Building the Board Bench (Colorado Nonprofit Association Fall Conference)

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BUILDING THE BENCH BOARD RECRUITMENT & RETENTION

Colorado Nonprofit Association Fall Conference 2015

Emily Davis, MNM, CGT October 30, 2015



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@AskEmilyD @CO_Nonprofits

#fallconf15





A LITTLE ABOUT YOU…

30 seconds or less

Name & Organization

1 Question for Today 1

Recruitment Challenge



WHO HAS…

q A defined recruitment process?

q A regular recruitment schedule?

q A governance and/or nominating committee leading the process?

q The ED/CEO leading the process?





BOARD ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Set organizational

direction

Provide oversight

Ensure necessary resources



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



RECRUITMENT

Great board member retention begins with a great recruitment process!



•  Passion for mission •  Organizational lifecycle

stage •  How many boards will you

sit on? •  Board terms •  Type of board •  Board size, demographics •  Financial support •  Clarity of expectations

PERSONAL PLANNING



•  Current volunteer activities •  Colleagues •  Organization & networking events •  Professional associations/Alumni groups •  Volunteer Match •  Metro Volunteers •  LinkedIn •  Emily Davis Consulting

WHERE DO YOU FIND OPPORTUNITIES?



WHERE DO YOU FIND CANDIDATES?



LEADING THE PROCESS



Identify

Cultivate

Recruit

Orient

Involve

Educate

Evaluate

Rotate

CELEBRATE!



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



STEP BY STEP

Evaluation Application Expectations Outreach

Vetting Candidate Approval Wrap Up Debrief



ORIENTATION





RETENTION & ENGAGEMENT



FINDING SUCCESS

Success!

Joyful leadership

Accountability

Expectations

Art Science





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!



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? §  Framing the right issue

§  Tangible §  Operations §  Legal §  Results §  Resources

§  High performing boards address all three

§  Great boards know the differences

§  Fundraising in all three



PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Trainings Associa,ons

Practice leadership



CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

•  Don’t be afraid of conflict! •  What is the process for

conflict resolution? •  Don’t take it personally •  What is best for the mission?

•  How will you demonstrate excellent leadership?



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



RECOGNITION



ONE TAKE AWAY





Emily Davis, MNM Emily Davis Consulting

(720) 515-0581 [email protected]

emilydavisconsulting.com

Government & Nonprofit

Building the Board Bench (Colorado Nonprofit Association Fall Conference)