7/1/2016

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Rachel Muir, CFRE VP of Training at Pursuant

Julie Shannan, Deputy Director, Girlstart

Love em or leave em?

The Delicate Art of Managing a Board

@rachelmuir @julieshannan #Bridge16

@rachelmuir rachel.muir@pursuant.com

@julieshannanJulie@girlstart.org

@rachelmuir @julieshannan #Bridge16

Rate your board’s health: Red, yellow or green?

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#Bridge16

Who has 2+ members new to board service?

Do you provide board training?

Agenda

2

How to recruit your dream team

Tips & tools to

manage a board

Surviving

toxic board

members

Graceful

exits

10 tips to get them

fundraising w/out making

ask

@rachelmuir @julieshannan #Bridge16

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#Bridge16

Recruiting Your Dream Team

• Recruit all the time

• Be “board aware” w/ donors & sponsors

• Get board’s help

• Know your skill gaps

• Network & use social platforms (LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter)

Legal stalking!

• Staggered terms

Do you provide board training?

@rachelmuir @julieshannan #Bridge16

How does Girlstartrecruit?

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Julie’s scriptJulie’s experience

#Bridge16

What do you want from your board?

You wouldn’t hire a staff person without explaining the job and performance expectations in advance.

The same holds true for recruiting board members.”

“Simone Joyaux, Firing Lousy Board Members

@rachelmuir @julieshannan #Bridge16

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Be clear about role + responsibilities

#1 reason why things blow up!

Free sample contract atpursuant.com/boardcontract

#Bridge16

Are your board members fundraising?

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Fundraising is the f word to many board members.”“Gail Perry, Fired Up Fundraising

@rachelmuir @julieshannan #Bridge16

#Bridge16

Consider your invitation to fundraising

Is it…

Made clear in the board

recruitment process?

Specified in the board

contract?

Discussed in the board

orientation?

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10 ways board members can fundraise without making an ask

@rachelmuir @julieshannan #Bridge16

#1 Give personally. #2 Call

donorsto thank.

#3 Put org in their estate plan.

Impact on giving amounts

Thank you call

from board

member w/in 24

hours

Source: Donor Centered Fundraising, Penelope Burk & Cygnus Research

14 months

later

70% retention!

Easy win: Board member thank you calls

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Sample Discovery Questions

What inspired your generous gift?What do you hope to achieve with your giving?Why does our cause matter to them? Do you have any feedback for us?Is there any way we can make your experience more positive?How can we get you more involved?May I invite you to _______?May I introduce you to ______?

Discovery questions for board members

#6 Get assigned 2-3

donors to cultivate

#5 Host cultivation

event in their home

#4 Invite 10 guests to tour org

Get them to fundraise without an ask

#Bridge16

#Bridge16

Here’s how Girlstart crushes it

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Source: Lori Jacobwith, Ignited Fundraising

#7 Take on project to raise org’s awareness

#8 Show how money makes impact at org

#9 Present client testimonials

#10 Write article/blog post on why org is imp to them

#Bridge16

Set them up for success!

• Board orientation

• Board welcome

• Assign a board “buddy”

• 3 month check in

Are you prepared to support them?

Tapping into their motivational drivesGiving them regular feedbackGiving rewards and recognitionOffering special privileges or incentives Providing training Giving public affirmations Having fun with them Thanking their families Positive gossip (brag to peers)Being available to them

Source: The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st

Century Volunteer

Are you prepared to support them?

@rachelmuir @julieshannan #Bridge16

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Detailed board contract

Pre-meeting materials

Strategic plan

Hire facilitator at transitions

Self evaluations

Tools to manage a board Tools to manage up

Training

Tip from Julie: Recruit an internal Jedi knight!

5 tips for great board meetings

Split into small groups to brainstorm/present

Source: Perry, G. (2007). Fired-Up Fundraising. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

Give materials in advance w/key points

Start with fun ice breaker or thank-a-thon

Have client, staff or board give testimonial

Set agenda theme, goals + outcomes

Tip from Julie: Start on time, end on time & feed them!

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Board contract

Self-assessment

Board chair

Peers

Success

Tools to manage a board Motivational tools for board members

Core values

Board self-assessment areas

1. Can rate themselves as a group or individually2. Actively serve on committee or project3. Meeting attendance4. Volunteer recruitment (event chairs, committee members, board prospects)4. Serving mission (liaison, advocate, etc)5. Strategic direction setting vs day to day

management 6. Fundraising support (personal gift + generating revenue)

Sample board self assessments

#Bridge16

• How have we contributed to your growth?

• What would you like to contribute if you servedanother term?

• How can we support your development as a board member?

@rachelmuir @julieshannan #Bridge16

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How to handle toxic board membersDiscovery questions for board membersHow to handle toxic board members…

Meet the Toxic Board MemberGreen. Long nails.Holds people hostage.

What size is your board? Raise your hand if 1 or more need to go

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Toxic Behavior

Founder’s syndrome

Unethical behavior

Conflict of interest

Belligerence

Bullying

Secret meetings

Who initiates?

Board Chair

Governance committee

Graceful exits

Acknowledge failure to properly set expectations

Be sensitive to any health, personal or professional issues

Explore less time consuming options i.eAd hoc committee, consult, mentoring

“Are you temporarily a lot busier than usual? Do you have the time?”

Offer leave of absence

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Formal conversation

Participation and agreed upon expectations

Sympathetic but firm

Respectful, gracious

Enhancing Attrition

If they commit to improve, how does that look?

Source: Simone Joyaux, Firing Lousy Board Members

If resign, thank them for service

Facilitating conversation

“Enhancing attrition”

Help them make the realization

“Okay, as of now you're no longer a Board member. Relax and let it go. But we still want you to be part of our family. Would it be okay for us to call you with questions from time to time?"

"I'm sorry, but that's true. I've got so much going on at work, I have too many meetings in my life, and I don't feel like I'm making a contribution here."

Source: NonprofitHearts.net

“I want to check in with you, because Iget the feeling these meetings aren't working for you. It just seems like You can’t/don't want to be here."

“I had been feeling so guilty about not being a good board member. Yes, definitely call me.!”

Help them make the realization

How to turn things around Hired guns: Starting the conversations you can’t

Don’t hire him

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Who has an advisory board? Who has an advisory board?

Who wishes they didn’t? Who wishes they didn’t?

Advisory Council

Ambassadors

Friends of _______

Advocates

Alumni

Sample Alternative Structures

Advisory – Adjective: Having the power to make recommendations but to not take action enforcing them

Who wishes they didn’t? Who wishes they didn’t? Sample alternative structures

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Why were they created?

@rachelmuir

Fundraising

Programmatic

Letterhead

Predecessor

Alumni

Ex-officio

37% of nonprofits have an advisory board

Prestige

Geography

Considering adding a board?

Who will support them?

To whom will they report?

Who will recruit? How

many?

What is the purpose?

Expectation?

What is their relationship with

the existing board?

Source: Mary Beth Harrington#Bridge16

Ask yourself and your board…

Is the board assessing its own

performance?

Do we show board activity and hold them accountable?

Is board participation meaningful?

Are board expectations crystal clear?

How would you rate yourself on making it

fun?#Bridge16

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Sign up at rachelmuir.comFree webinars on boards!

Questions?

Thank you! Get today’s handouts:

Pursuant.com/BoardContractPursuant.com/BoardGuide

Don’t forget to visit the

Solutions Showcase! Many of the ideas discussed today are on display at the

Solutions Showcase!

Rachel.Muir@pursuant.com Julie@girlstart.org