The Cool Table, How to Build and Empower Your Board

The Cool Table, How to Build and Empower Your Board for Long Lasting Financial Success!

Sponsored by the Midwest Regional

Child Advocacy Center.

ENGAGED:

Strategies to Engage and Energize Your Board of Directors

On the Board vs. On Board

Welcome!

Who Is Here?

Though many people are not aware of it, the nonprofit industry is an enormous contributor to the American economy.  Nonprofits employ over 12.9 million individuals, roughly 10% of the country’s workforce and in 2009, charitable giving totaled over 303 billion dollars, 75% of those dollars come from individuals committed to building healthy individuals and strong communities.  

Rebecca Gordon, CFRErebecca@rebeccagordon.orgwww.rebeccagordon.org573-338-3773

Twitter@rgordongor6

Where Are We Heading Today?

• What are the biggest challenges with your board?

Building?

Engaging?

Empowering?

Service:

Contribution to the welfare of others. The act of serving or a helpful act.

Source – Merriam-Webster dictionary

Development:

The total process by which an organization increase public understanding of its mission and acquires financial support for its programs.

- Source: AFP Fundraising Dictionary

The Secret to Engaging YOUR Board.

“ Feeling good is what

nonprofits sell.”

Seth Godin, Author

Communication is KEY to cracking the secret!

Communication Includes:

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has

taken place”

George Bernard Shaw

The Channel of Communication – Who is communicating?

•Staff•Board Peer•Community Members

What are the Channels of Communication?

•Board Meetings•Newsletters•Email•Social Media•Phone

* Communication is personal…

Information Seeking Behavior Where do we seek our information?

Intervening Variables………

•Thousands of Messages•Deadlines•Competing Interests

•Family•Work•Other issues

Top of Mind Awareness – Created and Reinforced by the organization and its

leadership.

       First position is important because the business that is in the first position is 2X more profitable than the business in 2nd position and  4X more profitable than the business in 3rd position. 

Mark DahlAccountable Marketing Research Group

Okay, that’s marketing – but how do we translate this to engaging our board?

Powerful contributions are made when: People are in touch with their purpose, their vision and with the difference they make.

When it is clear that a board member’s goals are clear and ATTAINABLE – they are engaged to succeed!

Lynne Twist – Fundraising From the Heart

Your Communication:

You have an opportunity to empower people to feel like a super hero.

To cause a connection that deeply aligns with that person’s highest ideas and values.

So What Does All of this Mean?

Have you ever asked your board members…………

WHY THIS ORGANIZATION?

WHY THIS BOARD?

WHY NOW?

Listen to their responses:

Board Members are our biggest donors, advocates, sponsors, partners.

An engaged board starts with board members who feel successful and know how their contributions impact the organization.

The difference between being

Tools for Board Engagement Success

Board Mentoring

Succession Planning

Board Elections

Term Limits

The Power of “Bless and Release”

Pots of Gold! Board engagement is about - connecting a board members passion, their motivations, with our mission.

Need A Checkup?

Free 30 Minute – One-on-One Sessions

Starting at 3:30 – Register After Session.

THANK YOU!

Rebecca Gordon, CFRErebecca@rebeccagordon.org573-338-3773www.rebeccagordon.orghttp://twitter.com/rgordongor6