Birth of The Super BoardAssembling a volunteer leadership team that is able to leap tall strategic goals in a cooperative effort is the way of the Super Board. How do you get one in this competitive world of volunteer shortages? Consider the following: Shoot for the stars: Choose 20 dream team board members (who might know someone who would be a good board member) to join you for a one-session committee meeting over lunch. At the lunch they'll be told more about the organization and what it's looking for in board members. At the end of lunch they'll be asked simply for the name of one person they think would be a good board member. Promote from within. Hands-on volunteers, such as support group facilitators, practical life support volunteers, meal preparers, weekend tree-planters, classroom aides and others bring both demonstrated commitment AND an intimate knowledge of the organization's strengths and weaknesses. Plus, fatal flaws are more likely to be exposed prior to handing your volunteer the keys to the board room. Extend Audiences. Pick four local organizations with appropriate mission connections, constituencies or other commonalities. Ask each board officer to call one of the four local organizations and ask to have coffee with the board president or the executive director. Over coffee suggest that your two organizations recommend "retiring" board members to each other as a way of establishing organizational links and strengthening ties among communities. When building a super board, size matters. New research from the National Center for Nonprofit Boards shows that the average number of board members is 19. A larger board (the largest in NCNB's study included 95 members) allows a wide cross-section of constituencies. A larger board may have more connections to raise money and may allow for more working committees. In most very large boards, an Executive Committee becomes the decision-making and governing body. Members of a smaller board can get to know each other more quickly and form more effective working relationships. A smaller board requires fewer staff to support its work, and so more board members may be able to have strong relationships with the staff management. No matter what your organization, a super board can make a difference in your organization. If you’d like support in creating your super board, regardless of the board you have now, contact John Brown Limited. We can help.
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June 2008:Archived Newsletters |
