Don’t have the board members you need to serve the organization and can’t keep the great ones you have recruited? Building a strong and reliable nonprofit board of directors is no easy task, but leveraging simple best practices and innovative strategies can mean the difference between an engaged, effective board of directors and a social club with minimal leadership. There are new strategies and vehicles for recruiting board members and concrete steps your organization can take to set the board, and your nonprofit, up for success. This workshop is designed for both nonprofits recruiting board members and individuals looking to be join boards.

1. Strategies for Success:
Board Member Recruitment & Retention
Emily Davis
August 1, 2012
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2. INTEGRATED PLANNING
Advising nonprofits in: www.synthesispartnership.com
• Strategy
• Planning (617) 969-1881
• Organizational Development info@synthesispartnership.com
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3. www.mission.do
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4. Today’s Speaker
Emily Davis
President
EDA Consulting Hosting:
Assisting with chat questions:
Jamie Maloney, Nonprofit Webinars Sam Frank, Synthesis Partnership
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5. STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS:
BOARD MEMBER
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
August 1, 2012
Emily Davis, MNM
EDA Consulting

6. CHALLENGES
Unclear expectations
Lack of commitment
Low engagement
Work load issues
Under valued
Underutilized
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

7. SUCCESS FACTORS
 Commit adequate resources
 Adopt a mutually-beneficial mindset
 Conduct evaluation
 Provide regular & appropriate recognition
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

8. Process & timeline
Roles & responsibilities
Leadership assessment
Board application
Marketing & outreach
Interviews
Selections process
Evaluation
BOARD RECRUITMENT
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

9. RECRUITMENT PLAN
PRE PLANNING APPLICATION PROCESS
 Job descriptions  Prep application
 Letter of commitment  Deadlines
 Board matrix  Call to action
 Prospect lists  Notification
 Language (application,  Meeting invite
invitations)  Board buddies
 Point person  Decision making
 Outreach efforts
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

10. ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
 Organizational mission
 General description
 Responsibilities:
– Set policy
– Govern
– Fiscal
– Meetings
– Board Terms
– Strategic Direction
– Oversee Executive Director
 Qualifications
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

11. BOARD ASSESSMENT
 Skills & Expertise
 Demographics – age,
ethnicity, gender
 Networks
 Wealth & access to wealth
 Relationship to mission
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

12. DESIGNING AN APPLICATION
 Contact info
 Professional role(s)
 Education
 Nonprofit experiences
 Skills, background, expertise
 Interest in the org
 Leadership role(s)
 Committee interests
 Board leadership knowledge
 Motivation(s) for joining
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

13. OUTREACH: START WITH THE INNER CIRCLE
 Current & past board
members’ networks
 Staff
 Volunteers
 Donors
 Individual, corporate, &
private donors
 Government officials
 Community foundation(s)
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

14. OUTREACH: MOVING BEYOND THE INNER CIRCLE
 Nonprofit advisory &
governing boards
 Organization & community
volunteers
 Current donors & volunteers
 Committee members
 Corporate giving & board
programs
 Nonprofit networks
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

15. INTERVIEWS
 Prepare consistent questions
 Interview in teams of two
 Education about organization
 Dialogue to determine fit
 Identify any conflicts of interest
 Answer candidates’ questions
 Follow up on application
 Confirm commitment (time, treasure,
talent)
 Explain next steps
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

16. SELECTION/DUE DILIGENCE
 Match candidate with
assessment
 Discuss with board development
committee / entire board
 Learn about work ethic, past
work
 Trust your gut!
 Invite final candidate(s) to a
board meeting.
 Seek complete board approval
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

17. NOTIFICATION
 What language will you use
for notification?
 How will you notify declined
candidates?
 How will you notify
recommended candidates?
 Explain next steps
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

18. EVALUATION
 Feedback from board candidates
 Debrief among entire board
 Debrief in board development committee
 Make necessary revisions / improvements
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

19. Board Development Committee
Orientation
Board Buddies
Board Policies & Procedures
Meetings & Gatherings
Professional Development
Self-Evaluation
Recognition
Conflict Management
BOARD RETENTION
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

20. ROLE OF THE BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Improve the overall quality of board
service & experience
Design & communicate the recruitment
process
Initiate ongoing professional development
Manage strategic planning
Organize social activities
Evaluate
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

21. ORIENTATION CHECK LIST
 Overview & History
 Philosophy & Values
 Programs & Resources
 Fundraising Overview
 Board Structure & Resources
– Description & Expectations
– Communications
– Board manual
 Letter of commitment
 Committees
 Board Buddies
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

22. BOARD BUDDIES
Pair new and tenured
board members
Board buddies for 3
months
Meet up socially
Answer questions
Serve as a resource
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

23. BOARD MANUAL
 Organizational Overview
 Legal Docs
 Policies & Procedures
 Financials
 Strategic Plan
 Board Overview
 Contact Information
 Board Calendar
 Past Agendas & Minutes
 E-governance
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

24. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
Consistent, quick, and accessible
Effective project management
Leverage technology (i.e. BoardEffect®)
E Governance
– Internal websites
– Email
– Teleconference calls
– Web conference calls
– Listservs
– Discussion boards
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

25. MEETINGS & GATHERINGS
Annual board social gathering (wine &
cheese, sporting event, bbq, etc.)
Facility tour
Board buddy meetings
Staff one-on-one
Strategic Planning
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

26. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 Critical for success
 In-services or required professional
development
 Hire outside facilitator
 Examples:
– Financial management
– Communications
– Fundraising
– Leadership
– Programs
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

27. SELF EVALUATION
 Individual performance
 Board performance: meetings, decision-
making, etc.
 Chair/President performance
 Committee performance
 Executive Director performance
 Organizational performance
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

28. RECOGNITION
Share organizational successes
Connect successes to board work
Highlight individual
accomplishments
Proper recognition at term’s end
Stay connected
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

29. CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Don’t be afraid of conflict!
What is the process for
conflict resolution?
Don’t take it personally
What is best for the
mission?
How will you demonstrate
excellent leadership?
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

30. Before You Join a Board…
• Set yourself up for success
• Know that it is about the mission
• Be aware of the time commitment
• Review your responsibilities and
expectations
• Review the policies and procedures
• Review their financials
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

31. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• BoardSource
• Nonprofit Associations
• Independent Sector
• Society of Nonprofit
Organizations
• Idealist.org
• BoardEffect
• Alltop Nonprofit
• IdeaEncore
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

32. THANK YOU!
Emily Davis, MNM
EDA Consulting LLC
(720) 515-0581
emily@edaconsulting.org
www.edaconsulting.org
www.edaconsulting.org/blogs
www.Facebook.com/edanpoconsulting
Twitter: @edaconsulting
8/1/2012 www.edaconsulting.org

33. Find listings for our current season
of webinars and register at:
NonprofitWebinars.com
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