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Recruiting Effective Board Members

A Presentation at the

Support Center for Nonprofit Management

Growth for Good

Building Strength in Organizations

January 16, 2013

www.GrowthforGood.com

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About Us

Growth for Good provides strategic planning, fundraising, government

relations, marketing and communications expertise so that organizations can focus on what they do best: good work.

Our goal is to strengthen our clients’ abilities to effectively and efficiently serve their missions. We have worked with many relevant non-profits, including:

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Today, you will learn:

• How to identify the strengths and deficits of your current board

• Strategies for engaging in constructive dialogue about

recruiting new members

• The seven essential steps to Board recruitment

• Effective ways to quickly orient and engage new board members

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“Getting the right people on the bus”

“The main point is to first get the

right people on the bus (and the

wrong people off the bus) before

you figure out where to drive it.”

~ Jim Collins, Good to Great

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You need a posse, not a lone ranger!

High-performing organizations share authority.

Everyone becomes a community builder.

So, who is on the Governance team?

Who will be on your Leadership Team?

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Building a Leadership Team

Realizing Potential

“Show me a nonprofit staff that drives fundraising and

does not fully engage the board of directors, and

I will show you an institution suffering a

severe case of unrealized potential.”

~ Reynold Levy, author of Yours for the Asking, and

President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

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Who is on your Board?

Consider your Leadership Mix

• Founder, family & friends (follow the leader) vs.

governing board (following vs. leading)

• Team Matrix – diverse skill sets,

management styles and backgrounds

Activity #1: Board Matrix

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Important Qualities of Board Chair (and all Board members!)

� Integrity

� Independence

� Mature Confidence

� Corporate Manners

� A Sense of Context

� Courage

� Commitment

Source: Howard Berman, Making a Difference

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Ideal Qualities of a Board Member

Directors should be considered based on:

• Commitment to the mission and interest in the programming

• Ability to influence others

• Willingness to give at a personally significant level

– should be in the Board Members’ top three charities

• Eagerness to actively fundraise

• Past board experience

• Enthusiasm to share professional skills/background

• Diversity

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• Prior board experience is the best predictor of a person’s ability

to be an effective board member in an organization

• Increasing the size of the board to 25+ can help to ensure the

board reflects the diversity of your community

• Every board member and donor must

have the ABC’s of Giving

ACTIVITY #2: ABC Hangman

Critical Factors & Best Practices

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ABC’s of Giving:

• Ability

• Belief

• Connection

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Committee Structures

• Executive

• Finance

• Governance/Nominating/Board Development

• Resource Development

• Program

• Facilities

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Breakout within Committees

Chair: Big picture visionary, strong people skills,

patient and honest

Vice-Chair: Collaborative, stays in touch with

members makes sure all voices are being heard

Members: Good judgment of character,

personable, and positive

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1. Governance/Nominating Committee

2. Expectations

3. Prospect Research & List

4. Recruitment Documents

5. Board Member Outreach

6. Selection Process

7. Orientation/Welcome!

HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment

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Step # 1 Governance/Nominating Committee

• Establishes criteria for board service

• Finds and recommends new members

• Recommends officer and committee appointments

• Provides orientation for new members

• Reviews performance of existing members

• Takes a leadership role in shaping organizational

governance

HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment

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Step #2 Expectations

Seven Steps to Board Recruitment

Outline board member overview – “job description”

Accountability: Ensures results and excellent leadership

Strategic Vision: Sets goals and monitors process

Viability: Maintains sustainability

Advocacy: Promotes organization and its mission

Governance: Maintains highest standards

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• Provide timely information

• Make best possible use of assets

• Ensure best meeting management practices

• Respond to questions and concerns

• Encourage feedback and criticism

• Do utmost to be an organization of which you can be extremely proud

Commitment to Board Members

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• Using skills to improve nonprofit, effect change, and have an impact

• Feeling good by doing good

• Collaborating with interesting people

• Learning new skills

• Enjoying being recognized for efforts

• Wanting to give back to the community

• Having fun

*Reference: BoardSource

Board Member Benefits of Service

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• Look within for your best prospects

• Find connections: LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+

• Use free or almost free resources for

prospect researchers to identify best prospects

HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment

Step #3 Prospect Research & List

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• State you organizational values

• Share your budget documents

• Be concise, engaging, informative, and inspirational!

• Be clear about expectations

• Don’t minimize the time commitment required

• Keep prospects informed of your progress

HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment

Step #4 Recruitment Documents

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Step #5 Board Member Outreach

• Host open houses

• Organize site visits

• Invite to outreach events

• Make presentations at corporations, local

leadership and industry meetings

HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment

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• Current volunteers and supporters

• Network with prospective partner

• Network with local associations: civic, alumni,

biz, professional, etc.

• Online board member and volunteer matching services

• Fee-based board search services

Activity #3: Engaging Board Members

WHO – Great Ways to Find Great Board Members

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Step #6 Selection Process - Important Considerations

• ABCs of Philanthropy: Ability, Belief & Connection

• Perception and/or Implied Rejection – Be Discrete!

• Skill Sets: Experience & Expertise

• Diversity: Thought, Voice and Background

• Availability

• Influence

• Motivation

Remember, not all prospective board members are right for your board.

HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment

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HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment

Step #7 Orientation/Welcome!

• Board binder

• Board member mentors

• Orientation and ongoing engagement monitoring

• Feedback – monitor recruitment process,

experience on the board and board report card

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1. Governance/Nominating Committee

2. Expectations

3. Prospect Research & List

4. Recruitment Documents

5. Board Member Outreach

6. Selection Process

7. Orientation/Welcome!

HOW – Seven Steps to Board Recruitment

“Great vision with mediocre people

still produces mediocre results.”

~ Jim Collins

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1. Assign to a Committee

2. Tour facility and meet with staff

3. Assign board member mentor

4. Develop personal action plan

5. Create board member job description

6. Give role in meetings

Now What – How to Engage Quickly

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Build the Foundation for an

Effective Governing Board

• This is a time-consuming, year-round, on-going process

• Always be as open about challenges and failures as

you are about strengths and success

• Continually thank and engage everyone who shows an

interest [7 Touches]

• Relationship building takes time and nurturing

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GOOD LUCK!