Covering Your Board Bases

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BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOUR BOARD

Demolay International Emily Davis, MNM, CGT Emily Davis Consulting

August 15, 2014



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@AskEmilyD

#governance #nonprofit #leadership

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TURN ON YOUR TECH



WHO AM I?



How many of you are…

q Serving on 1 committee? q Serving on 2 or more

committees? q Currently serving on the Demolay

board only? q Currently serving on 2 or more

boards (including Demolay)?

QUICK POLL



60 seconds or less Name &

Title

1 Question for Today

1 Governance Buzz Word



WHAT’S ON TAP

Essential Responsibilities 12:00 – 12:45 Fundraising 12:45 – 1:00

Shared Leadership 1:00 – 1:15

Recruitment 1:15 – 1:45 Retention 1:45 – 2:15

Closing 2:15 – 2:30



•  Step up step back •  Tune out tech, tune in to

engagement •  Challenge each other, ideas

to advance mission •  Every experience &

perspective has value •  Trainer will keep us moving •  Other? •  Parking lot

AGREEMENTS



WHAT ARE YOUR FEARS?



ESSENTIALS OF BOARD LEADERSHIP



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



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



Set organizational

direction

Provide oversight

Ensure necessary resources

BOARD ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES



WHY 100% BOARD GIVING??



•  Board giving $$ •  Overall fundraising •  Funds from each category

– Individuals – Grants – government, foundations – Corporations – Earned income – Other

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?



THE GIVING PYRAMID



SPHERES OF INFLUENCE NEW DONORS

direct mail, events

ANNUAL DONORS Direct appeals,

volunteer involvement

MAJOR DONORS Personal relationships Committee and board

involvement

PLANNED GIFTS Personal relationships

& involvement Could be anyone!



FUNDRAISING PROCESS

Prospecting Identification Preparation

Cultivating Build the Relationship

Engage the Donor Ask for the Gift

Stewarding Recognition Reporting Communicating Engagement



FUNDRAISING BY TIME

Prospecting

Stewardship & Cultivation

Acknowledgment

Solicitation



3 POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

YES!!

Yes, but not that much

No



FEARLESS FUNDRAISING: A BOARD MEMBER

CHECKLIST!

Fundraising opportunities and

responsibilities for board members

Be honest. Be realistic.

Take a risk!



Legal Hat

Ambassador Hat

Volunteer Hat

THE DIFFERENT HATS WE WEAR…



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

ED ENGAGEMENT

BOARD ENGAGEMENT

* Source: Richard Chair et. al. “Governance as Leadership”



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.



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



Dramatic Disengagement Conflict

Of no real consequence

Compliant

Anticipates Plans Sees opportunities

HOW FUNCTIONAL ARE WE?

Unconscious Conscious Enlightened

Dysfunctional

Functional

Responsible

Exceptional



RECRUITMENT & RETENTION… THAT ROCKS!



LEADING THE PROCESS



TIMELINE

Month 1

Review docs & past recruitment Design self-eval

Month 2

Conduct self-eval & demo matrix Design application, interview questions & outreach messaging

Month 3

Add to website & send to networks

Month 4

Schedule & conduct interviews Invite to board meeting

Month 5

Host at board meeting Make recommendations



EVALUATION



APPLICATION ELEMENTS



COMMUNICATE EXPECTATIONS



ALWAYS SHARE…



OUTREACH



WHERE’S WALDO?



CREATE A PIPELINE



VETTING CANDIDATES



RECOMMENDATIONS



WRAP UP



FINDING SUCCESS

Success!

Joyful leadership

Accountability

Expectations

Art Science



ORIENTATION



BOARD CULTURE



CONFLICT MANAGEMENT



NEXT GENERS

Gen Y, Millenials

Generation X



E-GOVERNANCE

EMAIL VIRTUAL MEETINGS

CLOUD SHARING POLICY



COMMITTEES



BOARD REPORTS



ADDITIONAL MEETINGS



PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Trainings Associations

Practice leadership



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 & acknowledgment

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



RECOGNITION



ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?

What is ONE thing you will take towards your

board recruitment or retention practices?



Books for sale & signing with a

discount:

$39.95 for nonprofits

Credit card &

check

DRAWING & SIGNING!



Emily Davis, MNM Emily Davis Consulting

(720) 515-0581 [email protected]

emilydavisconsulting.com emilydavisconsulting.com/blog

Covering Your Board Bases

Government & Nonprofit

Transcript of Covering Your Board Bases