As a facilitator, I am privileged to meet amazing leaders and families and learn about their story. The remarkable Plantz family chose to honor the legacy of their son and brother Zac by forming a foundation with a vision to build communities by shepherding the odd man out. The foundation invests in young people by providing them with opportunities to grow academically, socially, and spiritually as they set out to establish inspiring legacies of their own. It was my great honor to meet this special family and facilitate their Board retreat.
I recently appeared on the Grant Writing and Funding podcast with host Holly Rustick. We had a wonderful conversation around How Habits Impact an Executive Director’s Fundraising and Philanthropy. We touched on topics including setting expectations with Board members, providing meaningful support, and creating a culture of accountability. Give us a listen!
A web site is a window into the vision, mission, values, and impact of your nonprofit. It represents an opportunity for people to learn about your organization and explore the many ways in which they might engage with you in order to amplify your impact. However, many nonprofit leaders have experienced difficulty and frustration in securing funding to develop or reimagine their web site. Andrea Shirey of One Nine Design has written an outstanding article that shares 7 Best Practices to Successfully Write a Grant Proposal for a New Nonprofit Website. Click below to check it out!
Please join me at the Idaho Nonprofit Center virtual conference August 30 - September 1. I will be presenting a breakout session entitled Finding Your North Star Through Strategic Planning on Tuesday, August 30th. I would love to see you online!
Join me for a FREE upcoming event sponsored by Keela!
Nonprofits are always the first to step up when the need arises. Yet, for all the good that you do, there comes a time when you need to think beyond each campaign and giving season and work towards positioning your organization for continued, long-term success.
Join me on August 15th for Day 1 as me and my fellow panelists review tips on engaging your donor through the economic crisis, and how nonprofit leaders can mitigate the impact.
Leading a nonprofit is more enjoyable when you have a community of friends, colleagues, and fellow leaders around you to share the joys and challenges. Nonprofit Vision podcast is that community! With 2 new episodes published each month, join us as we discuss the issues that are most critical for nonprofit leaders today. Episodes are available on our web site at the link below or on your favorite podcast platform. Share the podcast with fellow leaders in your network as we continue to grow our community!
Nonprofit leadership is exhilarating, occasionally frustrating, and sometimes frighteningly lonely. The good news is you are not alone. The Nonprofit Vision podcast is your opportunity to hear from other nonprofit leaders, consultants, and others about topics that matter to you. Is there a topic you want to hear more about? Let us know! Join our online community, participate in the conversation, and subscribe to our Nonprofit Vision podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Proposed legislation working its way through Congress right now could dramatically alter the philanthropy landscape, and bring about significant changes that reverberate through the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Honored to present a webinar on the Latest in Donor Advised Fund (DAF) and Foundation Reform Proposals for LawPracticeCLE. You can access the webinar either live on April 6, 2022 from 2pm-3pm ET or on demand.
Excited to join a talented panel tomorrow for a free discussion-style event sponsored by Keela entitled “The Secret to Successful Nonprofit Leadership.” Fellow panelists Sabrina Walker Hernandez, Sean Kosofsky, and I will discuss how nonprofit leaders can improve their decision-making skills, navigate current challenges and set themselves up for long-term success. This session is an excellent opportunity to get answers to any questions you have about board fundraising, imposter syndrome, decision-making, compliance, or any specific nonprofit leadership issues. Click below to register for free and hope to see you tomorrow!
A Board retreat presents an opportunity for Board members to lift their gaze, reconnect to the mission of the organization, and focus on critical priorities and opportunities that lie ahead. It was a privilege to facilitate a Board retreat with the leaders of The Westhaven Foundation. The mission of The Westhaven Foundation is to serve the community through financial support and volunteerism and to be a catalyst to help others in the community conduct programs of their own.
From Board retreats to strategic planning and conference keynotes to coaching, we are grateful for the memories and relationships of 2021. NTC was privileged to work with organizations in more than 13 different States last year, and we continue to be awed by the leadership of nonprofits and honored by those who have chosen us as their partner. We are excited by the opportunities and challenges ahead in 2022 and ready to hit the ground running!
Asking for and accepting donations often raises unexpected ethical dilemmas. I invite you to join me this Wednesday, December 8 for a FREE webinar sponsored by DCM Associates to learn what some of those dilemmas might be, how to deal with them, and how to implement best practices to ensure that your organization maintains a stellar reputation for ethical fundraising.
Honored to be a guest on The Nonprofit Show. I invite you to check out the video for a fun and engaging discussion of the 5 habits of healthy Boards as well as tips and strategies for developing Board Champions.
Would your nonprofit ever decline a gift from a donor? Should you? Effective gift acceptance policies and practices provide vital guardrails for nonprofit Boards and staffs as they pursue gifts and other donations to advance their mission. Enjoyed leading this signature workshop yesterday for NonprofitWebAdvisor.
From Pocatello to Boise, Meridian to Coeur d'Alene, more than 400 #nonprofit leaders and Board members are attending this week's Idaho Nonprofit Center annual #conference. Honored to lead a session today entitled "Mission Ambassadors," where attendees developed their personal meaningful message and gained skills to serve as excited and effective ambassadors for their mission.
An engaged Board is essential to an effective fundraising program for nonprofits. Enjoyed leading a retreat this weekend with the Board of the Center for Positive Sexuality, an educational and research association with a mission to address social issues through sex positive research and education.
Excited to share that our podcast — Nonprofit Vision — has been named one of the Top 20 Nonprofit Leadership Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 by Feedspot! We are #8 on the list!
With over 80 episodes available, Nonprofit Vision presents informative and entertaining conversations spotlighting critical issues in nonprofit leadership with the visionaries who are addressing them. You can find Nonprofit Vision on the NTC web site or on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts, Google, Anchor, and more.
If you are already subscribed to the podcast, THANK YOU for helping us grow this special community of leaders! If you are not yet subscribed, check it out and let us know what you think. If you know of a nonprofit leader who might enjoy the podcast, please share it with them.
Calling all nonprofit leaders and Board members! I invite you to join me for 3 days of learning, relationship building, and thoughtful conversations at the upcoming Virtual Summit for Nonprofit Changemakers hosted by TopNonprofits. Just a few of the many highlights:
💥Dates: March 23-25
💥Approved by CFRE for up to 29 CE units
💥Keynote presentation from Vu Le
I will be leading a session on "Roads to Success for Nonprofit Mergers and Sustainable Collaborations." Join me there!
In Part 1 of this 2-part blog series, we explored the value of a Board Assessment as a tool for enhancing the health and performance of your Board. In Part 2, we will look at various methods of Board Assessment and address frequently asked questions to maximize the impact on your Board.
As with any project, when contemplating a Board Assessment, it is importnt to begin with the end in mind -- namely, what are you hoping to achieve through the effort? Generally speaking, assessments fall into one of two categories:
Individual Assessment
In an individual assessment, Board members reflect on their own performance as a member of the team. This provides an opportunity for members to consider questions such as:
Where have I made the most impact on the Board?
What experiences have I found most rewarding?
What aspects of governance have I found most challenging?
How do I feel my talents could be better utilized to benefit the team?
Often, you will find that Board members evaluate themselves far more critically than anyone else, but there is value in the enhanced self awareness. The benefit of an individual assessment is that Board leaders and the CEO gain vital insights into how best to put each member of the team in the best position to succeed.
Team Assessment
In a team assessment, Board members reflect on the performance of the team as a whole. This provides an opportunity for members to consider their view of the Board’s performance and effectiveness in key governance areas such as:
Policymaking
Planning
Fundraising
Ambassadorship
Financial and Programmatic Oversight
The Board can also weigh questions such as:
How do we feel about the size of the Board?
Do our meetings make good use of members’ time?
Is our committee structure aligned with our strategy?
Often, the greatest value of this process lies not in the instrument itself, but in the discussion that follows, as Board members take greater ownership of the leadership and functioning of their team. The Team Assessment also serves as a great tool for Board members to establish clear, actionable priorities and focus their efforts on defined opportunities for greater effectiveness.
Next, let’s address some frequently asked questions relative to Board Assessment:
How often should a Board undertake this assessment process?
I am a proponent of Boards undertaking a reflective or evaluative exercise of some kind on an annual basis, or at least every other year. Remember, there are different types of assessments, so you can vary it up and do an individual assessment one year and a team assessment the following year.
When is a particularly good time for a Board Assessment?
An annual Board retreat or the outset of a strategic planning process each represent a great opportunity to check-in on the health and performance of the Board. However, there is no bad time to step back and reflect on the effectiveness of the team!
How much time and effort should I spend researching various Board Assessments?
While you will find some meaningful differences between the various nonprofit Board Assessments available, you will find far more similarities. In my view, the greatest value of the assessment process lies in the facilitated discussion whereby the Board reflects on the results and establishes priorities. Therefore, time and effort is often better spent identifying a facilitator or trusted partner to guide your Board through this process in an effective way.
Whether you choose an individual or team assessment, your Board will find value in exploring ways in which they can tangibly improve their performance and culture as a team. If you have additional questions about Board Assessment, or would like to explore bringing the Nielsen Training & Consulting Signature Board Champions Assessment to your organization, please reach out to us at gregory@nielsenconsults.com.
Certain habits and routines are so familiar to us that we do them as a matter of practice. Once a year, it is recommended that we visit our doctor for a physical. Every 3,000 miles or so, we change the oil in our car. Every 6 months, we check the batteries in our smoke detectors at home. We don’t do these things because something is wrong or broken. Rather, we do them because there is value in checking in, value in a tune up, and value in establishing priorities for the future. Board assessment is similar in many ways.
In Part 1 of this 2-part blog series, explore the value of a Board Assessment as a tool for enhancing the health and performance of your Board. In Part 2, we will look at various tools and methods of Board Assessment and address frequently asked questions to maximize the impact on your Board.
Like any team, most nonprofit Boards will go through periods in which they are clicking on all cylinders and periods in which performance or effectiveness may dip. Just as having an annual physical may catch any symptoms of declining health at an early stage, so too can a Board Assessment help surface any early signals of declining effectiveness. A Board Assessment process offers the following benefits:
Greater Self Awareness
Boards are not able to address issues unless they first have a mechanism for identifying them. By providing Board members an opportunity to hold a mirror up to their own performance, a Board Assessment provides a safe and effective means of surfacing issues before they lead to conflict or dysfunction. Often, Board members will say during a discussion of the assessment results, “I had a feeling that was something we needed to address, but it is reassuring to see that others feel the same way.” On the flip side, a Board Assessment can also offer teams an opportunity to celebrate the areas in which they are thriving.
Alignment of Board Practices with Organizational Strategy
Boards, like nonprofit organizations themselves, proceed through stages of a life cycle. The practices of the Board of a fledgling nonprofit often differ from those of an established organization. Likewise, as the strategic priorities of a nonprofit evolve, so too must its Board habits to promote alignment and effectiveness. A Board Assessment helps align the priorities of the Board with the strategic imperatives of the organization.
Goal Setting
During Board retreats, I will often ask Board members, “What are your top priorities for the coming year as a Board?” Often, I will hear responses such as, “Be more engaged” or “Just be better.” While there is nothing wrong with these sentiments, they are akin to your doctor telling you at your physical to “Just be healthier.” The truth is that Boards have many responsibilities -- governance, fundraising, oversight, strategy, ambassadorship. It can seem overwhelming at times. A Board Assessment serves as an effective goal-setting process for Boards, helping members identify what’s important now (W.I.N.) and what 2-3 aspects of their governance responsibilities are most critical to address in the coming year. By providing tangible areas of focus and action steps, a facilitated Board Assessment can provide greater clarity and focus for your Board.
Be sure to check back for Part 2 of this blog series for discussion of the various types of Board Assessment and the benefits of each, along with answers to frequently asked questions! If you have additional questions about Board Assessment, or would like to explore bringing the Nielsen Training & Consulting Signature Board Champions Assessment to your organization, please reach out to us at gregory@nielsenconsults.com.