 5, 2014

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
Follow the conversation…
@svpboulder
@AskEmilyD
#svpgovernance101
#governance
#nonprofit
#leadership
#philanthropy
TURN ON YOUR TECH

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
How many of you are…
q Serving on 1 committee?
q Serving on 2 or more
committees?
q Interested in joining a board for
the first time?
q Currently serving on 1 board?
q Currently serving on 2 or more
boards?
QUICK POLL

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
60 seconds or less
Name &
Board
role
Question
or
challenge
Org name
& brief
description

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#nonprofit
OUTCOMES

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
MOTIVATIONAL VALUES
Answer this question, “What
motivates me to sit on the
XYZ Organization’s Board?”
①  Get into pairs
②  Pick ONE card from the
deck
③  Share why you chose that
card
④  Switch

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PERSONAL PLANNING

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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

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ACTIVITY
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

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
Set
organizational
direction
Provide
oversight
Ensure
necessary
resources
BOARD ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
Strategic Priorities
Goals
Objectives
Action
Items
•  Process not a
document
•  Roadmap
•  Three-years
•  Input from board,
staff, stakeholders
•  Narrative, resources,
implementation tools
WHAT IS IT?

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
Generative
Fiduciary
Governance
as
Leadership
Strategic
WHY are we
going to do it?
HOW are we
going to do it?WHAT are we
going to do?
§  Scanning your
external
environment
§  Comparative
advantage
§  Strategic plans
§  Confronting challenges in
traditions & values
§  What matters most to us?
§  What does this mean to
us?
§  Meaning
§  Framing the right issue
§  Tangible
§  Operations
§  Legal
§  Results
§  Resources
§  High performing
board address all
three
§  Great boards know
the differences
§  Fundraising in all
three

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FEARS & HESITATIONS

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WHY 100% BOARD GIVING??

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GIVING PYRAMID

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SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
New gifts
Annual donors
Midsize donors
Major donors
Planned
giving

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Prospecting Identification Preparation
Cultivating Build the
Relationship
Engage the
Donor Ask for the Gift
Stewarding Recognition Reporting Communicating Engagement
FUNDRAISING PROCESS

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Diversity
is key
Individuals
Special
events
Foundation
grants
Government
grants
Corporate
sponsorship
Earned
income
Service
clubs
FUND DEVELOPMENT

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2013 SOURCES OF GIVING*
*Source: Giving USA 2014

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YES!!
Yes, but
not that
much
No
3 POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

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FEARLESS FUNDRAISING:
A BOARD MEMBER
CHECKLIST!
Fundraising opportunities
and responsibilities for
board members
Be honest. Be realistic.
Take a risk!

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#nonprofit
Legal Hat
Ambassador
Hat
Volunteer
Hat
THE DIFFERENT HATS WE WEAR…

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN
AMBASSADOR?

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GREAT ELEVATOR PITCHES

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HAIL*
To greet or acclaim enthusiastically
HONESTY Be Clear and Straight
AUTHENTICITY Be Yourself
INTEGRITY Be Your Word
LOVE Wish Them Well
*Julian Treasure

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
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
E
D
E
N
G
A
G
E
M
E
N
T
BOARD ENGAGEMENT
* Source: Richard Chair et. al. “Governance as Leadership”

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
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.

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
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

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SAMPLE BOARD RECRUITMENT
TIMELINE
• Review docs & past recruitment
• Design self-eval
Month 1
• Conduct self-eval & demo matrix
• Design application, interview questions & outreach messaging
Month 2
• Add to website
• Share with networks
Month 3
• Schedule & conduct interviews
• Invite to board meeting
Month 4
• Host at board meeting
• Make recommendations
Month 5
• Inform candidates
• Schedule orientation
• Intro board buddies
Month 6
• Debrief process
• Gather feedback
Month 7

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#nonprofit
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 &
acknowledg
ment
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

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
BOARD MEETINGS
AGENDA
•  Frequency
•  Keep under 2 hours
•  Focus on governance
•  Strategic plan
priorities, goals
•  Mission moments
•  Recognition
•  Consent agendas
FACILITATION
•  Quorum
•  Attendees
•  Roberta’s Rules of
Order
•  Avoid
micromanagement
•  Accountability
•  Virtual vs. in person

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#nonprofit
FACILITATION TIPS

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#nonprofit
IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU
How does this serve the mission?
Does it fit our strategic goals?
What’s our capacity?
What does success look like?
Keep it high level!

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#nonprofit
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

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EVALUATION

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PICTURE YOUR LEGACY
Select a card that
answers the question:
“What is the legacy
you want to leave with
the board?”

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
•  BoardSource
•  4Good
•  The Policy
Governance Model
(Carver)
•  Council of Nonprofits
•  Roberta’s Rules of
Order
•  A Fundraising Guide
for Nonprofit Board
Members
•  Nonprofit Board
Answer Book
•  Creating Caring and
Capable Boards
•  10 Basic
Responsibilities of
Nonprofit Boards
•  The Board Building
Cycle
•  The Nonprofit Policy
Sampler
RESOURCES

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BOOK SIGNING!

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#nonprofit
DRAWING!
Books for sale & signing
with a discount:
$39.95 + tax
Credit card & check

@SVPBoulder
#nonprofit
Emily Davis, MNM
Emily Davis Consulting
(720) 515-0581
emily@emilydavisconsulting.com
emilydavisconsulting.com

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