1. Fundamentals of Board Development
Southern Center for Nonprofit Excellence
May 23, 2013 Webinar
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE
Stansbury Consulting LLC

2. “A good board is a victory not a gift.”
- Cyril O. Houle in Governing Boards
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

3. 10 Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Board
Determine Organization’s Mission/Purposes
Select Chief Executive
Support Chief Executive and Assess their Performance
Ensure Effective Organizational Planning
Ensure Adequate Resources
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

4. 10 Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Board
6. Manage Resources Effectively
7. Determine, Monitor and Strengthen the Organization’s Programs & Services
8. Enhance Organization’s Public Standing
9. Ensure Legal & Ethical Integrity and Maintain
Accountability
10. Recruit and Orient new Board Members and
Assess Board Performance
Source:
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

5. Low vs. High Performing Boards
Low Performing Board
High Performing Board
Here, now, & yesterdays
Mission driven/visionary
Reaction and after the fact
Strategic
Bogged down in minutiae
Big pictured focused
Driven to get along & go along
Driven to be cohesive & strong
Low level of commitment/motivation
Every Board member personally committed and motivated
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

6. Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE. 2013.
Board Role: Support
Raise money;
Bring clout to the organization;
Provide special skills (i.e. law or accounting);
Act as ambassadors to the community.
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

7. Board Role: Governance
Protect the public interest by:
Selecting the top executive & assessing his/her performance
Reviewing and authorizing plans and commitments
Ensuring compliance with legal and contract requirements;
Evaluating the organization’s work.
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

8. Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE. 2013.
Questions? Comments?
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

9. Why Boards don’t Govern
Over-reliance on staff
Lack of independent information
Unfamiliar with nonprofit management
ED doesn’t encourage Board independence
No personal stake in outcome/failure
Avoid tension and conflict
Guilt
By Jan Masaoka and Mike Allison ; adapted from “Taking Trusteeship Seriously”, University of Indiana
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

10. Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE. 2013.
Why Boards Fail
Lack of resources (money, time, staff, volunteers)
Too many goals
Lack of agenda and/or strategic plan
Incompatible with mission
Conflicts of interest
Robert Harris, Association Management
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

11. Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE. 2013.
Questions? Comments?
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

12. What Board members need to know about fundraising
Fundraising isn’t about money.
There is no shortage of donors.
They don’t have to solicit but they do have to give.
Make friends first.
Seek donors - not just donations.

13. Tips for Board to strengthen itself
Adopt Board member expectations including fundraising
Secure 100% giving
Utilize and enforce term limits
Prioritize year-round Board member identification & recruitment
Educate itself on nonprofit governance
Assess its own performance on regular basis
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

14. Tips for ED to strengthen Board
Provide Board orientation/on-going education
Build relationships with Board members.
Know their passion for your organization
Help each Board member find their role
Educate the Board about nonprofit governance
Support Board President/Chair
Prioritize time necessary for these activities
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

15. Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE. 2013.
Questions? Comments?
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE

16. Getting Board on Board You can do it! Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE
Stansbury Consulting LLC
(850)
Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE