Emerging Latino Communities InitiativeWebinar Series 2011

Advanced Board Development Training

June 22, 2011

Presenter: Janet Hernandez, Capacity-Building Coordinator, NCLR

Agenda

1. Why are boards important?2. Board agreements3. The board and its role in the strategic planning

process4. Smart recruiting for a strong board5. The board and fundraising6. Q&A

Why are boards important?• To govern and guide the organization by determining the organization’s mission and strategic direction

• To ensure that the organization complies with legal requirements • To procure funding and oversee its appropriate management

Board Member Contracts• State the role of the specific board member.

• Serve as a commitment agreement that the member can be evaluated on. • State fundraising goals.

Let’s look at a sample!

Strategic Planning and the Board

Is your board ready for a strategic plan?

• board members and staff feel a need for a greater organizational focus and organization-wide clarity on priorities

• core values, goals, and programs have not been examined in a long time

• an earlier plan’s timeframe is over on when it has become obsolete

Board’s Role in Strategic Planning

• Coordinates with the strategic plan committee on process

• Approves the plan

• Works with Executive Director and staff to implement the plan once approved

Board Recruiting

Smart Recruiting for a Strong Board

• Representation of specific constituencies and point of view

• Skills

• Standing and reputation

• Race and ethic background

Smart Recruiting for a Strong Board

• Gender, Religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, and other social-demographic characteristics

• Program-related diversity

• Disability

Let’s look at a sample matrix composition!

To fundraise or not to fundraise!

Reality: Actually, nonprofits are required by law to have boards (as are for-profit corporations) in order to hold the organization accountable to the public (not to raise money). And, in addition, boards don't raise money. Board members raise money.

The board approves a plan for how the organization will obtain funds (in its approval of the budget) through some combination of donations, earned income, grants, etc. Then individual board members help with the plan by obtaining donations, making connections for earned income and grants, and so forth.

Myth #5: Boards are supposed to raise money.*

* From Blue Avocado

What is the role of the board in fundraising?

• In its governing role, the board as a body is responsible for approving and monitoring performance of a revenue strategy that will sustain the organization’s work.

• In their supporting roles as individuals, all board members must do something to help implement that strategy.

• No one has to do everything

• Expectations must be clearly and fairly communicated to new board members during the recruitment process. How?

Ways board members can start fundraising

• Host a party

• Send letters to your network

• Pledge a contribution

What are you doing in your community?

• Invite board members from similar organizations to come to your board and share their experiences raising money.

• Have fundraising discussions

• Form a fundraising committee

How can you learn more about fundraising?

•The board and key staff agree on the core values that will guide the organization’s mission.

•The board plans ahead and pays attention to the strategic direction needed by the organization to ensure continued success and improvement.

•The board is committed to excellence and is willing to take an appropriate amount of risk to be among the best.

•The board and the executive director agree on how they will know when the agency is successful and use a key set of data in tracking program and financial performance.

•Board members have a clear and complete board job description.

Best Practices of High-Performing Boards

Questions or Comments?

Thank you!

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