The New Board President

A Guiding Resource

Melissa C Marion Professor Beck/MSCL 513Duquesne University June 8, 2012

You’re our new board president! Now What???

• Welcome to our organization and thank you for joining us!!

• Goals: – Understanding president’s responsibilities– Understanding board members’ responsibilities– Recruiting new board members– Orienting new board members – Leading meetings– Wrap-up & Next Steps

Board President Responsibilities

• Understanding of the commitment being made as well as the responsibilities

– Board President Responsibilities

Board President Responsibilities (cont)

• 10 Essential Responsibilities – Be Faithful to the Mission– Guide the Grantmaking Strategy– Map Out the Future– Stay Focused on the Financial Oversight and Legal Compliance – Mast the Art of Facilitating Meetings– Connect the Dots between Committees – Build a Board that is Strong and Engaged – Communicate with the Community – Oversee Administrative Work– Assess Performance

Board President Responsibilities (cont)

• More on being the Board President– Role as the President/Chair– Job Description– Delegation– Board Members– Committees – Chairing

Board Member Responsibilities

• Set the organization’s mission and overall strategy, and modify both as needed

• Monitor organizational performance and hold management accountable

• Select, evaluate, support, and – if necessary-replace the executive director or CEO

• Develop and conserve the organization’s resources – both funds and facilities

• Serve as a bridge and buffer between the organization and its environment; advocate for the organization and build support within the wider community

• Chait, Ryan, & Taylor, p. 14, 2005

Board Member Responsibilities (cont.) • Board Member Respsonsibilities

• Determination of Mission and Purpose• Selection of the CEO• Relationship with and support of CEO• Ensuring effective organizational planning • Ensuring adequate resources • Effective management of resources• Monitoring programs and services • Enhancement of organization’s image• Ensuring legal and ethical integrity • Recruit and orientation of new board members • Assessment of board performance

Recruiting Board Members

• Seeking new Board Members

• Passion• Right Reasons • Competition• Time• Fundraising

Orienting Board Members

It will be the responsibility of the board president to orient the board members on a regular basis

• Board Orientations and Meetings

Orienting Board Members (cont.)

• Best Practices for Board Orientations

• Provide answers to the questions new board members will have

• Focus on vision, mission, the big topics • Invite key individuals like the CEO, CFO, staff members,

other board members• Make it fun/workshop/discussion• Provide a follow-up plan• Mentor program

Leading Meetings

We don’t want the BOARD MEETINGS to look like this…

How can we ensure our meetings are successful

and worth everyone’s time and commitment?

Leading Meetings

• 5 Tips – Purpose of Meeting– Agenda (prior to meeting)– Adhere to Agenda– Time Management – Minutes

• Mission and Outcome Meetings

• Boring Meetings

The future is bright!

• Questions

• Plan for future – Next meeting/follow-up orientation– Future topics to address – Plans for orientating board members

• THANK YOU AGAIN!

Resources • Board President Responsibilities• 10 Essential Responsibilities • Board Member Respsonsibilities• More on being the Board President• Seeking new Board Members • Chait, Ryan, & Taylor (2005). Governance as Leadership: Reframing

the Work of Nonprofit Boards. Broadsource, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. • Board Orientations and Meetings • Best Practices for Board Orientations • 5 Tips • Mission and Outcome Meetings• Boring Meetings