Governance

Our Process

Every nonprofit wants a board that is focused on powerful strategy design. But not every board is built to design and implement the strategy needed to propel the nonprofit into the future. The building of breakthrough boards is an intentional effort that can lead to greater fundraising, enhanced strategic capability, and access to new resources.

We help our clients identify the best board member prospects, enroll and vet each candidate to ensure the highest quality match, and orient board members to harness their passion and commitment.

Our nonprofit board governance consultants work with our clients to think beyond traditional governance when building an engaged board, enhancing collaboration, and focusing on powerful strategy design and execution.

We help clients put processes in place to assess the effectiveness of their nonprofit boards. Conducting periodic board evaluations assists the Executive Committee and leadership with measuring the performance, accountability, responsiveness, and capacity of each board member. Our nonprofit consulting team understands that organizational needs are continually evolving which may require a shift in the board’s focus. Ensuring that the talent on the board matches the talent needed to move in the strategic direction set by the organization is of utmost importance.

We help clients establish the board composition criteria needed to fulfill the priorities of their strategic plan. The board matrix is used to identify the skills, experiences, and diversity of current board members so nonprofits can build upon their strengths; it also helps identify where gaps may exist so available board seats can be filled through an intentional recruiting and nomination process. Our nonprofit consultants help leadership develop a process for interviewing each board member to understand their plans for rolling off the board, developing staggered terms, and recruiting new board members.

We understand that engaging the board in governance work begins with establishing a strong connection to the mission and understanding and utilizing individual strengths and capabilities while the use of governance documents provide the structure and processes. Our governance consultants work with nonprofit leadership align bylaws to strategic initiatives, build or amend job descriptions and committee charters, and develop an annual board calendar and structure each board meeting agenda to provide sufficient time for strategy discussions and material issues facing the organization.

BoardPulse Assessment

Elevate your board's effectiveness with BoardPulse, the premier board governance assessment.

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Our Process

Complete BoardPulse 
Board members and the CEO complete a web-based survey on five distinct aspects of board effectiveness. Easily accessible and convenient for all board members, the survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. All individual responses will be kept confidential, and results will only be presented in aggregate form.
Unlock Insights 
Our team’s assessment of five key areas - Operations, Board Development & Composition, Change Management, Culture, and Leadership - provides a comprehensive, unbiased evaluation of your board’s strengths and opportunities for growth. This detailed analysis enables the board to make informed decisions and take targeted actions to enhance its effectiveness and contribute to the organization’s long-term success and mission.
Collaborate for Action 
A governance consultant will partner with your Board Chair and CEO in a focused 20-minute video discussion to review findings and co-create actionable steps for your Board’s consideration. This collaborative session will equip your leadership with a practical discussion framework, forming an essential building block for your journey towards board excellence.

“The assessment was incredibly thorough and provided us with a comprehensive understanding of our strengths and weaknesses. It gave us the confidence we needed to address critical governance issues head-on.”