Robert Andringa

This document lists 13 ways a staff can help ensure the board’s success. This resource is one of many handouts Dr. Andringa has developed for use in board training workshops. A few are specific to Christian colleges and universities, but most were prepared to demonstrate principles and best practices that work with almost any nonprofit board.

1. Clarify Roles. (A) The board chair manages the board. (B) The chief executive manages staff. (C) The CEO is the sole staff agent of the board. (D) Board committees speak to the board (recommendations), not for the board. (E) Board and staff recommend board policies; only the board determines major policies; usually staff implement board policies; but the board needs to track/evaluate its policies.

2. Good Information. Develop information useful to policy setting and present it in ways board members appreciate (trends, within a context, graphics, etc.).

3. Staff Support. Provide staff support to board committees with careful attention to directors’ needs and requirements. Fulfill board requests on time. Keep the little things off their agenda. Encourage directors in their personal lives.

4. Standing Policies. Encourage board to develop one document for all Standing Policies. Help board by reviewing old minutes for the on-going policy document; draft policies for committee/board discussion; give feedback on standing policies.

5. Board Reference Book. Put together several Board Reference Books, keep current, and make available at all board/committee meetings. Include such items as bylaws, standing policies, last financial report, last audit, list of key people, program summaries, last few board minutes, etc., etc.)

6. Stay Legal. Keep your board out of costly, time consuming, and public relations disasters by knowing and complying with state and federal laws. Encourage your board to have Directors and Officers liability insurance. Then prevent its use.

7. Board-hired Auditors. Support board decisions to retain and then cooperate by helping external auditors and consultants, e.g., financial, legal, and program reviews.

8. New Directors. Keep an eye out for potential directors/trustees. Nurture their development with volunteer assignments and opportunities so that, at the right time, you feel confident in passing along their names for the board’s nominating process.

9. Board Training. Encourage, through your CEO, good ideas for board training and development in areas such as board member fund raising, board structure, clarifying role of board vis a vis staff, etc. Create a small library on good boardsmanship.

10. Creative meetings. Help make board meetings memorable with a nice set-up, refreshments, visual aids on your programs, well-prepared handouts, name tags, etc.

11. Resolve Problems Outside the Board. Learn how to resolve conflicts within the staff so sticky personnel issues don’t impose on the board’s time (and emotions).

12. Express Appreciation to Directors. Board members need to be loved, too! Find creative ways to frequently thank them as individuals and as a group when they do good work. Use cards, flowers, small gifts, ads in local paper.

13. Intercession. Pray for your directors/trustees regularly. They are God’s instruments to help achieve your mission. No amount of money could replace what they can do.

How do you measure up on these items? Which three could you do in the next 30 days?

http://www.cccu.org/resourcecenter/resID.1944,parentCatID.164/rc_detail.asp

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