The Power of an Engaged and Proactive Advisory Board

Learning Objectives for this Session

Sharing ideas about what makes an Advisory Board Powerful.Tips to recruit, retain and sustain active and engaged AB’s and how they can enhance NAF Academies and, most importantly, the students.

Based on your most pressing need, today, what would you do first to improve your current board?

What we Learned from the Survey

Respondents Demographics: ⚫ Boards established 5+ years⚫ Active members 2-5⚫ Impact 60% of potential

What we Learned from the Survey

Top reasons your Board is Effective⚫ Good & Diverse Leadership⚫ Engaged/Committed Members⚫ Goals / Strategic Plan⚫ Academy/Board Structure⚫ Cooperation

Administration Teachers/Students Industry

What we Learned from the Survey

Catalyst for Improvement: ⚫ Clear Structure & Goals⚫ Better Communication⚫ Community Involvement⚫ NAF Support/Best Practices⚫ Fundraising

What we Learned from the Survey

Top Challenges: ⚫ Implement ideas

(Leadership)

⚫ Budgets⚫ Internships⚫ Recruiting Members⚫ Finding Sponsors

Goals

It begins with a Shared Vision

Strategic Planning Identify the top needs for the year

⚫ Internships⚫ Classroom Integration with Business

Community⚫ Field Trips⚫ A New Library

What are your Board’s goals for the year?

Are the Right Players on your Bus? Are they in the right Seats? Do you have a great driver looking 100 yards

ahead Who’s holding the map? Is your mechanic on board in case? Who’s asking why we’re going there?

Cards on the Table

Pick a card, one card, that most represents the value you bring to your team, your board.

The Matrix

Balance of Working StylesCommunity DiversityIndustry RepresentationExpertise

THE MATRIX Prinicpal Director Teacher AB Chair AB Chair AB Treas AB Sec AB 1 AB 2

A. Puts NAF in top 3

B: Most Natural Roles

C: Diversity

D: Industry

E: Skills

Creating Raving Fans – not just good board members Platinum Rule – Help others matter Connect them with Students, progressively Progressively encourage them to engage

others Provide tools and events to make it easy for

them to engage: scheduled tours, breakfasts…

Creating Raving Fans – not just good board members

Touch them, regularly but not too much Provide options: full board, committees,

councils Structure – together, create clear tasks &

direction for your board members

Example: We need aMarketing Person

Networking: Where???⚫ Just like dating – go where you have a passion

⚫ LinkedIn Agencies, Associations, fast 50, Winners Local larger companies have CMO’s Should I go direct? Board members who work with agencies and

give them $$ Board Matching Networks

Summary - Effective Measures & Advice From Survey

Goals - Strategic Planning Membership – Large & Diverse Board Recruiting – Strong Leaders & Members with

the “right” skills Structure – provide clear tasks & direction for

your Board Members Gaps -

The Right Shared Goals Assessing Gaps Recruiting the “Right” People Structure + Engagement

Recruiting a Marketing Person

Board Matching Organizations and Sites www.serve.gov www.allforgood.org www.volunteermatch.org www.bvumaryland.com

Board Structure

Large Group Regional Based Sub-committees Large Group Activity Focused

Board Chair-person

School Staff

Industry Advisors

Students/Parents

NAF Staff

Board Chairperson

Committee

NAF Staff / Teachers

Parents & Students

Industry

Committee

NAF Staff / Teachers

Parents & Students

Industry

Classroom Speakers Field Trip

Fundraising Career Day

Board Chairperson

Providing a Structure of Engagement

Common Gaps:• Fundraiser• members from Large Corporations (potential

sponsorship, internships, etc.)• Leaders & Doers