HOW TO Find, Recruit and Train Board MembersDaniel Kimball

Product Specialist at Aplos Software

DanielKimballDanKimballisaseasonedfundraiserwithtwentyyearsofexperienceinstrategicfunddevelopmentandnonprofitmanagement.

He’scurrentlydevelopingAplos’DonorManagementPlaAormtohelpnonprofitsconnectwith(andculCvate!)theirdonorbase.

“FundraisingisarelaConshipbusiness.”

TwiJer:@fugaCvedmk@aplos_webinar

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Introduc7onManynonprofitleadersregardlessofthesizeoftheorganizaConstrugglewithhowtomoCvateandmaintainastrongboard.ManagingaboardcanbeCmeconsumingandperplexing,butagoodworkingboardcanalsoberewardingandhelpgrowyourmission.

IsyourboardequippedtohelpyourorganizaConaccomplishitsgoals?Aretheretalentgapsyouneedtofill?DuringthiswebinaryouwilllearnhowtofindandrecruitboardmemberswiththeskillsyourorganizaConneeds.

*IdenCfyandstrategicallyfillthetalentgapsonyourboard*DefineclearexpectaConsandimproveaccountability*HelpboardmembersembracefundraisingopportuniCes(notafocusofthisWebinar)*CreatealeadershippipelinetoprepareyournextgeneraConofboardleadership

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WhatIsTheRoleoftheBoard

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1. Determinemissionandpurpose.Itistheboard'sresponsibilitytocreateandreviewastatementofmissionandpurposethatarCculatestheorganizaCon'sgoals,means,andprimaryconsCtuentsserved.2. Selectthechiefexecu7ve.BoardsmustreachconsensusonthechiefexecuCve'sresponsibiliCesandundertakeacarefulsearchtofindthemostqualifiedindividualfortheposiCon.3. Supportandevaluatethechiefexecu7ve.TheboardshouldensurethatthechiefexecuCvehasthemoralandprofessionalsupportheorsheneedstofurtherthegoalsoftheorganizaCon.4. Ensureeffec7veplanning.BoardsmustacCvelyparCcipateinanoverallplanningprocessandassistinimplemenCngandmonitoringtheplan'sgoals.5. Monitorandstrengthenprogramsandservices.Theboard'sresponsibilityistodeterminewhichprogramsareconsistentwiththeorganizaCon'smissionandmonitortheireffecCveness.

WhatIsTheRoleoftheBoard

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6. Ensureadequatefinancialresources.Oneoftheboard'sforemostresponsibiliCesistosecureadequateresourcesfortheorganizaContofulfillitsmission.7. Protectassetsandprovideproperfinancialoversight.Theboardmustassistindevelopingtheannualbudgetandensuringthatproperfinancialcontrolsareinplace.8. Buildacompetentboard.AllboardshavearesponsibilitytoarCculateprerequisitesforcandidates,orientnewmembers,andperiodicallyandcomprehensivelyevaluatetheirownperformance.9. Ensurelegalandethicalintegrity.TheboardisulCmatelyresponsibleforadherencetolegalstandardsandethicalnorms.10.Enhancetheorganiza7on'spublicstanding.TheboardshouldclearlyarCculatetheorganizaCon'smission,accomplishments,andgoalstothepublicandgarnersupportfromthecommunity.

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IsyourBoardExperiencingBurnout?

1. Doesthesamesmallgroupoftrusteestendtodomostoralloftheworkoftheboard?

2. HaveanytrusteesmissedhalformoreofyourboardmeeCngsinthepastyear?

3. HasyourboardfailedtoreachaquorumatanyboardmeeCnginthelast12months?

4. Doesyourboardstruggletorecruitandretaintalented,skilled,anddiversetrustees?

5. Doboardmembersmakecommitmentsbuto`enfailtofulfillthosepromises?

BoardBurnoutQuiz-BoardSource

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6. DoboardmeeCngslastlongerthanplanned?

7. DoesyourboardautomaCcallyrenewamember'stermifthattrusteeiswillingtoagain?

8. Doesyourboardhavenomaximumnumberofyearsthatatrusteecanserve?

9. DoesyourorganizaConeithermovefromcrisistocrisisorkeepaddressingthesameissuesoverandover?

10.AreboardcommiJeesfuncConinglessthanopCmally?

IsyourBoardExperiencingBurnout?BoardBurnoutQuiz-BoardSource

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11.Doesyourboardstruggletofindgoodleaderswhoarewillingandqualifiedtobechair?

12.Doboardmemberscomplainthatthey'reaskedtodothingstheyneverexpectedtodo?

13.DoestheagendaforboardmeeCngslookthesamemeeCnga`ermeeCng?

14.HasitbeenlongerthantwoyearssincetheboardformallyassesseditselfwithawriJentoolandhadfrankdiscussionabouttheresults?

15.DoesyourboardsufferfromboringmeeCngs?

IsyourBoardExperiencingBurnout?BoardBurnoutQuiz-BoardSource

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It's always a good idea to assess your board's engagement and performance at least once a year, perhaps at an annual board retreat. Your organization will benefit from being sensitive to the possibility of trustee burnout and taking steps to proactively address it.

Do a board matrix: List the skills, demographics, and tenure of your board, and decide whether the board you have is the board that your organization needs. If you don't have an active governance committee to lead the way, maybe it is time to form one

AvoidingBurnout

Boardsthatdon'tfolloweffecCvemeeCngpracCcesandfailtomakegooduseofboardmembers'Cmeandskillsrisklosingtheirengagement.EnsurethatyourboardmeeCngsincludeCmefordiscussingstrategicissuesbeyondrouCne,administraCvemaJers.

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Boardmembersmaysimplybeexhausted.NowmightbetheCmetotakeahardlookateachboardmember'stenure.Aretheretrusteeswhoshouldberotatedofftheboard?Wouldtheboardbenefitfromaninfusionoffreshideasandenergythatnewmemberscanbring?

LeveragingBoardTalentBoardmembersshouldgiveTime,TALENTandTreasure;ButareorganizaContappingintothetalent?

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ThinkStrategically:WhatskillsandtalentsdoesyournonprofitorganizaConneedtomoveforwarditsmissionandadvancetheirworkstrategicallyoverthenext2,5and10years.What’s missing: Which of those skills and talents are currently represented on your board and which ones are missing?

Be Specific: How would you describe the skills, expertise and personal attributes of the “ideal candidate”?

LeveragingBoardTalentBoardBenchWarmersorGameChangers;Matchingboardmemberswithnotonlyskillsbutcapacity

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Don’talwaysdefinetalentbyaboardmembersdayjob….Anaccountantdoesnotalwayswanttobethefinanceperson.

Thinkoutsidethebox….

Find opportunities for board members to get involved and advertise them regularly in board meetings and communications. Provide a variety of opportunities—not everyone wants to serve on the gala or fundraiser committee. Do you have sectors of the community that you're trying to gain access to? That's a great way for well-connected volunteers to help—by opening doors and providing introductions.

BoardRecruitmentFillforneednotjusttofillseats-Whoyouneed/Whatyouhave/Whatyouwant-

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DoesyourBoardreflectthepopulaConandcommunityyouserve?

EstablishacriteriaforselecCngboardmembers,soyou'llknowwhenyou'vefoundtherightpeople!

HaveanominaCngcommiJee/processinplace.

LookforqualiCesthatwillhelptheboardfuncConbeJer,doitsjobbeJer.

BoardRecruitmentWhenlookingforpoten7alBoardMemberslookforpeople:•Understanding of our community and its needs•Passion for your cause•Willingness to commit time for board meetings, committee meetings, planning sessions, special events•Team player - works well in a group•Someone who listens well, is thoughtful in considering issues

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When recruiting:•Start with your dedicated and active volunteers•Consider your donors•Ask your current board and staff for nominations or recommendations•Reach out to those beyond your nonprofit, like youth, or people in business or from other organizations

•Communicate the fact that you’re recruiting board members through multiple channels, like your newsletter, word of mouth, and media

•Contact local organizations, like some United Way chapters and volunteer centers, that teach people how to be effective board members, then match them with nonprofits who need them

BoardRecruitment

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Have the Board engaged and involved in seeking and recruiting.

Recruitment should be going on year-round

Board recruitment can seem like a real time-suck, but remember that you’re designing the future of the organization.  While it can be a constant challenge for small nonprofits to find ideal board candidates willing to make the major time commitment it takes to be effective board members, it is possible to be intentional, creative and lighthearted about the process.  Regardless of what strategies you use to identify and cultivate board members, ultimately you have get out of the office, meet people, and ask

BoardTraining-

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Develop a thorough orientation process. Provide new board members with materials about the organization, a tour of your programs, introductions to board and staff members, and a board member expectation form.

Board Governance-

Formal or informal board settings- Still need guidelines, process and procedures.

Utilize outside resources for training and help.

Engaging/Retaining/MoCvaCngBoardMembersNumberonegoalistohelpyourboardmembersfeelsuccessfulabouttheirroleandtheworktheyaredoing.

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Regular evaluation of board roles and responsibilities.

Are you providing the board with interesting and meaningful work? Are you actually utilizing their skills and talents?

Are your board meetings boring? Do you go over report after report or are you having meaningful discussions and engaging board members on important topics? Are you sharing success stories about clients’ lives that you’ve touched?

Engaging/Retaining/MoCvaCngBoardMembersAreyouprovidingregularandongoingtraining?Doyouhaveanannualboardretreat?DoyouhavetrainingatregularboardmeeCngsthroughouttheyearontopicslikefundraising,governance,andbudgeCng?

Are you expressing gratitude? Do you thank your board members in person, in writing, in public? Do they know how important they are to your organization?

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Bringingonaterrificboardmemberisonlythefirststep.TakingCmetoensurethateachboardmemberbecomespersonallyinvestedandengagedinthemissionoftheorganizaConisCmewellspent.Whentrulyengaged,boardmemberswillbecomeyournonprofit'sbestambassadors,advocates,strategists,andallaroundsupporters.

FinalThoughtsandResources

Anengagedboardisaforward-thinkingboardthatstrivestohaveacollaboraCvepartnershipwiththeCEO/execuCvedirector,whichmeanspartneringforfundraising,aswellaspolicy-making.Engagedboards“work”betweenboardmeeCngs,andaJendmeeCngswellprepared.Theyarewillingtodeliberatecandidly,confidentlytreadingonsensiCvetopicsthatmayresultin“messy”discussionsbecausetheytrustoneanotherandarecomfortablewiththecultureofthenonprofit,confidentthateveryonevaluesmutualrespect.-NaConalCouncilofNonprofits

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Resources;BoardSoureJoan Garry ConsultingNonprofit HubAmy Eisenstein, ACFRENational Council of NonprofitsBlue AvocadoAFP- Association of Fundraising Professionals

Conclusion/Q&A

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AboutAplosWe’rethe#1solu7oninonlinedonormanagementso\warefornonprofits.

Fundraisingisimportant,butyouprobablywishyoudidn'thavetospendsomuchofyourvaluableCmeraisingmoney.Aplos'all-in-onesoluConhelpsyouraisemoney,trackgiving,andensureyourdonorshaveaposiCveexperiencewithyourorganizaCon.

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"Nonprofitsallacrossthecountryarepraisingtheso`ware'seaseofuse,reasonableprice,andgreatcustomerservice."-NPTechNews

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