Building the Leadership PipelineYNPN ChicagoApril 2010

Josh DicksonKelsey HorineYesenia Sotelo

What are your issues?

Notes

Ideas!“Can’t recruit the right people”

•Committees•Recruitment calendar•Roles & responsibilities document

“Can’t recruit a diverse board”•New definition of diversity: gender, age, sector, race•Tap your network!•Ask partner organizations

“People quit the board” or “People are not good board members”•Orientation•Mentors•Socials•Check-in calls•Manuals•Board development programming

Ground Rules

•Ask questions!

•Interrupt us!

•Share your ideas!

•Don’t take notes! (unless you want to)

•Highlighted items are great for emerging chapters

YNPN Chicago - Past

Founded: 2001

Board 1.0 = FAIL

YNPN Chicago - Now

4,700+ Members

Working board, committee, ex-oficio structure

Members

Ex-Oficio

Committees

Board

YNPN Chicago - Board

As described in our by-laws:

15 – 20 board members

2 year terms, 6 year limit

75% under age 35

75% work in nonprofits

YNPN Chicago - AreasAreas with 2 chairs overlap in terms

Executive (2)

Communications (2) + committee

Programming (2) + committee

Technology & Membership (2) + committee

Finance (1) (considering 2) + committee

Fundraising (1) (considering 2) + committee

Secretary (1)

Special: Annual Celebration (1) (considering 2) + cmte

Special: National Representative (1)

YNPN Chicago - CalendarMay Nominate new Executive Co-Chair, Form

nominating committee

June Elect Executive Co-Chair, Open nominations for remaining positions

July Fill remaining positions

August Open call for board members, Board social, Applications and interviews

September Approve new board slate, Final check-in calls

October New board begins, Board orientation, Board mentor assignments

November Ongoing technology training, Meetings with chairs as needed

December Determine committee needs, Open call for committee members

January Executive Co-Chairs organize committee members, Ongoing board mentor meetings

February Committee orientation event, Board check-in calls (exec too!)

Every 3 years, strategic planning!

YNPN Chicago – What Didn’t Work

• Separating social and professional development areas

• Waiting too long in the year to recruit committee members

• Not having committee job descriptions

• Not orienting committee members enough

• Having finance, fundraising, celebration (?) only have 1 chair

• One-year terms for at-large board members

The Bigger Picture… Organizational Culture

Why do we care: …organizational culture is the personality of the organization. So how can your YNPN board cultivate and manage a positive personality?

•Engaging•Empowering•Interacting •Integrative thinking •Setting and managing expectations

Solutions for: Recruitment

Empower them

•Invite all your members via email

•Tap your network for diverse or specialty board members

•Set an application deadline, interview schedule

•Use job descriptions

•Form a nominating committee

•Note: Keep a balanced board

Solutions for: Retention

Engage them •Board agendas & reports

•Board mentors

•Board orientation

•Check-in calls

•Co-chairs with overlapping terms

•Board socials

•Board manuals

•Quarterly Communications/Programming/Technology meetings

•Encourage at-large board members to serve on a committee

•New: Board development programming

Solutions for: Building the Pipeline

Interacting •Ex-oficio: discrete, specialty projects

•Committee members

•Lower level of involvement

•Orientation important

•New: job descriptions

YNPN Chicago – ResourcesSetting and Managing Expectations

Board Application

Board Information Sheet (Roles & Responsibilities)

Board Questions & Evaluation Forms

Board Orientation Agenda

Memorandum of Board Involvement, Committee Involvement

Committee Application

Committee Orientation Agenda

Board Self-Assessment Form

Available via email on the leaders listserv!