This document summarizes a webinar about best practices for effective nonprofit board meetings. It discusses the Independent Sector's 33 Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice, which provide guidelines for legal compliance, governance, and financial oversight. The webinar objectives are to review the principles and share a checklist for great board meetings. This includes recommendations for community building, mission inspiration, using consent agendas, board education, and governing. Board meetings should maximize engagement and effectiveness through preparation, discussion, and evaluation.

1. 33 Principles in 33 Minutes
Best Practices for the Best Board
Meetings…Ever!
Webinar by
BoardEffect & Independent Sector
February 13, 2018
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2. Presenters
2
Kristina Gawrgy Campbell
Moderator
Independent Sector
Marie LeBlanc
Speaker
Independent Sector
Dottie Schindlinger
Speaker
BoardEffect

3. Principles for Good Governance and
Ethical Practice
 Originally published in 2007 in response to accusations
of malfeasance in the sector, and revised in 2015.
 IS established Panel on the Nonprofit Sector.
 24-member panel , 125 expert advisers, thousands from
charities and foundations offering suggestions and insights.
 Recommendations to Congress incorporated into Pension
Protection Act of 2006
 33 Principles (Legal Compliance and Public Disclosure,
Effective Governance, Strong Financial Oversight and
Responsible Fundraising).
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4. Session Objectives
4
Review Principles for
Effective Governance
Share a Checklist for
Great Board
Meetings
?
Answer Your
Questions

5. Food for Thought…What Makes a Meeting Great?
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6. 6
In addition to oversight,
boards need to provide
insight, and, if possible,
foresight.”
NANCY AXELROD,
Governing for Growth
“

7. 1. Community-building
(with food)~5 min.
2. Mission inspiration~3 min.
3. Consent agenda~2 min.
4. Board education~20 min.
5. Governing~60 min.
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Adapted from Susan Howlett’s “Boards on Fire! Inspiring Leaders to Raise Money Joyfully.”
Recipe for a Great Board Meeting
(about 90 minutes long)

8. 1. Community-Building
• Activities that help board members form bonds
– Social time & food
– Ice-breakers
• Integrating community-building into every meeting
– Name cards/name tags, ID officers & roles
– Change seating assignments
– Re-introductions at each meeting (first job, favorite meal, first
volunteer experience, etc.)
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9. 2. Mission & Inspiration
• Activities that inspire
– Personal stories
– Getting out of the board room
• Integrating mission/inspiration into every meeting
– Each director takes turns with a “mission moment”
– Guest speaker tells a story
– Follow a staff-person for a brief “day in the life”
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10. 3. Consent Agenda
• Appropriate use of consent agendas
– Board agrees to read in advance –
posted to board software
– Nothing requiring deliberation
– Allow time for discussion
• Implementing consent agendas –
members must commit to:
– Getting reports done/posted on time
– Reviewing consent items to
determine discussion items
– Actively engaging in discussion
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11. 4. Board Education/Training
• Activities that help board members learn
– Self-directed research on issues
– Participating in a session on topics of interest
– Having to present a session/lead discussion
• Integrating board education into every
meeting
– Board planning calendar
– Rotate presenters – each member takes a
turn
– Curate content for the board
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12. 5. Governing
• Activities that help board members
govern well
– Clarity of the board’s purpose
– “Generative” questions
– Culture of respectful inquiry
• Integrating governance into every
meeting
– Ensure ample discussion time on the
agenda
– Meeting start: “one-minute essay”
– Evaluate meetings, suggest future topics
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13. Secure, cloud-based board management
software that drives board efficiency,
effectiveness & engagement
What Is
?
Maximizing
Board Meetings
Enhancing Board
Operations
Improving the Board
Member’s Experience

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Principles for Good Governance and
Ethical Practice
• Free resources available online at
www.independentsector.org/principles
• Sign Up for the rest of the webinar series
– registration links will be sent to you
• Check out BoardEffect’s resources at
boardeffect.com/resources