What Are Your Board's Goals?
by Diana L. Kern, Vice President, NEW

One of the tasks that comes with being a board member is setting goals or vision.  Often, nonprofit boards think of goal setting or strategic planning in the context of the “organization.” However, nonprofit boards should also engage in setting annual goals for themselves as a group. Today more than ever, boards should be looking at how productive they are in helping the nonprofit achieve its mission. 

So ask yourself: Do your committees work?  Do you get real outcomes from board committees?  Do you have 100% participation in annual giving from the board?  Do all board members attend at least 75% of scheduled board and committee meetings? What is the succession plan for officers?  Is everyone on the board today willing to be an ambassador for the mission?  Does this board provide support and outcomes for the executive director?

For boards to answer these questions about their own productivity they should engage in their own critique.  Best practices call for boards to do self-assessments every three to five years.  Self assessments are only useful if they result in a “Board Action Plan” that lays out goals for the board to achieve.  

Reasons for Doing a Health Checkup of the Board

1) To shed light on what all members really think and to increase engagement as part of the process of self-reflection

Board chairs often do not know what trustees think about the productivity and engagement of the board.  Good board chairs will encourage and require time for assessments in order to get honest and anonymous feedback from all board members.   True leaders want to gain insights that build trust and engagement by everyone.  Boards today should not support the structure in which a quarter of the board pulls the weight for the entire group.

2) To display commitment to increasing effectiveness as a board to donors, the community and staff

Very few nonprofit boards are firing on all cylinders.  Most boards could increase their effectiveness and outcomes of the nonprofits achievement of mission by focusing inward.  Being transparent about that process with the staff and community should not be frowned upon, but instead embraced.  Establishing solid committee structures, completing group board training, or completing a self-assessment displays to donors, staff and the community that the group is taking its role seriously.

3) To advance the mission

Goals for the board are just as important as goals for the staff.  Goals for the board should always be set with the mission in mind.  The question should be asked, “What three to seven keys things could this board do this year to help this organization meet its mission?”

4) To increase capacity

Simply put, what things could the board do over the next twelve months that will put the organization in a better position than it is today?  This can take many forms depending on where the organization is in its lifecycle, but, if the board set a goal that resulted in a desired outcome, the entire organization would definitely see the benefits of this process.

Possible capacity building outcomes :

o  Increased funding for programs or increased unrestricted revenue
o  The ability to add a key staff position that is not funded
o  Increased board productivity through better structure, resulting in more time and focus on mission
o  Increased effectiveness of committees resulting in less pressure on the board
o  A stronger reputation in the community

Goal Setting a Must for Today’s Boards

Goal setting is meaningful only if nonprofit boards following up on their commitment.  In order to set goals that are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely), groups might want to consider engaging a consultant or third party to help drive the outcomes.  Goal setting for nonprofit boards, if done well, can advance mission, increase revenue, add value to the community and result in highly productive and trusted teams.

Get your board off to a great start in 2011 by using NEW's
Board360 --  a concise, affordable, intelligent tool for nonprofit boards to assess their performance.  More information.

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BoardConnect Candidate Training: Serving on a Nonprofit Board
Wednesday, January 12, 3pm-6pm
NEW Center, 1100 N Main St, Ann Arbor
Cost: $50

Board Chair 101
Coming in January
NEW Center, 1100 North Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Cost:  $40

For the new board chair or those who want a refresher on their duties. More information and registration.

BoardConnect Nonprofit Training: Building Your Board (Ann Arbor)
Wednesday, February 16, 9am-noon
NEW Center, 1100 N Main St, Ann Arbor
Cost: $50

Covers important aspects of recruiting new members for a nonprofit's board of directors including recruitment planning, identifying and cultivating candidates, and electing new members.  More information and registration.

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Feb. 3, 2011 11am-6pm online Conference
Healthier Communities Through Collaboration: Tools and Techniques for Better Outcomes in an Era of Healthcare Reform

Cost varies: $49 for individual; $199 per group of 11 or more. Location: online. More information.

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