Emily DavisPresident, Emily Davis ConsultingSenior Governance Consultant, BoardSource18 March 2016
Essentials in Governance Excellence
Today’s Agenda• Roles, Responsibilities,
Expectations• Organizational lifecycle
stages• Navigating organizational
structures• Board recruitment &
retention• Strategies for success
10 Basic Board Responsibilities
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 Roles & 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 = Outstanding3 = Good2 = Fair1 = Poor
Ask the Right Questions*
What is our capacity? What does success look like?What matters the most to us?
How does this serve our mission? How does it fit our strategic goals? How might this be a challenge for us?
Why is this important right now? Why should we consider other options?Why is this relevant to our stakeholders?
*Governance as Leadership
Board Roles & Responsibilities
Set Organizational
Direction
Provide Oversight
Ensuring Resources
*BoardSource
What is Fundraising
By source…
Diversity is keyIndividuals
Special events
Foundation grants
Government grants
Corporate sponsorship
Earned income
Service clubs
By time…
Involve & Engage Donors, 25%
Prospect Identification, 20%
Engage & Cultivate, 25%
Ask, 5%
Recognize & Engage, 25%
Board Roles*Connector• Meeting & engaging with people
Storyteller• Illustrating the work in a compelling way
Visionary• Making the case for the future
Closer• Asking for specific support or involvement
*Creation in Common
Organizational StructureBoard of Directors
Committees
Volunteers
Executive Director
Staff
Volunteers
Consultants/Contract
Committees
Staff
Board members
Volunteers
Consultant/Contract
Shared Leadership
BOARD LEADS
SHARED LEADERSHIP
ED LEADS
Strategic Plan Fundraising Plan/Strategies
Evaluation Board Meeting Prep
Policy Questions Staff Hiring & Oversight
Develops, Implements, &
Oversees Programs
Chief Fundraiser
Operations Reporting
Create & Review Policy
CEO Hiring & Oversight
Connections to Funding
Financial Due
Diligence
Board Recruitment & Retention
*BoardSource
Example: Education/Program Committee
Board asks strategic questions, identifies high-level adjustments needed (Legal Hat)
Monthly/quarterly committee reports on program progress (Volunteer Hat)
Board participates in marketing efforts to meet programmatic goals (Ambassador/Volunteer Hat)
Board reviews trends, asks strategic questions, and determines resources needed (Legal Hat)
Committee launches evaluation, gathers data, & identifies trends (Volunteer Hat)
Committee researches & designs evaluation processes/consultant (Volunteer Hat)
Board requests impact programming (Legal Hat)
Timeline• Review docs & past recruitment• Design self-evalMonth 1
• Conduct self-eval & demo matrix• Design application, interview questions & outreach messagingMonth 2
• Add to website• Share with networksMonth 3
• Schedule & conduct interviews• Invite to board meetingMonth 4
• Host at board meeting• Make recommendationsMonth 5
• Inform candidates• Schedule orientation• Intro board buddies
Month 6
• Debrief process• Gather feedbackMonth 7
*Emily Davis Consulting
Step By Step
Evaluation Application Expectations Outreach
Vetting Candidate Approval Wrap Up Debrief
*Emily Davis Consulting
What Makes ‘Em Tick
•Always YES•Wants to help everyone & everything
•Caution!
OVER-COMMITTED
•Needs 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
Board Meeting Tips
Governance
• Board reports• Strategic
priorities/goals• Mission moments• Ask questions• Avoid
micromanagement
Facilitation
• Consent agendas• Shared
responsibilities• Giving
accountability• Follow up
Participants
• Guests, Staff• ED• Board members• Honor time
Agenda Elements
• Strategic Priorities, Mission Statement
• Call to Order, Attendance
• Mission Moments
• Board Reports Discussion
• ED Report Discussion
• Voting
• Adjournment
• Next meeting
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!
Communications: Cycle of Value*
ALIGN• Intersect• Invent• Invest
ACT• Engage• Clarify• Close
ADJUST• Review• Renew
Purpose
Facts
Explanations (what is needed)
Promise (follow up)
Request
*Conversant
Resources
• 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
Emily Davis, MNMPresident, Emily Davis Consulting
Senior Governance Consultant, BoardSource(720) 515-0581