1. Board Governance October, 2018 Shelley Brown, shelleycbrown@aol.com
Kevin Gardner,

2. Topics Board Roles & Responsibilities Common Shortcomings
The Board vs Individual Board Members
Roles of Members & Officers
Orientation & Onboarding
Committees
Better Board Meetings
Managing & Motivating Board Members
Board Online Library
Board Self-Assessments
The Board’s Role in Fundraising
Board Resources

3. Board Roles & Responsibilities
Mission, purpose & goals
Hiring & support the ED (includes performance reviews, management)
Provide financial oversight
Ensure adequate resources (fundraising)
Ensure legal & ethical integrity and maintain accountability
Ensure effective organizational planning
Recruit & orient new board members (includes board assessment)
Enhance the organization's public standing
Determine, monitor & strengthen the organization's programs and services

4. Common Board Shortcomings
1. Veering off the mission 2. Complacency 3. Misguided motivations 4. Multiple voices 5. Micromanaging 6. Limitless terms 7. Lawless governance 8. No self-assessment 9. Lack of self-improvement 10. Knotted purse strings

5. The Board vs Individual Board Members
Board of Directors
Individual Board Members
Governance
Support
Authority comes from the Board as a body
Board members act as Individuals
The Board is the ED’s boss
Individual board members act with and often under the direction of staff
The Board represents your community’s interests to CASA
Individual board members represent CASA’s interests to the community
Big decisions: mission, merging
Legal & CASA compliance
Financial oversight
Selecting the ED
Planning & budgeting
Advice
Supporting the revenue strategy, fundraising, etc.
Ambassadors
Volunteering

6. Roles of Board Members & Officers
Individual Board Members
Attendance (board, committee, events)
Participation (voice, skills, influence)
Fiduciary responsibilities
Fundraising (including a personal financial contribution)
Education
Other (Nomination of Board Members, Agency Ambassador & Steward)
Board Chair
Runs meetings (prepares agenda with ED & Executive Committee)
Oversees ED management
Consults/Meets with board members on their performance, satisfaction, etc.
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer/CFO
Executive Committee

7. Orientation & Onboarding
ELECTION
Orientation (overview, bylaws, plans, financials, policies, mtgs/cmte, calendar)
Volunteer Recruiting session
Court
Visit
Board Mentor
Committee Assignment
Expectations & Commitment
Vickie

8. Committees Executive Finance Governance Fund Development
Event Committee
Audit
Marketing
Human Resources
Strategic Planning
Outreach & Volunteer Recruiting

9. Better Board Meetings
Balance reports with generative discussions
Involve Everyone
Include exciting speakers
Start every meeting with an inspiring story
Remember stay on task and stick to times
Ask a board member to review the meeting
Agenda should identify items as Information, Action, Discussion
Consent Agenda
packet
Be prepared
Avoid overly procedural mtgs
Hold an executive session at every meeting

10. Managing & Motivating Ask current board member’s feedback
Call a board member who missed a meeting
Don’t forget to thank or recognize your board
Honor your board members
Use nametags, detailed roster
Conduct board orientations and assign board buddies
Schedule ongoing training
Set up social activities for the board
Conduct an annual Review
Acronym chart
Distribute News between mtgs
No Committee reports on agenda

11. Online Board Library
Introduction: Mission & Vision, Organization Description, Candidate Info Packet, Board Orientation (PPT)
Responsibilities: Board Job Description, Expectations Agreement, Meeting Schedule, Committees, Board Mentor Description
People: Board Roster, Board & Staff Bios, Board Demographics, Agency Org Chart, Board Member Terms, Meeting Attendance
Legal: Annual Tax Return 990, Bylaws, Annual Financial Audit, 2015 Rules of Court 5.655, Standards for Local CASA/GAL Programs, Insurance (D&O, General Liability, Property, Professional Liability)
Policies & Procedures: Financial Controls, Employee Handbook, Reimbursement Form, Conflict of Interest Form, Whistleblower Policy, Board Nominating Policy

12. Board Assessment & Evaluation
Gives individual board members an opportunity to reflect on their individual & collective responsibilities
Identifies different perceptions and opinions among board members
Points to questions/areas that need board attention
Serves as a springboard for board improvements
Increases the level of board teamwork
Provides an opportunity for clarifying mutual board and staff expectations
Demonstrate to the staff & others that accountability is an organizational value
Provide credibility with funders and other external audiences
Self-assessment is the best way to identify challenges and find lasting solutions to make your board better.

13. FUNDRAISING: Total Giving in 2017
Individuals, $ billion, 5.2% increase over 2016
Foundations, $66.90 billion, 6.0% increase over 2016
Bequests, $35.70 billion, 2.3% increase over 2016
Corporations, $20.77 billion, 3.9% increase over 2016
Source: GivingUSA 2018
Total giving: $410 billion
Talking Points: This pie chart shows the sources of all charitable gifts in the United States in As you can see, 71 percent of the money donated came from individuals, and 16 percent came from foundations. These numbers change little from year to year.

14. FUNDRAISING: The Board’s Responsibilities
Define or clarify the mission
Support organizational sustainability
Approve adequate budgets
Plan for the future of the organization
Be familiar with the overall fundraising plan
Participate in the fundraising process
Talking Points: In addition to working to fulfill the responsibilities of the board, each individual board member can be assigned fundraising duties as well. All board members should give a personal contribution to the organization. In addition to giving, board members can get involved by identifying, evaluating, and cultivating prospects; writing appeal letters to prospects; accompanying staff members on solicitations; writing annual appeal letters; organizing or attending special events; and thanking donors and keeping them connected to the organization.
While the board establishes policies and goals related to fundraising, members of the board are responsible for helping to implement these policies by participating in fundraising efforts.
Source: BoardSource

15. FUNDRAISING Individual Board Member Responsibilities
Make personal contributions
Identify, evaluate, and cultivate prospects
Attend face-to-face solicitations
Write appeal letters
Organize and attend special events
Thank donors
Talking Points: In addition to working to fulfill the responsibilities of the board, each individual board member can be assigned fundraising duties as well. All board members should give a personal contribution to the organization. In addition to giving, board members can get involved by identifying, evaluating, and cultivating prospects; writing appeal letters to prospects; accompanying staff members on solicitations; writing annual appeal letters; organizing or attending special events; and thanking donors and keeping them connected to the organization.
While the board establishes policies and goals related to fundraising, members of the board are responsible for helping to implement these policies by participating in fundraising efforts.
Source: BoardSource

16. FUNDRAISING: Stage One -- Cultivation
Identifying potential donors (prospects)
Building relationships with prospects
Generating interest in the organization
Showing prospects what the organization is all about – history, programs, finances, etc.
Show prospects
the facilities
Make personal contact with prospects
Share the history of the organization
Share their enthusiasm for the mission of the organization
Talking Points: The first stage of fundraising is cultivation. This is the time to introduce the organization to prospects and generate interest in giving.
Source: BoardSource

17. FUNDRAISING: Stage Two -- Solicitation
Presenting the organization’s case statement
Participating in one-on-one solicitation
Sending direct mail pieces with personalized notes
Making telephone solicitations
Notify the prospect
you are coming
Bring a staff member to answer specific questions
Research the donor’s giving history to determine the right ASK amount
Be enthusiastic and know the prospect’s interests in advance
Talking Points: Solicitation is asking the prospect for a donation. Solicitation can be as formal as a one-on-one meeting or as informal as a form letter. Remember that larger donations generally require more personalized solicitation approaches.
Source: BoardSource

18. FUNDRAISING: Stage Three -- Stewardship
Thanking donors and letting them know their gift made a difference
Maintaining donor relationships
Thank you letters
Donor recognition activities
Invitations to special events
Updates from the organization
Talking Points: An organization’s fundraising responsibilities are not over once it has received a donation from a donor. The final stage of fundraising is stewardship — thanking the donor and maintaining a relationship that keeps the donor connected to the organization. Let the donor know the gift was appreciated and that it made a difference to the organization. Keep major donors involved with the organization through invitations to special events or periodic updates from board members or senior staff members. By maintaining a relationship with previous donors, the organization increases its chance of receiving future gifts from these donors.
Source: BoardSource

19. Resources
NCASA: Look under Member Network Board Resources
BoardSource ( has many helpful publications & training materials
Center for Excellence in Non-Profits ( for training & consulting
Compasspoint ( for non-profit leaders & boards of directors
Look for non-profit journals (often free subscriptions): Such as
Look for other web sites:
Best of the Board Café: Hands-On Solutions for Nonprofit Boards by Jan Masaoka. Available from $35.95.
Ten Quick Ways to Invigorate Board Meetings, invigorate-board-meetings
Developing a Board Recruitment Plan,
Recruiting a Stronger Board: A BoardSource Toolkit, $30. From