The complete system for board development.
The complete system for board development.
Better Boards. Better Communities.
The Complete System for Board Development
Our signature program enables Executive Directors and Board Chairs to identify questions, concerns, and issues and incorporate discussion and resolution in a board meeting.
Ten modules. More than 50 specific topics. Choose the area for focus, select the short (15-minute) video with trigger questions for discussion, and supplement as needed with curated resources.
Meetings/webinars with consultant included on request.
By annual subscription based on budget.
Coming This January
Module One
What is our business? Understanding our industry and sector. Why are we here? Our mission and why it is central.
Broad overview, role and purpose, norms, core programs/ services, trends. Why Boards? Business of the organization (community development). Mission, vision, values as drivers. How to develop and measure. Intended outcomes.
Module Two
Who is our employee? The Board/CEO partnership.
The essential partnership. Interdependence of effectiveness of the Board and of the CEO or Executive Director. Oversight and policy vs. operations and resources. Accountability, evaluation, performance reviews. Compensation. Succession management/transitions.
Module Three
What is our role? What is my role?
Types of boards. Primary purpose of boards. Four unique functions. Board structure. Committees. Role clarity: [1] board, [2] chair, [3] trustee/director, [4] politician on Board, [5] senior staff. Qualifications. Role statements. Who does what. Agreements on values, mission, objectives. Codes of conduct/ethics. Ground rules. Respect for norms, policies, teamwork.
Module Four
Why are we meeting? Intentional board practices.
Effective management of board work. Meetings. Purpose. Alternatives. Agendas of consequence. Consent agenda. Rules of order. Strategic planning drives goals, work plans, agendas. Strategic orientation/culture of inquiry. Strategic thinking. Duty of loyalty vs. Duty of independent-mindedness. High performance. Change and conflict management. Implications of victimization (Board. CEO.). Towards a culture of assessment. Implications of conflict avoidance (“niceness”).
Module Five
Where are we headed? Strategic planning and direction.
Strategic planning. Principles and processes. Roles and responsibilities. Environmental scans. S/W/O/T and PESTLE analyses. Community partnerships as contracts. Policy development, implementation, review.
Module One
What is our business? Understanding our industry and sector. Why are we here? Our mission and why it is central.
Broad overview, role and purpose, norms, core programs/ services, trends. Why Boards? Business of the organization (community development). Mission, vision, values as drivers. How to develop and measure. Intended outcomes.
Module Two
Who is our employee? The Board/CEO partnership.
The essential partnership. Interdependence of effectiveness of the Board and of the CEO or Executive Director. Oversight and policy vs. operations and resources. Accountability, evaluation, performance reviews. Compensation. Succession management/transitions.
Module Three
What is our role? What is my role?
Types of boards. Primary purpose of boards. Four unique functions. Board structure. Committees. Role clarity: [1] board, [2] chair, [3] trustee/director, [4] politician on Board, [5] senior staff. Qualifications. Role statements. Who does what. Agreements on values, mission, objectives. Codes of conduct/ethics. Ground rules. Respect for norms, policies, teamwork.
Module Four
Why are we meeting? Intentional board practices.
Effective management of board work. Meetings. Purpose. Alternatives. Agendas of consequence. Consent agenda. Rules of order. Strategic planning drives goals, work plans, agendas. Strategic orientation/culture of inquiry. Strategic thinking. Duty of loyalty vs. Duty of independent-mindedness. High performance. Change and conflict management. Implications of victimization (Board. CEO.). Towards a culture of assessment. Implications of conflict avoidance (“niceness”).
Module Five
Where are we headed? Strategic planning and direction.
Strategic planning. Principles and processes. Roles and responsibilities. Environmental scans. S/W/O/T and PESTLE analyses. Community partnerships as contracts. Policy development, implementation, review.
Module Six
Who’s got the money? Ensuring sustaining and sustainable resources.
Purpose of advocacy. Sustaining resources. Sustainable resources. Ambassadorship. Who speaks when. Policies. Principles of influence. Networks of influence. Government relations. Reputation and capacity of Board. Fundraising. Foundations. Friends. Planned giving by board members. Responsibilities.
Module Seven
How do we know if we are any good? Oversight and accountability.
Results-oriented. Key success factors. Inputs vs. outputs vs. outcomes vs. impact. Advancement towards mission. Key indicators known by all concerned, approved and reported; variety of measures; benchmarks; ROI. Staff gather/analyze data; Board monitor, report out. Trend analysis.
Module Eight
Are we legal? What is fiduciary responsibility? Oversight and accountability.
Legislative frameworks. Effect on roles and responsibilities, operations. Values and standards. Ethics. Integrity. Conflict-of-interest policies. Director liability. Volunteers. Purposes of budget. Budget development. Mechanisms for active oversight. Internal controls (e.g., strategy and finance) and oversight mechanisms, established and implemented by management. Financial literacy. Reading financial statements. Asset management. Audits. Risk management; contingency plans. Whistleblowers.
Module Nine
Who needs to know? Fostering inquiry and transparency.
Public profile of the Board and directors. Public access to meetings, agendas, minutes. Public access to mission, values, strategic plan, annual reports, contracts, finances, operations, results. Open exchange with staff; equal access to all information for all board members. Fostering public interest and engagement. Advisory committees. Board meetings. Planning sessions. External communications. Annual reports.
Module Ten
Do you need to be sick to get better? Board development and revitalization.
Orientation: more than the binder and the tour. Learn from history; recognize critical incidents; role models; mentors. Continuous learning. Learning together. Assessing board and director performance and the value added to the organization. Deepening knowledge of industry, environment, trends. Associations. Self-assessments. Chair assessments. Board assessments. Results and action. Time and resources for board development. Board succession management. Board profile/public standing. Demographic and skills matrix. Relations with appointing bodies.
Module Six
Who’s got the money? Ensuring sustaining and sustainable resources.
Purpose of advocacy. Sustaining resources. Sustainable resources. Ambassadorship. Who speaks when. Policies. Principles of influence. Networks of influence. Government relations. Reputation and capacity of Board. Fundraising. Foundations. Friends. Planned giving by board members. Responsibilities.
Module Seven
How do we know if we are any good? Oversight and accountability.
Results-oriented. Key success factors. Inputs vs. outputs vs. outcomes vs. impact. Advancement towards mission. Key indicators known by all concerned, approved and reported; variety of measures; benchmarks; ROI. Staff gather/analyze data; Board monitor, report out. Trend analysis.
Module Eight
Are we legal? What is fiduciary responsibility? Oversight and accountability.
Legislative frameworks. Effect on roles and responsibilities, operations. Values and standards. Ethics. Integrity. Conflict-of-interest policies. Director liability. Volunteers. Purposes of budget. Budget development. Mechanisms for active oversight. Internal controls (e.g., strategy and finance) and oversight mechanisms, established and implemented by management. Financial literacy. Reading financial statements. Asset management. Audits. Risk management; contingency plans. Whistleblowers.
Module Nine
Who needs to know? Fostering inquiry and transparency.
Public profile of the Board and directors. Public access to meetings, agendas, minutes. Public access to mission, values, strategic plan, annual reports, contracts, finances, operations, results. Open exchange with staff; equal access to all information for all board members. Fostering public interest and engagement. Advisory committees. Board meetings. Planning sessions. External communications. Annual reports.
Module Ten
Do you need to be sick to get better? Board development and revitalization.
Orientation: more than the binder and the tour. Learn from history; recognize critical incidents; role models; mentors. Continuous learning. Learning together. Assessing board and director performance and the value added to the organization. Deepening knowledge of industry, environment, trends. Associations. Self-assessments. Chair assessments. Board assessments. Results and action. Time and resources for board development. Board succession management. Board profile/public standing. Demographic and skills matrix. Relations with appointing bodies.
What's the investment?
Subscription Pricing
Based on Budget.
-
$10-$500,000. $199/year.
-
$501,000 to $2 million. $399/year
-
$2 million - $5 million. $999/year.
-
$5 million - $20 million. $1,999/year.
-
$20 million m - $50 million. $2,999/year.
-
$50 million m+ . $3,999/year.
-
Federations (regional areas only): Based on total budgets of member libraries, if not exceeding $50 million, otherwise inquire.
Program begins September & January.
