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THE REVERSE BOARD JOB DESCRIPTION

Posted by Kellie Wardman

A CEO once said to me, “I would like us to have a conversation with one of my new board members.”

“Of course,” I said. “What would you like to talk about?”

“He wants to know what he is going to get from being on my board,” she said. “And I have never had anyone ask me that before!”

The CEO was intrigued.


Change Your Perspective on Boards

Typically, when non-profits are recruiting board members, they discuss the gifts, skills, and experience different volunteers might contribute to the organization. What time, talent, and treasure might they bring?

But what if instead we talk through what the volunteers will get from being on the board? Volunteers typically gain satisfaction from helping a community. They feel good about using their skills toward greater good.


A New Board Job Description

Imagine a reverse job description. Consider one that stresses what board members will receive from being part of your organization.

What would yours say?

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Topics: Board Development, Fundraising, Nonprofit Leadership, Strategy, Board Leadership, Planning, Campaign Planning, CEO Coaching

CLICK RESET

Posted by Thom Peters

Those of you who love high-brow films most certainly didn’t miss the 2006 Adam Sandler classic, “Click.” In it, a workaholic husband and father finds a universal TV remote that allows him to fast forward and rewind parts of his life. Complications ensue.

While I admit I enjoyed the movie, it was the premise that captured my interest. What if we could reset our lives with the click of a button (complications not included)?

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Topics: Learning, Fundraising, Case For Support, Positioning Campaign, Change, Nonprofit Leadership, Strategy, Board Leadership, Planning, Campaign Planning, Attitude, Ideas, Covid

HOW TO FUNDRAISE WITHOUT ASKING

Posted by Johnathan Teal

In a blog post from last year, I encouraged fundraisers to break the “rule” that all board members be required to fundraise (you can find that post here). The basic premise being that we should strategically recruit certain board members to actively ask donors for contributions and lean into the fact that other volunteers are on our boards for other skill sets. One of the many follow up questions I received was naturally, “So how do I keep board members engaged in philanthropy if they don’t ask others for money?”

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Topics: Fundraising, Culture Of Philanthrophy, Financial Development, Board Leadership, Fund Development, Development, Leadership & Boards

BOARD MEETINGS DON'T HAVE TO BE BORED MEETINGS

Posted by Richard Clegg

Have you ever wondered why are some board members not engaged or even showing up to your meetings? Board meetings are a necessity for nonprofit organizations, but too often they can be boring, dry, and uninspiring.

They don’t have to be.

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Topics: Board Development, Board Management, Board Leadership, Nonprofit, Leadership & Boards

DBD PODCAST: TRUST AND LEADERSHIP

Posted by DBD Team

 

Bruce Berglund, CEO and Founder of DBD Group interviews Cory Scheer, Founder of TrustCentric about the role of trust in leadership. In this 35 minute conversation, they talk about strategies to measure, build and repair trust in teams and organizations. 

Learn more about TrustCentric and Cory Scheer, or check out his new book.

Learn more about Bruce Berglund, CEO and Founder of DBD Group or follow him on LinkedIn.



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Topics: Podcast, Board Leadership, Nonprofit, board governance

TRY SOMETHING NEW WITH YOUR BOARD

Posted by Brian Keel

As the new year rolls in, many nonprofits are embarking on a brand-new budget, with clean slates, fresh aspirations, and strategies poised for success. You may also find your organization with a new class of volunteers on your board of directors, fresh faces on committees and perhaps even new staff members on your team.

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Topics: Leadership, Volunteer, Volunteer Leadership, Board Development, Volunteer Management, Nonprofit Leadership, Board Management, Board Leadership, finance

Breaking the Rules of Board Roles

Posted by Johnathan Teal

How many times have you been told (or said) this: “It’s a board member’s responsibility to fundraise”?

Staff say: “Hey board members, fundraising is an expectation”. Then, when many board members don’t fundraise, staff bang their heads against the wall.

Rinse and frustratingly repeat.  

What if the world of professional golf could teach us something about how to handle this seemingly unsolvable problem?

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Topics: Philanthropy, Fundraising, Culture Of Philanthrophy, Board Leadership

ACTIVATE YOUR BOARD

Posted by Kellie Wardman

 

Plans are important, but they’ll never work unless you take action.

This month, the DBD team will be sharing ways for you to jump start your work in 2022.

 


 


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Topics: Board Development, Volunteer Appreciation, Nonprofit Leadership, Volunteers, Board Leadership, Nonprofit, Collaboration, board governance

9 THINGS FOR 2021

Posted by DBD Team

By the DBD Financial Management Team

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Topics: Nonprofit Leadership, Board Leadership, Nonprofit, financial management

NEEDY VS WORTHY

Posted by Bruce Berglund

I have the wonderful opportunity to learn from our clients and their volunteers across the country. The wonderful balance of staff and volunteer engagement makes this work rich and rewarding.

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Topics: Volunteer Leadership, Board Leadership, Development, Making The Ask, Donor, Nonprofit

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