Does this conversation at the Board meeting
sound familiar?
"Well, because both Sue and Joe are moving
out of town, we need two new Board members starting in January... any ideas?"
"I could talk to my brother-in-law... he won't
do much, but when there's food involved, we could get him to arrange
free food and drinks."
"A woman at work asked about our group once
or twice... maybe she would be interested..."
"If we could get Ms. Lotta Bucks
interested, she could fund the whole thing for a year out of pocket change...
would be impressive for her to be on a 'Board'. Anybody know her?"
"OK... we need two warm bodies... let me know
in a week or two."
I hope not.
In fact, let me be more forceful... if this sounds familiar, it is no
surprise that your Non-Profit is struggling.
Let me put this statement in bold and
underline it. It is one of the Ten Commandments of the Non-Profit religion:
How
and who is chosen to sit on your Board will be the difference between success
and failure for the organization.
Why?
Because the Board is the group's first
team, the primary thinkers and doers. They have the group's mission in mind
whenever asked to attend a meeting, do a job, or vote on a decision or
direction for the group. In the beginning, their time and energy will multiply
yours. As you grow, their expertise and direction will help focus the group on
achieving its mission.
Selecting 'just anyone' means YOU have
extra work to do to cover their lack of work/enthusiasm/attendance. Selecting
well known people might get your organization known, but if things can't get
done, what is the value of being the best known local group who closed
up last year?
Get the idea by now?
So, how does a Non-Profit go about this
process and who is chosen?
In brief, prepare a 'dream team'. Who would be perfect for the Board if the
organization could choose its Board members?
Let's use an example of a Neighborhood
Improvement Program. Your Non-Profit might be looking for a 'dream team'
composed of:
A person who has lots of connections with
the City.
A person who knows how to get grant money
for your project.
A person who does well leading different
volunteer groups.
A person who is detailed with numbers and
forms and schedules.
A person who has access to top corporate
people and their funds.
A person who is expert at whatever you are
planning to do... landscaping, renovating buildings, gardens, fences... whatever.
And you.
Makes seven, which is a nice round number for a small Board. Five also works; three is too few; nine is
getting unwieldy.
So there's your dream team.
With this group, you could probably succeed
at every project that is part of the mission, since you're "covered" in every
skill position. And, with the corporate
person doing her thing and the grants person doing hers, and with the amazing
amount of talent on the Board... this is likely to be fiscally just fine.
People and foundations and grantors tend to
give money to groups who can show not only the desire to achieve their
goals, but the ability to make it happen. With a team like this dream
Board would exhibit, your Non-Profit shows proof positive that the homework has
been done, it knows what it takes to achieve the mission, and has selected
people who can get it done.
Now, the search is much more focused, and
the chances of convincing at least half of these folks to come on board is
realistic. Instead of Harry's brother-in-law, the word is out that you're
looking for a retired contractor who wants to help clean up the neighborhood. Instead of asking a neighbor, now Sue can
focus on her cousin, as a stay at home CPA is happy to use her year of
sabbatical to improve the neighborhood. And the City connection? Ask at the
city who has retired recently, maybe the ombudsman, a public relations officer,
an administrative manager... after they take their six month vacation, in between
outings, you might just find that City connection.
Select a 'Dream team'. Focus. Achieve!
Good Morning, Sandy!
Thursday February 25th