smorgasBoard Newsletter

In this issue:

Survey says...

United Way names CEO

Familes First welcomes new VP Resource Development

PC(USA) names first head of Communciations & Funds Development

Clean AIr Campaign selects Executive Director

Five new assignments:

The Fine Art Center
Fund for Theological Education
USO
INROADS
Madison-Morgan Cultural Center

Ongoing assignments

Other news & conferences of note

smorgasBoard - bits and bites about nonprofit boards and leadership

April highlights:
Your responses to our survey on board effectiveness,
as well as information on
four new placements,
five new assignments and
other happenings on the BoardWalk.

As always, thanks for your role in building strong foundations for nonprofits! Ž

April 30, 2007

Survey says...
Boards are held in high esteem--
by fellow board members!

In our last issue of smorgasBoard, we asked readers a few quick questions on board service as they actually experienced it. About 2/3 of our respondents answered in their role as board members; the balance were staffers.

Asked to rate their board's effectiveness on a scale of 1-6 (where 1 = irrelevant and 6 = indispensable), 40% of responding board members gave themselves one of the top two ratings. Unfortunately, just under 30% of staff members agreed.

One thing they did agree on: A majority of board and staff members give their own boards middling grades for effectiveness. Clearly, both board and staff members see lots of room for improvement in the way their boards function.

Read more findings from our recent board survey ť

United Way of Metro Atlanta names Milton Little its new CEO

Milton J. Little, Jr., currently president and chief executive officer of Boston-based United Way of Massachusetts Bay, serving Boston and over 60 other cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts, has been named the next President and Chief Professional Officer of United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. Mr. Little will assume his new position in mid-July, succeeding Mark O'Connell as head of one of the country's largest and most impactful United Way affiliates.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College, Mr. Little will be the first African-American to lead Atlanta's United Way. BoardWalk is pleased to have conducted the search that led to his appointment.

Read the full announcement ť

Denise Lawrence joins
Families First as
VP for Resource Development

Families First, a cornerstone in Atlanta's family services arena, has hired Denise Lawrence as the new VP for Resource Development. Although her most recent responsibilities have been in development, Denise also brings to Families first a substantive background in communications and public relations.

She describes her fundraising persona as a "creative strategist," guiding the organization's development efforts while supporting board members and the executive director. Over time she has learned that fundraising is not a "one size fits all process," which is what probably continues to stimulate her creative nature.

Read more about Families First ť

Presbyterian Church (USA) selects Karen Schmidt to be first head of
Communications & Funds
Development

Karen Schmidt has been named Deputy Executive Director for Communications and Funds Development by the General

Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (USA). This marks the third search assignment we have completed in the past year for the national church.

"Karen has tremendous expertise in strategic and effective communication," noted GAC Executive Director Linda Valentine, herself the result of a BoardWalk search. "I'm impressed by Karen's deep sense of call and the versatility she has demonstrated in combining excellence in sales, marketing, communication and strategic business development."

Read the full announcement ť

Chamber veteran Kevin Green
to lead
The Clean Air Campaign

Clean Air Campaign, Georgia's largest nonprofit focused on reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality, has named Kevin Green, a regionally prominent of environmental policy, as its next Executive Director.

Kevin Green is currently Vice President of Environmental Policy with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, where he works to advance regional policy initiatives for water resources, air quality and land use. His role at the Chamber led to his involvement with The Clean Air Campaign, where he has served on the nonprofit's board of directors for four years.

Read the full announcement ť

New assignments on the BoardWalk...

The board of directors of The Fine Art Center/ Bascom-Louise Gallery, based in Highlands, NC, has committed to a multimillion-dollar expansion of facilities and programs. In contemplation of becoming the most exciting art resource in north Georgia and the western North Carolina mountains, The Fine Art Center has engaged BoardWalk to assess its leadership and governance needs.

Mandate: Needs assessment
Status: 1st Stage: Project launched; informational interviews being conducted with relevant parties

The Fund for Theological Education offers support to encourage caring, capable and courageous young adults from diverse backgrounds and from all denominations on their journey to become pastors and scholars. To date, over 5600 fellowships have been awarded to the next generation of church leaders.

Mandate: President
Status: Phase 1: Search just launched; write-up pending

Following our successful session in March with the worldwide board of directors, the USO has asked BoardWalk to facilitate the development of a strategic plan that will help harness the leadership resources of this global operation as effectively as possible.

Mandate: Strategic planning facilitation
Status: 1st Stage: Project launched; informational interviews being conducted with relevant parties

INROADS is a national nonprofit committed to developing talented minority youth in business and industry, preparing them for corporate and community leadership.

Mandate: Search for Senior VP, Human Resources & Training
Phase 2: Prospects being developed; inquiries welcomed.

The Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, in Madison, Georgia, combines a rare treasure of the past with an active commitment to the future. The Center resides in a old Romanesque Revival red brick building which was constructed in 1895. Today, The Center serves as a resource not only for the Piedmont area but for the entire region.