Is Consensus Our Board Goal?

How many “real decisions” did your board make in the past year, beyond the budget and any routine signoffs that various funders might require? Do you ever wonder whether your primary goal, as a board, is to help lead the organization or to be sure everyone gets along and is not offended by a decision or position of the organization?

When I speak with board members of various nonprofit organizations, it seems pretty typical for many boards to go for months, even years, without posing a true decision for the board. How could this be? 

I regularly hear comments like: 

·         We always approve everything unanimously

·         It is uncomfortable to disagree

·         Decisions are made before the issue comes to the board

·         The board shouldn’t be just a rubber stamp

In contrast, I am supporting an organization through a strategic planning process who perceived everyone on the board was in general agreement and had full understanding of their program model and organizational priorities until they got into the planning kickoff discussion. Underlying perceptions and assumptions have come to light and now can be more clearly defined and stated.

If you are a CEO or board leader, these possibilities can feel uncomfortable because it can be difficult to actually get things done if every  decision is opened up to broad discussion. In addition, board members are usually not “experts” on the particular topic at hand and it takes time to appropriately equip your board team to have critical discussion and make important decisions.

A Starting Point:

·         Confirm what authority the staff leader has to make decisions – most organization decisions should be made by the CEO/Executive Director within the constraints of the budget and strategic plan

·         With the full board, define the expectations of the Executive Committee in determining what discussions and decisions come to the board. Define what decisions, if any, the Executive Committee will make.

·         Focus board discussions around future issues and high level discussions of who you serve and how you allocate resources to best accomplish your mission.

·         Don’t bring a decision to the board for approval if the CEO/Executive Director has the authority to make the decision – put it in the CEOs Report as an FYI

·         Clarify what your bylaws say about making decisions. Most boards make most decisions with the majority of members in attendance(assuming quorum). Learn to disagree with each other respectfully and allow time for discussion separate from the decision.

·         How can you better equip your board members to understand the people you serve and the way you do your work?  They will make better decisions and share your story with more confidence and clarity.

·         Do not get stuck in consensus or unanimous mode, because it can empower one or two individuals to control the destiny of the organization by withholding their votes.

·         It is important for board members who disagree to be willing to support the decision after their perspective has been acknowledged and considered.

By Bryan Orander, President, Charitable Advisor and Not-for-Profit News

Welcome to the Age of the New Normal (www.Guidestar.org )

Partly due to the Great Recession, partly due to rapid advances in technology, and in part due to changes in our cultural norms, we have entered into the Age of the New Normal. And this New Normal is affecting every facet of how nonprofit organizations conduct their businesses, from raising funds to using new technologies to workplace issues.

To stay current and viable as an organization in this Age of the New Normal, here are just a few of the questions that need answers:

· How dependent are we on government funding?

· Do we still believe that marketing and branding would make us look too much like the for-profit sector?

· Are we still trying to raise money under the rubric of being a "charity that makes a difference"?

· How well do we collect and leverage our data?

· How well do our employees work together, especially employees from different age groups?

· Are we getting the most out of our volunteers?

· What about our use of technology?

Read the “right answers” in the full article.

How could 'Walking for Dreams 2011' benefit your Organization?

Last year, 30 nonprofits recruited over 1000 walkers and raised more than $91,000. Over the past 8 years, close to 100 different organizations have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, in total.

I (Bryan) have been involved since the 2nd or 3rd year walking for several different organizations. I think of 'Walking for Dreams' as the walk-a-thon event for organizations who: 1) aren't big enough to do their own event or 2) don't want to spend valuable volunteer or staff time on event organizing, or 3) want to gather a group of their supporters around fund raising for one particular program.

Here's how it works: There is a $300 upfront fee but then the Sycamore Foundation plans, manages, and runs the event. They even provide an on-line donation website where your walkers can form teams and receive donations. All your nonprofit does is solicit walkers to participate and raise funds for your organization. Whether you have 5 walkers or 50, it is a fun event and can raise a meaningful amount of money for the effort you invest.

Promoted as the 'Walking for Dreams Family and Pet 5k Walk', the event encompasses just a couple hours of a beautiful Sunday afternoon on the scenic Canal Walk downtown. The energy is terrific, the colors are bright, the faces are happy. Each organization is assigned a table to greet and gather their walkers plus promote their organization to others in attendance. Everyone steps out together and then winds their way through the walk route and back to food and festivities at their own pace.

A Walk-a-thon event is a great way to introduce people to your organization, a good strategy to give reluctant board members or staff a 'safe' way to talk about your organization with friends and family, and a nice time for social connection between people who care about your organization.

To learn more or get signed up for the May 22, 2011 event, plan to attend the informational meeting on Friday, January 14 at 8:30 AM at the Irvington Office Center (338 S. Arlington Avenue).  For more details you can also visit www.WalkingforDreams.org or call 317-260-0669.
Bryan

BEST of 2010 in Not-for-Profit News

As the publisher of the Not-for-Profit News and a consultant with nonprofits in leadership transition, I have the benefit of seeing and reading much of the latest thinking around how nonprofits work and we try to share it with our readers. As we wrap up 2010, I took a few minutes to look back through the articles we featured this year that received great feedback from readers and/or resonated with what I am hearing through multiple channels. Each introduction either links to the article on our blog or another source.

In chronological order

Practical

1 ) Ten Quick Ways to Invigorate Board Meetings - Jan Masaoka of Blue Avocado

2) Does Your Board Use Executive Sessions? Jan Masaoka of Blue Avocado.

3) What Really Works In Building a Strong Board? - Mary Hiland, Ph.D of Hiland Associates in California.

4) Is Your Board Bowling Or Playing Golf? – Bryan

5) Register for the 2011 Central Indiana Board Chair Summit - January 21, 2011, presented by Peace Learning Center and Lacy Leadership Association. FMI, or Nancy Larner Ruschman at 317-327-7144.


Thinking

6) Nonprofit Sabbaticals Improve Organizational Capacity

7) How Many Board Treasurer’s Do You Need? – Bryan – Not just for dollars $$ -

8) Can Nonprofit Leaders Consider Retirement Again? – Bryan

9) School’s Out for Summer - An Introduction to Internships for Your Nonprofit – On November 3, we partnered with Indiana InternNet and United Way of Central Indiana to provide an introduction and training session to 50 nonprofit leaders with the hope of increasing the use of interns by nonprofits. FMI, go to www.indianaintern.net or contact Pam Norman.

Research

10) Central Indiana Nonprofit Salary Report – Bryan with Jim Morris, Pendula Consulting - www.CINSS.org

11) The BoardSource Nonprofit Governance Index 2010

Rants

12) The Annual Misperception of Charitable Priorities – Bryan

Should Your Nonprofit Exist Forever?

Two stories in the past couple weeks have reminded me of this interesting discussion. One was by Nancy Lublin, the serial nonprofit founder and leader who now leads Do Something and writes a regular column for a BUSINESS magazine. In the latest edition of Fast Company www.FastCompany.com, Ms Lublin advocates for organizations that address their issue and then celebrate and close. She shares some examples of organizations that she feels have not served the charity world well by allowing their mission to expand and lose focus after they essentially solved the problem they were created to address. Why Charities Should Have an Expiration Date.

On a somewhat related note, a recent edition of the Chronicle of Philanthropy www.Philathropy.com featured a story on two nonprofits that were created with limited lifetimes of 10 years or so. The leaders of those organizations emphasize the energy and momentum that can be created by a deadline, and the impact it has in motivating funders and donors, increasing collaboration, and reducing perceived competition with other nonprofits. Charities With an Expiration Date Hurry to Make a Lasting Mark.

I think this is a particularly interesting conversation because so many nonprofits have set very broad, aspirational goals that they know they can never actually achieve themselves. Should our goal be to make a meaningful difference in a burst of activity and impact to move the issue forward or settle for struggling along for an extended period of time wondering if we are truly making a difference? I suspect there is a broad spectrum of possibilities and every organization and cause will fit a different place. By their nature, some organizations are designed to exist to serve a need or audience indefinitely while others are more a project or idea that comes to life and then struggles to perpetuate itself - which are you?

Bryan

Register for the 2011 Central Indiana Board Chair Summit

After a very successful inaugural event in 2010, the Central Indiana Board Chair Summit continues on January 21, 2011!

This exciting event is created specifically for community leaders serving as executives on non-profit boards and non-profit executive staff. As a community leader, you have the opportunity to transform the nonprofit and community landscape by being a part of the 2nd Annual Central Indiana Board Chair Summit which will take place January 21, 2011 in Indianapolis. Peace Learning Center www.peacelearningcenter.org and Lacy Leadership Association
www.lacyleadership.org are partnering to bring you this exciting event.

The 2011 Summit will include opening remarks from Brian Payne, president of The Indianapolis Foundation and Central Indiana Community Foundation; the featured presentation by Dr. Kent Keith, CEO of The Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership and author of "Servant Leadership in the Boardroom: Fulfilling the Public Trust," in addition to roundtable discussions and a panel presentation from experienced board chairs.

To learn more about Dr. Keith's forthcoming book, read an excerpt here.

Mark your calendars for January 21- we would love to see your organization represented!

Registration Details: Friday, Jan 21, 2011 from 7:30am - Noon at The Athenaeum, downtown Indy Cost: $49/person

For a more detailed agenda and to register, go here.

or contact Nancy Larner Ruschman at nruschman@peacelearningcenter.org or
317-327-7144.

Tell Us How Your Nonprofit is Doing (Update to Spring 2009 Survey)

As our long-time readers know, we see one of our key roles as helping to inform our nonprofit community about what other nonprofits are doing. As the general economy shows signs of emerging from the recession, we want to hear what you are seeing and doing as an update to our survey in the Spring of 2009. We really need your input by Friday, December 10.

Following is a short, 19 question, multiple choice survey. Most questions are focused on 2010 and plans for 2011 - with a few questions about what you have done since mid-2008 to deal with the recession.

Though some of the information may seem detailed, we have attempted to structure it so you can answer off the top of your head without any research. Don’t hesitate to skip a question. We would appreciate just one leader from your organization filling out the survey - Exec Dir/CEO/COO/CFO/Bd Chair or Treasurer.

Please complete our on-line survey by clicking here.

Thank you for your time,

Bryan