Governance
Issues
Every Board needs to have a governance or nominating committee to recruit and orient new Board members, to establish roles and responsibilities, and to help Board members be better fundraisers. Good Board governance helps to create effective Board/staff working relationships.
Board Gap Assessment, Recruitment and Orientation
Clemow Consulting Group can help you create a survey for Board members to evaluate their own Board participation and to provide an appraisal of the group as a whole. With the results of the survey, the governance committee can look at the Board as a whole, assessing the individuals’ strengths and identifying the knowledge gaps in Board membership. Does a Board need more lawyers, more women, more marketing people or strategic thinkers? When those gaps have been identified, the governance committee can identify future Board members to fill those positions. The orientation is a necessary part of the recruitment process. New Board members must be introduced to the mission and culture of the organization by senior staff and senior Board members. It is helpful to visit some of the organizations’ sites and meet some of the clients that are being served. A Board manual of past minutes, policies and procedures and strategic plans may be valuable as well.
“One of the major points suggested by CCG was in the area of Board governance. Susan pointed out the importance of analyzing our Board of Directors to see whether we had the skills and talents that we needed. As a result of that analysis, we are gathering a superb group of Board members. CCG has been of immense help to Noah Webster House.”
Janet Tracy
President of the Board
Noah Webster House
Board Roles and Responsibilities
CCG can work with the governance committee to come up with the roles and responsibilities of individual Board members and the Board as a whole. Results from the Board survey are likely to be helpful here. It is important that the Executive Committee of the Board reinforces the expectations of Board membership.
Board Fundraising Opportunities
In this competitive fundraising environment, it is important that Board members actively participate in soliciting individual, corporate and foundation donors. CCG has done many solicitation trainings for Board members. It is important to help every Board member participate in fundraising in a way that is comfortable for them. CCG finds out where each Board member fits on the fundraising continuum either as a “thanker,” “ambassador” or “asker.” CCG has had great success in helping people feel comfortable about asking for money. We have also been able to help find, through the recruitment process, Board members who are experienced in fundraising.
Create Effective Staff/Board Relationships
CCG has been asked to help organizations work through staff/Board conflicts to make the organization stronger and more able to carry out its mission. One of the ways to do this is to have both sides clear about job descriptions, roles and responsibilities. We have been successful in helping the Board and senior staff to see the other side’s perspective and work in partnership to meet the goals of the organization.