Nonprofit Management
7 Essentials for Working Effectively with Your Board
January 17, 2017
The short answer: Working well with your nonprofit board comes down to clarity, open communication, and treating the relationship as a true partnership. Set a shared vision and written guidelines early, send a clear agenda before every meeting, and keep the lines open in both directions. When you raise a problem, bring a proposed solution with it, delegate real work to the people you recruited, and remember that you and the board are one team chasing the same mission.
How do you work effectively with a nonprofit board?
Start with a shared vision and written guidelines so everyone knows the expectations before any problems come up. Communicate openly, prepare a clear agenda for each meeting, and treat the board as partners rather than an audience to manage. Bring solutions when you bring problems, lean on members for their networks and skills, and keep trust at the center of the relationship.
What should a board meeting agenda include?
List the most important items that genuinely need discussion, the specific questions that need answers, and a little open time for brainstorming. Send it to every member ahead of the meeting so they can review the topics and arrive prepared. A written agenda respects your members' time and keeps the meeting on schedule instead of winging it.
Why should you ask board members for feedback before a full meeting?
Talking to a few members individually lets you test an idea before you present it to the whole group. Not everyone sees things the way you do, and a quiet conversation surfaces concerns or improvements early. By the time you bring the idea to the full board, it is stronger and you already know where people stand.
How should you bring a problem to your board?
Think it through first and come up with one or two solid solutions before you raise it. Problems are part of running a nonprofit and cannot always be avoided, so the goal is to present them with a path forward. Your board will appreciate that you have ideas ready and will trust your judgment more because of it.
What kinds of tasks can you delegate to your board?
Ask members to make introductions that expand your constituent base, and enlist them for events, fundraising, and volunteer recruitment. You have a board precisely because one person cannot do everything alone. Members were chosen for their skills and networks, so put those strengths to work on planning and outreach.
How do you build trust between an executive director and the board?
Be honest with your board and resolve personal issues quickly before they fester. Remember that you are part of the team too, not separate from it, and that everyone shares the same mission. When individuals trust one another and keep their relationships professional, the whole organization moves forward more smoothly.
- Set a clear vision and establish guidelines from the beginning.
Don’t wait until there’s a problem to set clear guidelines. If you have the opportunity to be involved with structuring the board and selecting members, make sure you include anything and everything that could be a potential issue in a written document or charter. Select board members who share your vison and have common values. Look for people who aren’t afraid to be in opposition when necessary, but aren’t unnecessarily negative and divisive. Balance is key when choosing a cohesive group of people to steer an organization in the right direction. Focus on every detail right from the beginning, and avoid major issues in the future.
- Have a clear agenda typed out and ready before every board meeting.
Typically it’s a good idea to have a very clear agenda to follow. Provide an agenda to every member of the board prior to the meeting, so they can review discussion points and be prepared. Your board members most likely have other commitments and their time is valuable. Don’t waste their time and yours by winging it. Choose the most important items needing discussion. List questions that need answering, and leave a little time for brain-storming. This format will keep your meetings on time and running smoothly.
- Keep the lines of communication open.
Be available for comments and suggestions and keep an open mind. Let your board know you’re flexible when it comes to different ways to tackle goals and meet objectives. Make yourself available to discuss options, planning and action items. If a board member offers to help, use the opportunity to understand their perspective on your mission, and share your thoughts with them. Board members were selected based on their skills and experience. Take the time to learn from them, you might be surprised how much they have to offer.
- Ask for feedback from individual board members before presenting to everyone.
You have a great idea and you can’t wait to take it to the board, get their unanimous approval and move forward. It’s great to have this type of enthusiasm, but remember not everyone sees things the exact way you do. A great way to vet an idea before presenting it, is to ask a few board members individually for their thoughts and feedback. This can help you test the waters before throwing it out there in front of everyone at once.
- If you have to bring a problem to the boards attention have a proposed solution ready too.
Problems are part of running a non-profit organization, they can’t be avoided. If the problem is big enough that you must share it with the board, think it through. Come up with one or two solid solutions before you even bring it to their attention. They’ll be grateful you have some ideas for them, and impressed with your problem-solving skills.
- Delegate tasks and planning to the board.
You have a board because it’s impossible for you to do everything yourself. Effective planning and implementation are critical to completing tasks and soliciting outside contributions. Board members have a network of friends and associates. Ask them to make introductions for you, so you can expand your own constituent base. Enlist your board members for events, fund-raising and volunteer recruitment. Having support from your board is fundamental to your success.
- Remember you and the board are members of the same team. You all share the same mission.
For you and the board to work effectively together, you’ll have to operate as a team. Remember as an executive director, or non-profit manager you’re an important part of that team. Be honest with your board. Resolve personal issues quickly. Individuals should trust one another and have professional relationships that support the mission of the organization.
How do you work effectively with a nonprofit board?
Start with a shared vision and written guidelines so everyone knows the expectations before any problems come up. Communicate openly, prepare a clear agenda for each meeting, and treat the board as partners rather than an audience to manage. Bring solutions when you bring problems, lean on members for their networks and skills, and keep trust at the center of the relationship.
What should a board meeting agenda include?
List the most important items that genuinely need discussion, the specific questions that need answers, and a little open time for brainstorming. Send it to every member ahead of the meeting so they can review the topics and arrive prepared. A written agenda respects your members' time and keeps the meeting on schedule instead of winging it.
Why should you ask board members for feedback before a full meeting?
Talking to a few members individually lets you test an idea before you present it to the whole group. Not everyone sees things the way you do, and a quiet conversation surfaces concerns or improvements early. By the time you bring the idea to the full board, it is stronger and you already know where people stand.
How should you bring a problem to your board?
Think it through first and come up with one or two solid solutions before you raise it. Problems are part of running a nonprofit and cannot always be avoided, so the goal is to present them with a path forward. Your board will appreciate that you have ideas ready and will trust your judgment more because of it.
What kinds of tasks can you delegate to your board?
Ask members to make introductions that expand your constituent base, and enlist them for events, fundraising, and volunteer recruitment. You have a board precisely because one person cannot do everything alone. Members were chosen for their skills and networks, so put those strengths to work on planning and outreach.
How do you build trust between an executive director and the board?
Be honest with your board and resolve personal issues quickly before they fester. Remember that you are part of the team too, not separate from it, and that everyone shares the same mission. When individuals trust one another and keep their relationships professional, the whole organization moves forward more smoothly.