I Didn’t Sign Up for This. Now What?
Being a board chair in ordinary times is challenging. There are numerous relationships to manage, meetings to co-design and lead, areas requiring oversight, and planning and evaluating to be...
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No Rest for the Weary: Where Do Nonprofit Boards Go From Here
Impressive. Since mid-March, your board chair and your CEO/ED have provided invaluable leadership. Attendance at your regular and emergency board meetings has never been better. Board members are engaged,...
[ read more ]Striking the Right Balance with Nonprofit Executive Committees
This article originally appeared on massnonprofit news Nonprofit boards often rely on a subset of its members who provide guidance on numerous issues for the full board, and whether...
[ read more ]Let’s Really Talk about Committees
Day in and day out, what boards can achieve is limited by their lack the (wo)man power to get things done. Why is this? Boards have a logical committee...
[ read more ]My Board Won’t Do ANYTHING!
This article originally appeared on eJP on June 4, 2015. The frustration of many executive directors and development professionals is palpable. They need their boards’ help to raise the much needed...
[ read more ]Out of Bounds
In my 20s, I was a young lawyer, and a board member and chair of the legal committee of the board. During my first year, a gentleman, who had...
[ read more ]5 Things Your Nonprofit Must Have Clarity On
Consultants overuse a lot of words. I have tried to ban “thinking outside-of-the-box” and “synergy” from my vernacular. The one word that I can’t use enough though is “clarity.” People...
[ read more ]Management vs. Governance
There are many components of a good board training. None more important that reviewing the difference between management and governance. With all that has been written on the subject,...
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What Successful Nonprofit Board Presidents Wish They Knew Before Their Terms
This article originally appeared on eJPhilanthropy By Kathy Cohen, PhD and Nanette R. Fridman, MPP, JD There is no shortage of advice on how to lead a nonprofit board....
[ read more ]Board Chairs, Do You Want to Find Your Successor?
Today I am at a conference with 16 schools. I met this afternoon with the board chairs who are present to facilitate a break out session. While the discussion...
[ read more ]Too often people are asked to lead a board without a guidebook or a mentor. Holding the Gavel lays out the job, what is expected and how to best contribute.
