“Unless we’re certain that what we do is helpful to our president, I won’t waste my time coming back.” The board member’s comment and the vehemence with which she delivered it, took me by surprise. From where I sat, it had seemed a productive meeting.Read More »Helping the CEO isn’t job one for the board
At the moment, I’m up to my eyeballs in policy work for the board that I chair. A trio of us are slogging away on ends policies – those few pithy statements that, in the words of John Carver (our governance guru), proclaim the differences the organization makes, for which beneficiaries, and at what cost. We’re several iterations in and still struggling to spin specificity from a mission statement broad enough to make the world the organization’s oyster. Read More »Ask, and a helpful mission statement will be given you.
I feel the pain of nonprofit CEOs and development staff who rail about board members’ reluctance to step up to the fundraising challenge.
I’ve served on the development staffs of three private colleges, including a short stint as a VP for Advancement. For the past 15 years, I’ve provided development counsel to faith-based nonprofits. I’ve authored dozens of articles about the board and fundraising and presented hundreds of workshops on the topic. And, as the member of one nonprofit board after another, I’ve sat through many fundraising pep talks delivered by other consultants.
In short, I’ve experienced this subject from every angle, first-hand. I’m familiar with every argument, every plea.Read More »Get governance or get off
Just once, I’d love to pick up a report citing CEO support for boards doing what boards were created to do. That is, to govern… Read More »Nonprofit leader, fundraising isn’t your board’s problem.
It’s humbling for a governance geek like me to confront (again) the brutal truth that board work isn’t much understood or valued by much of… Read More »Getting boards some respect
If you ‘re the member of a ministry or other nonprofit board, chances are you know the frustration of a poorly run meeting. You’ve yawned… Read More »A five-step cure for boredom in the boardroom
You do good things for other folks all year round. In these last days before Christmas, do something nice for yourself — without spending a… Read More »Do-it-yourself stocking stuffers for nonprofit junkies
Earlier this fall, more than 600 governance leaders from across the continent descended on Atlanta for a two-day confab on the newest thinking and practices… Read More »Tapping a treasure trove of governance wisdom
Okay, so there aren’t many nonprofit boards that live up to the “Platonic ideal” of good governance. But then, the ideal is tough to achieve… Read More »Why telling boards that governance matters, matters
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.… Read More »The board’s role in strategic change