Why and How to Join a Nonprofit Board
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The document outlines the importance and benefits of joining a nonprofit board, such as developing skills, expanding networks, and finding meaning in service. It details the governance responsibilities and fiduciary duties of board members, as well as the processes for joining a board and questions to consider before membership. The text emphasizes the need for commitment and effective governance to counteract the common inefficiencies of boards.
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mishacharles [at] yahoo.com
linkedin.com/in/mishacharles/
Misha Charles
twitter.com/mishajcharles](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/whyandhowtojoinanonprofitboardmishajcharles-130226153116-phpapp01/85/Why-and-How-to-Join-a-Nonprofit-Board-20-320.jpg)
Why and How to Join a Nonprofit Board
- 1. + Why and How to Join a Nonprofit Board Misha Charles Webinar delivered to GW Alumni Association 14 February 2013
- 2. + You Can Make a Difference That’s Why You can also: Develop new skills and insights Expand your professional and social networks Find meaning
- 3. + Beyond the Smoke-filled Room Visibility Regulation Professionalization Diversity
- 4. + Boards 101
- 5. + The Order of Things Board CEO
- 6. + Governance If management is about running the business, governance is about seeing that it is run properly. Robert Tricker Governance is the distribution of legitimate authority to influence and enact policies and decisions; it defines who has the power, who is in charge, and who is responsible; its primary roles are setting the direction, ensuring adequate resources and overseeing the health of the organization. C.A. Trower, Govern More, Manage Less. Harnessing the Power of Your Nonprofit Board (2010)
- 7. + Fiduciary Duties Care Loyalty Obedience
- 8. + Responsibilities Board Individual Members Define mission and vision Work in committees Set strategic direction Participate in meetings Hire and evaluate CEO Contribute expertise Provide fiscal oversight Make annual gift Ensure resources Expand reach and visibility Monitor programs Ask questions Ensure compliance Recruit, develop members
- 9. + Position Description
- 10. + Wanted Mission-alignment Experience Do you believe in the mission and Do you have a background, how it is executed? perspective, or professional expertise that the organization needs and are you prepared to contribute it? Availability Resources Do you have time to help govern Do you have resources to an organization? contribute, e.g. social and professional networks, facilities, money?
- 11. + Not Wanted Resume builders Absentee directors Director-managers Lone rangers
- 12. + Joining a Board
- 13. + The Process It varies Outreach by Engagement through Nominating Cmte Interviews Board Members Meetings CEO Nomination Vote
- 14. + Where to Look Favorite organizations Alumni and professional associations, charter schools Networks LinkedIn Idealist Training/placement programs Bridgespan Boardnet USA
- 15. + The Moves Positioning Yourself for Board Membership Volunteer time and expertise Learn the issue Add a cause to your LinkedIn profile Host an event Meet staff, volunteers, board Share your network Make a financial gift
- 16. + The Questions What to Ask as You Consider Board Membership Strategic plan Expectations Terms Monthly time commitment Meeting frequency Finances Board giving policy Directors & officers insurance Orientation process
- 17. + Raise the Bar
- 18. + Checkered Reputation "There is one thing all boards have in common . . . . They do not function.” Peter Drucker “Effective governance by a board of trustees is a relatively rare and unnatural act . . . . trustees are often little more than high-powered, well- intentioned people engaged in low-level activities." Richard Chait, Thomas Holland, and Barbara Taylor "Ninety-five percent (of boards) are not fully doing what they are legally, morally, and ethically supposed to do." Harold Geneen "Boards have been largely irrelevant throughout most of the twentieth century.“ James Gillies “Boards tend to be, in fact, incompetent groups of competent individuals.” John Carver and Miriam Carver
- 19. + Be an All-Star Know the numbers Focus on governance Ask constructive questions Know meeting procedure Learn what you do not know Step up to leadership Be flexible Be generous
- 20. + mishacharles [at] yahoo.com linkedin.com/in/mishacharles/ Misha Charles twitter.com/mishajcharles