What Online Dating Can Teach You About Boards

smileyBy Anne Wallestad, interim chief executive

Effective board service starts with the right match — the right match between an individual with the talent and commitment to make a difference and an organization that is in need of that individual’s unique blend of skills and attributes.

At BoardSource, we recently launched a new Board Recruitment Center to help organizations and individuals find each other, but the reality is that a good match goes far beyond identifying a set of skills or expertise that are needed/available. A good match goes to the heart of all successful relationships:  open communication and a willingness to be honest about one’s needs.

Not unlike a romantic relationship, organizations and potential board members need to be upfront and honest about what they’re looking for and what they can offer, and need to be candid if it’s not the right match.  Board members who are looking for an opportunity to build their leadership skills through a fast track to being a board chair deserve a board service opportunity that will enable them to do that, but they’re wasting their own — and the organization’s — time and energy if they land on a board where the path to board leadership is a lengthy one.  Similarly, an organization that needs a board member who can be a change agent to help the board navigate an important strategic shift may frustrate or overwhelm a board member whose skill set and disposition is better suited for a more stable or established path.

Just like in online dating, the initial match is the first — rather than the final — step in a successful relationship.  It’s followed by an interview (date), which gives both parties an opportunity to get to know each other a bit, ask questions, and identify if it’s a match worth pursuing.

And, also like dating, saying “thanks, but no thanks” to a match that doesn’t feel right might be a bit awkward in the short term, but it will save a whole lot of heartache and frustration in the long term.

Have a story of a successful (or unsuccessful match) that you’d like to share?  We’d love to hear from you.

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by Anne Wallestad on June 4, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Board Development, Board Diversity and Inclusion, Board Engagement, Board Recruitment and Orientation, Innovation

Posted by Anne Wallestad on June 4, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/06/04/online-dating-and-board-service/

Meet the May Board Member of the Month!

schmitz for blogBy BoardSource

BoardSource and Points of Light are pleased to announce that Peter Schmitz is the May 2013 Board Member of the Month. BoardSource and Points of Light created the Board Member of the Month award to honor outstanding individuals for their commitment to advancing the public good through exceptional nonprofit board leadership.

 

Peter serves as the board chair of Snow City Arts in Chicago, IL. Professionally, he is president & CEO of Astyx, Inc.

In nominating Peter for the Board Member of the Month Award, Cathy Skala, vice president of the Snow City Arts board and vice president of integration at Baxter Healthcare Corporation, noted that the following:

“Snow City Arts was founded 15 years ago by Paul Sznewajs. Paul was a fantastic executive director and made the difficult decision to leave Snow City Arts in 2011. Peter led the transition committee to search for a new executive director…Unfortunately in 2012, the recently hired executive director resigned…The board and staff believed in the great things that the organization did on a day-to-day basis, but they were mentally exhausted by the thought of searching for another executive director. Peter met the challenge by forming and leading a second transition committee….

In addition to his board responsibilities, Peter volunteered to serve as the interim acting executive director, assuring our donors and foundation supporters that we were committed to serving our youth…Further, he worked to ensure strong leadership of our board committees so that the governance and financial oversight of the organization was strong….

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by BoardSource on May 21, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Board Engagement, Board Meetings, Committees, and Structure, Board-Chief Executive Partnership, Chief Executive Transitions, Oversight and Accountability, Strategic Planning and Thinking

Posted by BoardSource on May 21, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/05/21/meet-the-may-board-member-of-the-month/

A Fine Line Right Down the Middle

Anne's Blog - Middle of the RoadBy Anne Wallestad, interim chief executive

There’s no shortage of examples of how partisan politics can have an undue influence on all aspects of society, so I should not be surprised by the news that the IRS has admitted to targeting certain right-leaning organizations that were applying for nonprofit status.

I shouldn’t be surprised, but I was.

Why?  Because the IRS should know better.  They are responsible for ensuring that nonprofit organizations are not crossing the line in terms of political activity.  They — more than anyone else — should understand that the politicization of nonprofit organizations, including the review process for nonprofit status, is a dangerous and slippery slope.

The IRS has created a complex set of policies and restrictions related to political activities and expression by nonprofit organizations that guide the different types of activities in which nonprofits can participate.  And, as the enforcement agency for these guidelines, they hold the power to decide the fate of tens of thousands of new potential nonprofits each year, not to mention the power to audit or investigate existing entities for impermissible activities.

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by Anne Wallestad on May 15, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Board Policies, Culture of Inquiry, Mission and Vision, Strategic Planning and Thinking

Posted by Anne Wallestad on May 15, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/05/15/a-fine-line-right-down-the-middle/

Hiring Board Leaders

Danielle's Blog Post - Photo of InterviewBy Anne Wallestad, interim chief executive

Last month, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of young professionals convened by the DC chapter of YNPN (Young Nonprofit Professionals Network).  The topic of our luncheon was board service, and I was struck by the group’s level of interest, enthusiasm and commitment.  Apparently, the luncheon sold out within a few days of its announcement – a clear signal that there is an abundance of young leaders who are motivated and willing to serve on boards.

So how do we make sure that these leaders find board positions where they can make the most difference, and how do they ensure that they’re up for the challenge of serving?

I think the answer is right in front of us (and our HR people might be snickering that it’s taken us so long to figure it out):  We hire them.

It’s pretty widely accepted that hiring the wrong person for a job is much worse than having a vacant position.  That’s why organizations and companies spend so much time and money making sure they get it right.  We understand that we won’t be able to deliver the results that we need to achieve our mission and goals unless we have the right people.

But when it comes to board recruitment, it seems that those tried-and-true employment practices go out the window all too often.  Organizations often leave it to chance or circumstance when it comes to board recruitment by identifying potential board candidates based on friendships or casual acquaintance.

The results of similar practices in the workplace would be laughable.  So why do we expect anything different in the boardroom?

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by Anne Wallestad on May 2, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Board Diversity and Inclusion, Board Policies, Board Recruitment and Orientation, Innovation

Posted by Anne Wallestad on May 2, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/05/02/hiring-board-leaders/

School Boards: Working from Within to Champion Change

KidsBy Lindsay Dworman, BoardSource strategic development and partnerships associate manager

Since the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony decreed in 1647 that every town of 50 families should have an elementary school and that every town of 100 families should have a Latin school, the public school system in the United States has been evolving. Over the past few decades, we have seen a great deal of innovation due to the public’s desire to see schools operate more effectively, consistently provide access to a quality education, and prepare our youth for the future.  The creation of a wide network of private, independent, and public charter schools is one example of innovation that has changed the education landscape of the United States.  But what happens when education is politicized and the various state and local jurisdictions that regulate these charter schools affect their capacity to increase student achievement and mission impact?

In a recent publication from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute — “Governance in the Charter School Sector: Time for A Reboot” — Adam Emerson asserts that the politicization of charter schools over the past 20 years has severely hindered charter school boards. Emerson believes that while schools continue to evolve, the regulations on governing those schools have lagged behind, leaving boards struggling under a structure that is simultaneously over-regulated and under-monitored. This battle raises two questions:

  • How do charter schools get institutions to amend regulations to catch up (and keep up) with the times?
  • What can school boards do to aid in that effort?

One answer is for boards to work from within; to take steps to develop their own efficacy. The education system isn’t often thought of as part of the nonprofit sector when in reality, it is. As such, schools require boards to effectively guide them and ensure that that they are working toward their missions. And while the governance challenges faced by charter school boards are significant, they are not unique. Nonprofit boards across the country face the same battles of accountability, conflict of interest, and oversight.

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by lindsaydworman on April 29, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Board Engagement, Board Policies, Innovation, Oversight and Accountability, Strategic Planning and Thinking

Posted by lindsaydworman on April 29, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/04/29/school-boards-working-from-within-to-champion-change/

Meet the April Board Member of the Month!

4-24-13 BMotM DamienBy BoardSource

BoardSource and Points of Light are pleased to announce that Damien Davis is the April 2013 Board Member of the Month. BoardSource and Points of Light created the Board Member of the Month award to honor outstanding individuals for their commitment to advancing the public good through exceptional nonprofit board leadership.

Damien serves on the board of the Downtown Sailing Center in Baltimore, MD. Professionally, he is a research analyst with Brown Capital Management in Baltimore.

In nominating Damien for the Board Member of the Month Award, Kathleen Lester, board chair of the Downtown Sailing Center, noted the following:

“When I look back at 2012 and think about the challenges we overcame — a financial crisis, a financial restructuring, three executive director turnovers, and a major transition in board members — I know it would not have been possible without Damien Davis.

Damien joined the board of directors of the Downtown Sailing Center in January 2012, serving on the finance committee. When our treasurer moved out of state, Damien graciously stepped up, joining the executive committee as treasurer in July 2012 after only six months. He quickly reviewed our financial processes and made adjustments to ensure a series of checks and balances were in place to reduce errors and increased the integrity of our finances. Through Damien’s leadership and commitment, we have gone from an organization barely understanding our finances, scraping by from one year to another, to an organization that has a clear understanding of how we operate, makes informed decisions, and is saving money in 2013….Most important, Damien has forced us to look at our own financial information as a set of questions and challenged us to take ownership for what we want to become as an organization….

In March 2012, our executive director resigned, and his replacement resigned taking a new job in September. Damien agreed to serve on the search committee, dedicating even more hours to the Downtown Sailing Center to ensure that we found the right person for the job. Through a long and arduous process, we emerged in January with a wonderful executive director, who will carry us into the future. Damien’s dedication to this process was significant….

Damien continues to be dedicated to our work and our mission. He regularly checks in with staff to ensure that morale is high and works to resolve any issues that arise; he is a leader within the executive committee, approaching issues with thoughtfulness and recommending or supporting appropriate solutions; he is involved with our members, attending member meetings and socials; and he participates in our outreach programming, as well as making significant donations.

In short, Damien is one of the finest leaders within the Downtown Sailing Center. We would not have made it through the tumultuous 2012 without Damien on our team.”

Recently, BoardSource asked Damien a few questions about his board service:

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by BoardSource on April 24, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Board Engagement, Board Meetings, Committees, and Structure, Chief Executive Transitions, Strategic Planning and Thinking

Posted by BoardSource on April 24, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/04/24/meet-the-april-board-member-of-the-month/

ADVOCACY: A Fundamental Responsibility of Board Leaders?

By Jennifer Deng, strategic development and partnerships director4-1-13

A few weeks ago, my colleague, Kate von Richthofen, asked if your board is having the crucial conversation about sequestration and its impact on your nonprofit.  This month, I ask you to think about the responsibility of your board members to do something more:  Advocate for your nonprofit organization’s mission.

Patrick Lester recently wrote  in The Nonprofit Quarterly, “The nonprofit sector is too vital to our democracy to remain silent on budget issues or any of the other major issues facing this nation.”

The sheer numbers generated by the nonprofit industry in the United States, the extent of its impact — both social and economic — makes Lester’s point crystal clear.

According to an Urban Institute brief summarizing The Nonprofit Almanac 2012, there were more than 2.3 million nonprofit organizations operating in 2010. Those organizations generated more than 9.2% of the wages and salaries paid in the United States and reported more than $2.71 trillion in total assets, $1.51 trillion in total revenue, and $1.45 trillion in total expenses. The revenue was generated accordingly:

  • 22% from contributions, gifts, and government grants
  • 73% from program service revenues, which include government fees and contracts
  • 5% from “other” sources including dues, rental income, special event income, and gains or losses from goods sold

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by jdeng77 on April 1, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Board Engagement, Collaboration, Innovation, Mission and Vision

Posted by jdeng77 on April 1, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/04/01/advocacy-a-fundamental-responsibility-of-board-leaders/

Meet the March Board Member of the Month!

3-22-13 BMotMBy BoardSource

BoardSource and Points of Light are pleased to announce that Ellen Brown Landers is the March 2013 Board Member of the Month. BoardSource and Points of Light created the Board Member of the Month award to honor outstanding individuals for their commitment to advancing the public good through exceptional nonprofit board leadership.

Ellen serves on the board of the Georgia Justice Project (GJP) in Atlanta, Georgia. Professionally, she is a principal  in the Atlanta office of  Heidrick & Struggles, a global Leadership Advisory firm..

In nominating Ellen for this award, Doug Ammar, executive director of GJP, noted the following:

“Georgia Justice Project has one of the most active and engaged boards of directors in Atlanta…To stand out among one’s peers is an accomplishment at the highest level and Ellen Brown Landers does just that….

When GJP was facing major organizational challenges due to the recession starting in 2008, Ellen helped spearhead the charge with other board members and staff to ensure GJP’s viability and sustainability. Over the course of four to five years, Ellen’s unique blend of tactical, strategic and interpersonal intuition allowed GJP to achieve results, hone in and focus on what was important and rally the board and staff to make the hard decisions to adapt and change objectively….

If that weren’t enough, just as GJP was pivoting out of the recession, Ellen agreed to chair the GJP 25th Anniversary $5.2M capital campaign in 2011, which was of vital importance to support our 2010-2014 strategic plan.

From the beginning of Ellen’s service on GJP’s board, she has consistently leveraged her vast network of contacts for GJP’s benefit… Ellen Brown Landers is has been an exemplary board member.”

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by BoardSource on March 22, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Board Engagement, Board Recruitment and Orientation, Board-Chief Executive Partnership, Collaboration, Mission and Vision

Posted by BoardSource on March 22, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/03/22/meet-the-march-board-member-of-the-month/

A Network of Trainers, Revisited

3-18-13 DanielleBy Danielle M. Henry, communications coordinator

Last summer BoardSource announced the Certified Governance Trainers Program, a concentrated effort to expand the reach and depth of BoardSource services throughout the country through the development of a pool of BoardSource-trained trainers. We offered the first certification program in Chicago last fall. As we prepare for this year’s three training programs, I sat down with Andy Davis to reflect on the growth of the program and what’s happening next. Andy is BoardSource’s director of training and manages the program.

When we last spoke, the Certified Governance Trainers (CGT) Program had just been announced. Tell me where the program stands now.

We now have 25 Certified Governance Trainers in the BoardSource network.  They’re out in their communities working with organizations. They’re also staying connected with each other and hearing about news in the sector through a portal that we’ve set up for them. So far, it’s a great mutual partnership.

What did you take away from that first training?

The first program was illustrative of the deep talent that is out there. Combining that talent with our methodology and resources is a winning combination.

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by Danielle M. Henry on March 18, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Board Development, BoardSource Leadership Forum, Collaboration, Innovation, Mission and Vision

Posted by Danielle M. Henry on March 18, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/03/18/a-network-of-trainers-revisited/

Sequestration and Nonprofits

3-5-13 Kate US CapitolBy Kate von Richthofen, strategic development and partnerships manager

For months now, Americans have been barraged with a seemingly endless stream of panic around the national budget, the fiscal cliff, and most recently – sequester.  On Friday, March 1, 2013, Congress failed to come to an agreement on a federal spending package, leading to the implementation of an official sequestration order resulting in the cancellation of $85 billion in government spending over the next seven months.  The effects of sequestration are being spun by both political parties and the media, but when we take away all the rhetoric, this question remains: What do these government spending cuts really mean for the nonprofit sector?

First of all, it’s important to understand that the ramifications of the spending cuts will roll out over several months.  Much like Y2K, March 1st was rather anticlimactic, as Americans held their collective breath waiting in futility for government offices across the country to close their doors.  It is unlikely that any government offices will close at all; however, furloughs, starting as soon as March 26, 2013, have been confirmed in several government offices, including the Pentagon, the IRS, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

While furloughs have been one of the sequestration repercussions receiving the most attention, some other fallouts will have a much more profound impact, either directly or through the domino effect, on the nonprofit sector.  For instance, government funding for elementary and secondary education will experience significant cuts, resulting in teacher layoffs and cuts in Head Start.  This means larger class sizes and less-experienced teachers, resulting in less individual attention and capacity to recognize children in need.  This also means more families will be looking for supplementary educational services and after-school programs, such as literacy programs and other tutoring, raising the programs and services demands on nonprofits in the field.

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by katevonrichthofen on March 5, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Culture of Inquiry, Strategic Planning and Thinking, Sustainability

Posted by katevonrichthofen on March 5, 2013

http://exceptionalboards.com/2013/03/05/sequestration-and-nonprofits/

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