Category Archives: nonprofit

Dear board volunteers . . . Please join for the right reasons.

DonorDreams blog is honored to be hosting the May 2013 Nonprofit Blog Carnival. The theme this month is “Dear board volunteer . . .” and the idea is “If you could write an anonymous letter to a nonprofit board about something they do that drives you crazy, what would that letter look like and what suggested solutions would you include?” If you are a blogger and would like more information on how to participate and submit a post for consideration, please click here to learn more.

I wanted to expand the Nonprofit Blog Carnival concept in May. So, I reached out to real non-profit people and asked them to also write an anonymous letter to their board volunteers. These folks are executive directors, fundraising professionals, board members, donors, community volunteers, consultants and front line staff. I promised everyone anonymity in exchange for their submissions.

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board volunteers . . .

I have served on this Little League board for 5 years. In these 5 years, I’ve seen many board members come and go. I feel to have an effective board, members should serve at least two consecutive terms. The first term will be a learning curve and in the second you will be aware of what needs to get done. You will be in position to take a new member “under your wing” and continue to improve the board.

In the past 5 years, I have seen 80% of board turnover in member who were “one and done”.

I know sometimes life just happens (e.g. change in job, kid does not play baseball anymore). However, a majority of the board member were on it for the wrong reasons from the start.

In one example, board members applied for the post season all-star manager job. Their kid had never made the all-star team and by all indications should not have made in that year. Luckily, as a board, we voted another candidate to the position. So I ask, why did you go out for the board? What were your intentions?

Another person had a daughter of age who could work in the concessions. The Mother had applied to serve on the board even though she did not have a child in the program. When the season started and all of the previous year’s concession workers returned, there were no jobs for her daughter (but she was placed on the wait list). The Mother quit the board. Again, why did you really join the board? What were your intentions?

This is my point . . . the purpose of any volunteer, non-profit board is focused on the good of the many and not the few. The league is about all the player, workers and officials, not your kid and your agenda.

There are so many ways to contribute, which will show your kid the art of giving back and make the organization better over all. If you’re a handy person, there is always something that needs to be fixed or repaired. If you are a great sales person, you can sell raffle tickets for the cash drawing on opening day. If you have a connection with a food supplier, we are always looking for ways to cut costs and increase revenue.

So, I will end with this……….make this season about the league. Make it the best league in the country. Work as a team. The bylaws are clear. You don’t need to reinvent the league . . . just refine the small stuff.

Sincerely,
Casey at Bat

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post in a respectful manner. If you want to submit an anonymous letter for consideration this month, please email it to me at the address in your signature block below. If you are a blogger looking to participate in this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival and want to learn more, then please click here.

Here’s to your health!

Erik Anderson
Founder & President, The Healthy Non-Profit LLC
www.thehealthynonprofit.com
erik@thehealthynonprofit.com
http://twitter.com/#!/eanderson847
http://www.facebook.com/eanderson847
http://www.linkedin.com/in/erikanderson847

Posted in Board development, volunteers, nonprofit, leadership, Board governance

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Tags: nonprofit, board of directors, fiduciary responsibilities, volunteers, board development, leadership, board governance

Dear board volunteer . . . A few questions first.

May 16

Posted by donordreams

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Members,

The Board Development Committee has presented three potential board members for your consideration at the next meeting. Each of the candidates lives/works within our service area and brings particular experience/expertise to the board. Each of them has been recommended by one or more of you. But before the vote is taken, I would like you to consider the questions I believe need to be asked of potential board members and should be asked periodically of all board members.

1. Why do you want to be on our board? Looks good on your resume’? Want to ‘give back’ to the community? Know someone who needs our services? Used our services? All of these are good reasons but, I really want you to turn your initial reason into an informed commitment. Be honest with yourself and with us about the level of your interest and your commitment.

2. Are you willing to ASK? Let’s be honest—are your willing to use your contacts for the good of the organization? ASK your friends, family, and business partners to share their time, energy and money to benefit this organization just as you do? If you are shy about ASKing…..will you share the info so that others can make the contacts?

3. Can you take the HEAT? Board members are ultimately responsible for the stability and success of the organization. Will you devote the time necessary to hiring and evaluating a qualified Director? Will you be involved in and responsible for all financial policies/decisions and evaluate how well the organization is meeting the service needs of the community? And, if trouble should come, are you prepared to stand by and speak up on behalf of the organization?

4. Are you prepared to JUST DO IT? Decide what you can do –serve on a committee—attend meetings—participate in the discussion—contribute to fundraising and friendraising. And if and when you decide you cannot fulfill a particular commitment let the board president know as soon as possible.

We depend on you to do what you say you are going to do.

Sincerely,
Your number one fan and biggest supporter

Here’s to your health!

Posted in Board development, volunteers, nonprofit, leadership, Board governance

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Dear board volunteers . . . please speak up at board meetings

May 15

Posted by donordreams

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board volunteers,

First of all, thank you for your service and time. Your commitment is invaluable to the organization and helps us push forward in achieving our mission.

As your Director, I work hard to implement your strategic plan, vision and goals. I am grateful that you have outlined a clear strategic plan, and chart of work with measurable objectives so I know your priorities are and what areas you want me to focus on.

Having said that, I would ask that we could work to clarify the best way to communicate.

As you know, putting together a board means bringing together a group of people with different ideas and experiences. It is very difficult to manage requests from each of you to focus on a project, a lead or an idea that each might have.

The strategic plan and my chart of work was outlined and clearly defined in order to ensure that we are on the same page and we are working towards meeting strategic goals to move the organization forward. Once we leave a board meeting, it is not helpful for board members to contact me and give me all of their thoughts and strong feelings on a topic that was covered in a meeting — a meeting at which they sat silent.

I can appreciate how intimidating some of the group norms can be in a board of directors setting; however, it is each person’s responsibility to provide his/her input and contribute to the conversation and ultimately the decision.

On another similar note, as each board member has their own opinions and areas of interest, it is important that the board provide the director guidance as one voice.

For a moment, please imagine having a dropper filled with water, and 23 different cups. If that dropper must put a drop in each of the 23 cups, there is little impact towards filling the cup; however, if there are perhaps three cups, the little dropper makes much more of a difference in filling the cup.

It is critical that the board stick to the agreed upon strategic direction and a measurable work plan for the Director.

Thank you for understanding.

Sincerely,
The CEO who is NOT kicking stones in the parking lot after meetings with their board volunteers

Here’s to your health!

Posted in Board development, Board governance, leadership, nonprofit, volunteers

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Tags: board development, board governance, board of directors, fiduciary responsibilities, leadership, nonprofit, volunteers

Dear board volunteers . . . I’m sorry about so very much!

May 14

Posted by donordreams

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Members,

Over the last several years, we have accomplished much together. Our budget has nearly tripled, we serve nearly twice as many youth, and the community recognizes us as an effective and trustworthy not-for-profit. Despite our great successes, we certainly could have done more.

Rising short of our full potential, there are some things I need to share with you.

First, I am sorry that many of you came on the board and were not adequately engaged in the work of the board. Far too many of you just simply coasted along without more regular contact from me or the board leadership team. We wasted your potential.

Second, I am sorry that so many of you were not more thoroughly cultivated before you were brought on board. Far too many of you needed to be exposed to the message and the mission before you were brought on board. We didn’t stoke your passion and develop your commitment near enough.

Third, I am sorry that many of you were brought on board (and this is really hard to say) and never should have been invited in the first place. Too many times, we were bringing people on who just lacked the connectedness within our community. Too many times we were bringing people on who lacked the passion, lacked the ability to work as a team, or lacked the wisdom of life that could make all the difference. We brought you into a situation that set you up for failure.

Fourth, I am sorry that we have not committed enough time to exploring and understanding the board-staff relationship. The challenge of making sense of this complex relationship demands that we spend more time researching and examining best practices, adding to our wealth of knowledge and molding a strategic direction. We owe it to ourselves, our organization, our donors and our members, to become the most effective team possible. To date, we continue to find our “sweet” spot. We need to do more.

Lastly, I look forward to our coming years together. Like the members we serve, we have great potential for growth. So much has been done in such a short time. So much more needs to be done.

Let’s move forward having learned from our recent success, striving to realize our full potential.

Most Sincerely,
I’m sorry . . . so very sorry!

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post in a respectful manner. If you want to submit an anonymous letter for consideration this month, please email it to me at the address in your signature block below.If you are a blogger looking to participate in this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival and want to learn more, then please click here.

Here’s to your health!

Posted in Board development, Board governance, Donor-centered fundraising, Fundraising, nonprofit, resource development, volunteers

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Tags: board development, board governance, board of directors, fundraising, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, philanthropy, resource development, volunteers

Dear board volunteers . . . please do a better job with your recruitment efforts

May 13

Posted by donordreams

We will officially celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Volunteers,

Why ME?

After years of on again, off again volunteer work in the community, I was recently asked by a local not-for-profit to be a part of their resource development committee. Planning, strategizing and fundraising have always been kind of a natural for me, so I eagerly accepted the challenge. And what a challenge it turns out to be…

Getting involved with the organization was enlightening. I met a lot of great people who had many terrific ideas. There seemed to be an early interest from the RD committee in meeting and discussing these ideas, although it became readily apparent that the follow through was a bit lacking. It also became apparent to me that there are several types of people, or bees, that flock to the not-for-profits: Executive bees, Worker Bees, and Busy bees.

Now some explanation: The Executive bees, or E-bees are the the group of power brokers that get involved with the not-for-profits. These are people in the community that have influence, wield formal authority, and are typically respected by their peers and fellow board members. The E-bees guide or drive policy, typically bring some fundraising ability to the table, but aren’t going necessarily roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. They definitely bring value to a not-for-profit.

So, the Worker bees, or W-bees, are still respected by their peers, this is the group that will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Want to be able to spot a W-bee in a crowd? It’s not too tough. Go to the next big event. Look for the board members that are setting chairs or moving tables. Take a picture of the board member walking around selling the raffle tickets at the event. I’ll bet that you just found yourself a Worker bee. Don’t worry, these are helpful bees to have around, in of course the right mix.

Now the Busy bee, or B-bees, are are interesting creatures, and they can be a little harder to identify. B-bees, like the name implies, kind of roll around and oftentimes wind up in the mix with the E-bees and W-bees. Often, they feel that they may have influence when in fact they have very little. They may talk a good game, but their lack of follow through and lack of willingness to commit doesn’t make them a very good Worker bee. B-bees like the activity found in the rest of the swarm but aren’t necessarily going to bring much to the table. It has been my experience that Busy bees are responsible for the flurry of inactivity that occurs in not-for-profits. Be careful when dealing with a Busy bee, because like all bees, they still have stingers. And because of their lack of focus on the real issues at hand, they are always slightly more inclined to use those stingers than the E-bees or W-bees. These bees often bring little to the hive and can be more bother than they are worth

OK, so why all the bee analogies? Simple. In order for not-for-profits to be successful, here has to be a healthy synergy with a good mix of the right type of volunteers. People all have to work together. And there has to be the right mix of people to make all of that happen. Like a beehive. Ultimately, of course, it the responsibility of the Board and the Executive Director to ensure that brought proper board development brings the right mix of volunteers together.

Recently, one of the current board members met with me and explained that there had been some transition, and that there several vacancies on the board. He was very excited to meet with me, and after only a few short minutes of conversation asked me “would you like to be on the board?“

I smiled and asked if he was serious. I didn’t ask because because I was flattered by the offer, but because I was so taken back by the way he asked me. This was a Worker bee, who is very involved, very well intended, but had put no thought into why he asked me.

When I asked him why he was so interested in recruiting me he said that it was because: 1) he liked me and 2) he liked some of the work I had done on the resource development committee. I cringed. This, I thought, is the exact reason that the board is in the trouble that it is in.

Boards and execs must make board development a number one priority. There has to be a defined methodology to volunteer recruitment, and it has to have a basis beyond choosing friends and picking the “nice guys”.

Pick a strategy and pursue it.

How many E-bees should your board have? How many W-bees does the board need? Fundraising should be a key component to choosing board members. If prospects can’t fundraise, they may be better served working the beverage cart at the next golf outing. How will you deal with the Busy bees? Does your board have the stomach to truly self-evaluate, and then ask its members annually why they are there? If not, be prepared for a hive full of Busy bees, and be willing to accept the problems that B-bees bring.

When new members are solicited, tell them why they were chosen. It may be their ability to raise money, their position in he community, or their exceptional skills as a Worker bee. By identifying and sharing their desirable traits, you’ll make the board and volunteer recruitment process much easier. Volunteers and board members will have a defined sense of purpose.

Most importantly, you’ll never put a volunteer in the position of asking themselves “Dear Board, why ME?”

Sincerely,
The Honey Bear of Volunteers

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post in a respectful manner. If you want to submit an anonymous letter for consideration this month, please email it to me at the address in your signature block below.If you are a blogger looking to participate in this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival and want to learn more, then please click here.

Here’s to your health!

Posted in Board governance, Fundraising, leadership, nonprofit, resource development, volunteers

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Tags: board development, board of directors, fundraising, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, philanthropy, resource development, volunteers

Dear board volunteers . . . digging in your heels doesn’t help us!

May 10

Posted by donordreams

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Members,

We have spent the last six months discussing board member responsibilities, attributes and expectations. We agreed in today’s climate, a healthy, engaged and responsive board is the foundation for sustainability. In order for our organization to thrive and grow, a new kind of board leadership is a must. Clear expectations were defined, a Governance Committee was established.

Now as we are in “ execution” phase, there appears to be push back on the direction of the board, its structure and responsibilities.

Honestly, this is so so frustrating and am wondering why we (the board & me) spent six months developing a plan when there was no intention of using it. This type of behavior is probably why you have had three Executive Directors in the past four years.

I am committed to raising board engagement to a higher level and creating a meaningful board membership experience but I need your help. If we truly want to impact the lives of the children we serve, we must change. We have the right mission for the right reason, let’s not let our kids down.

I know that change is not easy, but we need to push forward towards a solution. Here are just a few simple suggestions that I have:

let’s move a few of our more resistant board volunteers off of the board and onto another task force or advisory council,

let’s shake up our board leadership,

let’s add a few fresh faces by recruiting two or three new board volunteers, and

let’s find a donor who is willing to make a challenge gift that is tied to implementation of our original plan.

Sincerely,
G. U. Dummie

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please be respectful and share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post.

Here’s to your health!

Posted in Board development, Board governance, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, volunteers

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Tags: board development, board governance, board of directors, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, philanthropy, resource development, volunteers

Dear board volunteers . . . I can’t do this all by myself.

May 9

Posted by donordreams

I wanted to expand the Nonprofit Blog Carnival concept in May. So, I reached out to real non-profit people and asked them to also write an anonymous letter to their board volunteers. These people are executive directors, fundraising professionals, board members, donors, community volunteers, consultants and front line staff. I promised everyone anonymity in exchange for their submissions.

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Volunteers:

First, let me say that I truly appreciate all the time, talent and treasure you give to our organization each year. That said, I must air my concerns regarding some practices that I see as undermining the functioning of our board and the ultimate success of our committees and fundraisers.

We have board committees designed to do work outside of the board meetings and then provide a written report to include in our board packet for review/approval at meetings. These committees are not functioning according to their design and reports are not being completed or submitted. As a matter of fact, few committees are even meeting unless I force the issue. Then I must type up the notes and follow-up on what is to be done.

New board members are learning the wrong way for committees to function. We developed the committee structure through a well thought out process….let’s use it.

You are all aware that we do not have a development person. So, it falls to me or the office manager to complete the tasks that you do not. While I understand that you are all busy, each committee chair could recruit community members to help with their committee. You can delegate and assign work to those folks. You can also check on your committee members completion of assignments.

Call/email/text your committee to stay in touch and remind them of their commitments. Get the job done!

When I am doing committee work, I am not doing the following:

writing grants,

completing billing or grant reporting,

marketing the agency, or

managing our staff and programs.

My job requires 50 hours a week to just keep my head above water. When I take on these other tasks, I am drowning.

I have no problem putting in the 60-70 hour weeks just before a fundraiser, but I cannot do this week in and week out in order to balance my every day responsibilities and those of the various committees. We need to work together to ensure the success of our organization.

With each board member renewing their commitment to their chosen committees, we can guarantee the success of each committee and fundraiser, so please do your part.

Let’s start this year with a great attitude and renewed motivation.

Sincerely,
One sleep deprived exec

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post in a respectful manner. If you want to submit an anonymous letter for consideration this month, please email it to me at the address in your signature block below.If you are a blogger looking to participate in this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival and want to learn more, then please click here.

Here’s to your health!

Posted in Board development, Board governance, Fundraising, leadership, nonprofit, Planning, resource development, volunteers

5 Comments

Tags: board development, board governance, board of directors, fundraising, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, philanthropy, planning, resource development, volunteers

Dear board volunteers . . . There is no “I” in board.

May 8

Posted by donordreams

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Members,

I am thrilled that you hired me as your Execute Director and entrusted me with developing this organization and moving us to the next level. It remains an exciting opportunity for all involved.

I have one little request to make: please let me do my job without fear that you’ll undo the things I’m attempting to put into place. It becomes difficult when I begin initiating policies/procedures and practices that received BOD approval only to discover that there are conversations that occur outside the Boardroom that derail activities that are under way.

It would also be helpful if each of you could remember that just because you have an idea or you have a strong reaction to something, you don’t necessarily get to have your way or make unilateral decisions. We have processes for decision making within our bylaws and they are there for a purpose.

Board meetings and committee meetings are venues for dialogue and discussion. If you disagree, speak up so that you are heard. If you oppose a decision, please respect your colleagues on the Board and honor the group decision. If you continually find yourself in disagreement with your colleagues on the Board, perhaps it is time to resign. It could be a sign that your job as a Board member is now done.

Sincerely,
New-to-the-party Patty

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please be respectful and share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post.

Here’s to your health!

Posted in Board development, Board governance, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, volunteers

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Tags: board development, board governance, board of directors, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, philanthropy, resource development, volunteers

Dear board volunteer . . . Please invest in my potential and development.

May 7

Posted by donordreams

I wanted to expand the Nonprofit Blog Carnival concept in May. So, I reached out to real non-profit people and asked them to also write an anonymous letter to their board volunteers. These people are executive directors, fundraising professionals, board members, donors, community volunteers, consultants and front line staff. I promised everyone anonymity in exchange for their submissions.

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. Up to that fun-filled day, I will publish real anonymous letters every day right here at DonorDreams blog.

I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board of Directors,

Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the mission of our non-profit organization. I am very proud of the tremendous strides that we have taken as a board and as an organization in the last three years. As you all know, developing our board into a high functioning and high profile board has been a key objective in our three-year strategic plan. We have worked diligently at achieving that objective by implementing a standing governance committee to focus on the core governance, composition, and performance of our board.

The governance committee has suggested, and you have adopted policies and procedures around assessing the performance of individual board members as well as the board as a whole. These actions have resulted in:

100% board giving for the last three years,

the development of an annual special event that raises the necessary revenue to sustain our summer program that was formerly funded solely by federal grant dollars,

100% board member completion of the individual commitments on the Board Commitment Form,

a 71% increase in reserve funds, and

a 415% increase in giving for our annual campaign.

As they say, what gets measured gets done.

As we reflect on our amazing successes in board development, I can’t help but wonder why the same amount of effort has not been given to developing my capacity as the Executive Director of this organization.

It is difficult for me to comprehend why setting my annual goals, and assessing my performance, is only completed when I harass you enough to do it. Why can’t you ever get a task force together to complete this critical task, and why do you apply a rubber stamp to my recommendations? I am baffled by this because the vast majority of you are successful leaders in your respective business fields, and a number of you have built very successful companies.

I’m certain your road to achievement as a leader has included successfully establishing performance criteria and appraising the performance of your subordinates and employees. Similarly, I’m sure that our goal setting and performance measurement successes as a board have not escaped your attention.

Just imagine what we could accomplish together if you were to form a task force to come along side me in setting my annual objectives and completing a thoughtful performance appraisal and professional development plan. Take a moment to envision the amazing alignment we would have if the full board took sufficient time to review my goals and approve my performance appraisal and professional development plan.

Engaging the full board in this process would certainly take care of any misperceptions that exist about what the Executive Director’s role is vs. the board’s role.

Thank you for being deliberate in creating a high performing, high profile, strategic board of directors. Please consider taking the next step in our organization’s development by spending the necessary time to develop the leadership of the organization. I can promise you that you will not be disappointed with the return on your investment.

Sincerely,
ROI Roger

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please be respectful and share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post.

Here’s to your health!

Posted in leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, Planning, volunteers

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Tags: board of directors, executive leadership, fiduciary responsibilities, human resources, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, performance management, philanthropy, resource development

Dear board volunteers . . . A few observations and requests from a new member.

May 6

Posted by donordreams

I wanted to expand the Nonprofit Blog Carnival concept in May. So, I reached out to real non-profit people and asked them to also write an anonymous letter to their board volunteers. These people are executive directors, fundraising professionals, board members, donors, community volunteers, consultants and front line staff. I promised everyone anonymity in exchange for their submissions.

We will celebrate May’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. Up to that fun-filled day, I will publish real anonymous letters every day from real non-profit professionals right here at DonorDreams blog.

I hope you enjoy this real look at real issues that our community deals with on a daily basis.

Here is today’s letter:

Dear Board Members:

I’m absolutely thrilled and honored to be serving with each of you and to be of service to this fine organization. I consider my board service to be a privilege. I hope each of you feel the same way.

I do have some observations after serving on this board for the past seven months. They are as follows:

Madame Board chair, respect your fellow board members. While you were a teacher during your professional days, you are no longer dealing with students. Your fellow board members, or at least this board member, is a professional. Treat me as you would like to be treated. If you are having a bad day, please keep that to yourself. Frankly, I couldn’t care less if you are crabby. Do you really want that fact recorded in our board minutes?

Let’s try and have some fun with our board service. Our organization does not deal with life and death situations. It’s ok to interject some humor in or discussions.

We need to hold our CEO accountable. Setting stretch goals, providing regular feedback on performance and completing a written performance evaluation is important to our work and central to us meeting our outcomes. Let’s not shy away from having the difficult and uncomfortable conversations with our CEO. We will be a better organization in the long run as a result.

While fundraising is not central to our mission there is not one single reason why we cannot develop a culture of fund and friend raising in our organization.

WE NEED A STRATEGIC PLAN. Let’s plan our work and work our plan.

Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest are here to stay. Our clients use social media. We need to be optimized across multiple communication channels. A website is great, but it’s no longer enough. The sooner we understand social media, the sooner we will reap the many benefits it has to offer us.

Just because an organization is 4X larger or 4X smaller than we are, does not mean that we can’t learn from them.

Can we please try to recruit fellow board members strategically?

Can we do something socially as a board so we can get to know one another?

That’s all for me. Just some random early observations from your newest board member. In spite of the above, each of you, in your own way, has energized me around our mission and the importance of our work.

All the best,
The new guy

If you have some advice for the author of our anonymous letter, please be respectful and share it in the comment box at the bottom of this post. If you are a blogger looking to participate in this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival and want to learn more, then please click here.

Here’s to your health!

Posted in Board development, Board governance, Fundraising, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, Planning, resource development, technology, volunteers

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Tags: board of directors, fundraising, leadership, nonprofit, organizational development, philanthropy, resource development, technology, volunteers

Donor Dreams Blog

Category Archives: nonprofit

Dear board volunteers . . . Please join for the right reasons.

Dear board volunteer . . . A few questions first.

Dear board volunteers . . . please speak up at board meetings

Dear board volunteers . . . I’m sorry about so very much!

Dear board volunteers . . . please do a better job with your recruitment efforts

Dear board volunteers . . . digging in your heels doesn’t help us!

Dear board volunteers . . . I can’t do this all by myself.

Dear board volunteers . . . There is no “I” in board.

Dear board volunteer . . . Please invest in my potential and development.

Dear board volunteers . . . A few observations and requests from a new member.

Hi, I am Erik

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Category Archives: nonprofit

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