When our firm begins a relationship with a new or prospective client, we often hear the same things over and over again from the staff of a non-profit organization. These include: “Our board members don’t attend meetings. Our board members are not engaged. Our board members don’t give to the organization. “ Conversely, from Board members we often hear: “I love the organization, but I’m not sure what they expect of me.” And, “I don’t know my terms of service. I don’t know how many times I can be (or have been) re-elected. I was asked to join the board, but no one told us how long we’d be on it.” A mutually enjoyable board-level relationship begins in the very first conversation about service. Here are five simple items the potential Board nominee and staff should discuss:
- Board members are expected to attend board meetings. It should be obvious, but absenteeism at board meetings is a major problem with many non-profits. If the board doesn’t have a quorum, they cannot conduct business or vote on any agenda item. Absenteeism is insulting to board members who do attend and wastes the time of volunteers and staff. OUR MESSAGE: If you agree to serve on the board, you’re agreeing to attend Board meetings. Show up!
- Board members are expected to give their time, talent, and treasure. It’s not a selection of one or the other, or even two of the three. OUR MESSAGE: If you’ve agreed to serve on a non-profit board, then your commitment means all three—time, talent and treasure. There’s an old fundraising adage: “Give, get, or get out of the way.” All board members should make an annual gift to the organization on whose board they serve. And if that organization’s board votes to launch a capital campaign, you’re obligated to make a special contribution. And once you’ve given, then it is expected that you will recruit others to contribute.
- Staff should offer a “Roles & Responsibilities” document to prospective board members. The R&R should include: terms of office, number of times that a board member can be re-elected (total board term), and the minimum annual contribution expected by a board member. The staff should also prepare the agenda and supporting documents at each board meeting, and have them available several days – a week, if possible – prior to the board meeting. OUR MESSAGE: Prepare and educate your board as to what you expect of them. A clear and concise document of expectations on the front end of a volunteer relationship will avoid heartburn and frustration during a board member’s tenure.
- Your board members are enthusiastic, but they don’t walk in the door with the same level of knowledge about the organization as the staff. OUR MESSAGE: Staff should offer continuing education on the mission and activities of the organization by scheduling a mission-related speaker or a stakeholder in the mission at each board meeting.
- Finally, if you haven’t addressed these issues with current board members, now is a good time to hit the “reset” button and create your own “Roles & Responsibilities” document to build a mutual understanding of expectations.
Need additional information on forging a productive, working-relationship between board members and staff members? The Columns Fundraising team will be glad to help!