Even the most crass of nonprofit CEOs doesn’t come right out and tell the board it only matters for the money. However, when networks go untapped and personal connections ignored, board members get the message. Most talk a good line about valuing all gifts around the board table, yet it’s the rare organizational head who [...]
Answers to questions about boards and fundraising
November 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Whenever two or three nonprofit executives gather together, fundraising and board members are sure to come up. And based on conversations to which I’ve been privy, there’s not a lot of bragging going on. In fact, most of the nonprofit leaders with whom I work assume that every other board in town (the nation, maybe [...]
Observations at the outset of a pilot project on board leadership
November 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
This week, I’ve had the pleasure of spending two days with a fantastic group of CEOs and board members from eight faith-based nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest. We’re here as guests of the MJ Murdock Trust, where the program staff share my strong conviction that good governance really does matter to mission fulfillment with economic vitality. [...]
The board’s role in strategic change
October 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I’ve said it before and I’m happy to say it again. A board’s ability to provide strong governance really does matters to an organization’s success. In fact, I believe that an organization can be no stronger than its board – at least in the long term. BUT DON’T JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. Consider [...]
Love the board you’re with
June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It doesn’t take much digging to uncover some serious board envy within the world of nonprofits, including those with a faith base. A lot of CEOs assume that almost every board but theirs is comprised of folks who eagerly embrace the dual responsibilities of giving and getting. However, this is seldom the way things are. It is my experience that [...]
Thumbs up to optimism
June 3, 2011 By 4 Comments
An article about optimism in a recent issue of Time magazine reminded me of how blessed I am to travel in the company of people of hope –people who’ve chosen generosity over stinginess and who hold lightly to the material things of life. For the most part, leaders of faith-based organizations are optimists. They not [...]
If I had a rich board, deedle, deedle, dum
May 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Should you get big names and deep pockets on your board? This question from a LinkedIn discussion group left me scratching my head. What’s the alternative — a recruiting strategy aimed at no-name individuals with empty pockets? Doesn’t sound like a very hopeful plan. Nor is it necessary. It’s my experience that the better approach is to look for people with [...]
Wile E. Coyote and board recruitment strategies
April 20, 2011 By 1 Comment
I recently came across a fantastic apologetic for mixing it up when recruiting new board members — and it’s done without once using the “d” word. Robert Fabricant’s playful references to Wile E.Coyote in communicating serious points about creativity and the importance of diversity (that’s the “d” word of my reference) of perspectives, make for a fun read (to be expected from a firm [...]
Advice to boards: In bad economic times, keep on doing the same good things
April 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When asked what boards of faith-based nonprofits should be doing in these tough economic times, I respond: What you should have been doing all along. In good times and in bad, the chief duty of a board is to lead with the best possible governance. My charge to boards of theological schools in a recent issue of In [...]
