Tag Archive for: governance

How to Invite with Intention

Happy Fall!! As the leaves turn and sweaters come out, many nonprofits get ready for board elections and new terms. Has your organization considered how to invite with intention? If not I encourage you to set aside time at your next meeting to consider the key priorities facing your organization, how your board can support these priorities, and what are the just right candidates to support that work. Do you need great communicators, strategic thinkers, or negotiators? Is it time for content experts to take the stage or connectors to cultivate new relationships?

I find there are Ten Key Steps for Strategic Board Recruitment. Take a peek at the list, identify how to invite with intention as you look toward recruiting new candidates, and please reach out if I can help along the way.

Learn, Leverage, Lead

Sit back and think about your last board meeting. Maybe you can remember the agenda items, perhaps you explored a significant issue facing your organization, and possibly you discussed a pressing question for your nonprofit.

Was the meeting engaging for those in the room? Was it well attended? Did each board member feel prepared for the discussion and decision making? Were folks comfortable speaking up, asking questions, sharing unpopular points of view, providing a critical eye?

Board meetings should reflect the mission, culture and priorities of your nonprofit organization. They should focus on strategic priorities and cultivate meaningful participation from a diverse leadership group.

Each board meeting provides an opportunity to learn, leverage and lead. If you’d like to explore how to strengthen your own meeting practices, please connect with me.

Certainty in Uncertain Times

In times of chaos and uncertainty, we often strive to find control in the quest for certainty. As nonprofit organizations, many factors remain just out of control at most times like public policy and the economy. As leaders, where can you find certainty. I encourage you to start the year with certainty and clarity around your organizational mission statement.

Maintaining a clear mission statement for the organization is a key responsibility of the board of directors. When was the last time your board visited the mission statement? Does it clearly state the purpose behind your work and what you do? Is it in plain language or does it rely on jargon or terms of art? I encourage you to check out this great resource from TopNonprofits, Guide to Creating Mission & Vision Statements.

A clearly defined mission statement will serve as the foundation for program development, board governance and recruitment, communications, strategic planning, and more. Consider a check in to evaluate your mission statement at your next board meeting. Want to learn more? Let’s connect and explore how certainty in your mission statement can enhance your capacity in these uncertain times to focus on progress.