This blog is in response to a couple of emails I received in response to my last post about how useful the information was. One question I received was “Do you have a checklist that we could use to help us in our next board meeting?” You asked. I deliver. In this post I present “Ten Steps for Building an Effective Nonprofit Board: A Checklist for Action” This free 12-page PDF document is not designed to be an exhaustive guide to developing and staffing a board. Rather is a practice-based assessment tool
As the current political landscape continues to promise economic uncertainty and possibly even deep cuts to the social service infrastructure, nonprofits will need to adapt and change. For many nonprofits this ability to adapt and change will be directly correlated to the focus and strength of the agency’s board. Indeed I suggest that only an effective board is capable of designing and delivering strategic guidance that will be required to navigate the uncharted waters ahead. For any agency thinking about the future, these principles of effectiveness give a point of reference by which an agency can judge the strength and direction of its board.
At the heart of the work that I do with nonprofits, philanthropy and government is to help organizations find the connection between facilitation and process. Most often that connection is at the point of strategy. Strategy is the critical element for, among other things: a) strengthening the core of social sector agencies, b) thinking creatively [...]
Most nonprofit board members have a passion and mission affiliation of the organization where they serve and skills and motivations that can support the growth the agency. The task of leadership is to recognize the contributions of each board member and to weave the individuals into a board that becomes more than the sum of its parts. Offered in this post are germinal ideas that can be used to help nonprofit boards in that weaving process.
Recently, I have been working on several different projects that involve nonprofit board development issues ranging from staffing a board, to recruiting board members, and improving the effectiveness of boards. My recent work has led me to filter my experience through a review of the literature on the characteristics of an effective boards and strengthening [...]
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- Mark P Fulop, MA, MPH
PO Box 18144
Portland, OR 97218-0144
(503) 928-4082
mark@facilitationprocess.com Facebook Like Box
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