Board Engagement and Development Strategic Networking and Planning Circle
Conversations about Board development and engagement in the context of mission-driven organizations take place in silos keeping apart those involved: Board members on one side and staff leadership on the other. This approach widens the gap between the two parties instead of bridging it.
The Board Engagement and Development Strategic Networking and Planning Circle aims to change this dynamic. It builds a space for mutual learning and exchanges that will inform Board development and engagement best practices and strategies.
Bridging the Gap
Bringing the two groups together as part of an interactive approach in which Board members and staff leadership work jointly as a unitary cohort as well as separately with their peers. This way, both groups have similar references but also the opportunity to interpret and relate to them through their own experiences.
Role-playing
In competitive sports, and video gaming, a team practice involves understanding and “role-playing” the competitors’ roles and strengths. While Boards are the farthest thing from leadership staff’s “competitors”, and vice-versa, this unique lens of approaching board/staff leadership dynamics deepens the mutual understanding of each group’s expectations.
Buddy-pairing
Pairing a Board member and a participant from the staff leadership group will start before the kick-off of the program. The “buddies” have the opportunity to connect more directly, reflect on the discussions and activities held in the sessions and create a relationship that will continue beyond the program.
Circle Details
Participants
- up to 8 Board members of different mission-driven organizations (board members can register here)
- up to 8 staff leadership of different mission-driven organizations (staff leadership can register here)
Structure
- Five three-hour sessions (15 hours) over the course of 5 months
- Discussion and presentations on various topics and case-studies
- Alternating Circle cohort-based meeting with peer group sessions
- Role-playing and buddy-pairing
Timeline
March 22rd, April 27th, May 18th, June (TBD), July (TBD) (dates subject to change)
Pricing
The cost of the program is $2,500.
A limited number of partial tuition waivers is available thanks to the generous support of the Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund.
Priorities
Concepts & Theory
Board culture (Overview):
the foundation of mission-driven boards
- Idealized board and staff leadership
- Diversity/leadership and participation
- Power/decision making and role as advocates in the community
Empowerment:
the drive of mission-driven boards
- Board building process
- CEO/board relationship
Reputation:
the instrument of mission-driven boards
- Board self-assessment
- Strategic planning
- Allocation of resources and investments
Legacy:
the goal of mission-driven boards
- Board and members’ legal and fidelity responsibilities
- Role in fundraising and development
- Future planning
Practical Application
Board building process
- Recruit, select, onboarding and engage
- Contract/set expectations
- Continuous learning and leadership development
Board and member legal responsibilities
- Fidelity
- Fiduciary
Board and CEO
- Recruitment and hiring of CEO
- CEO evaluation
- Termination/firing of CEO
- Managing and communication between CEO/Board/Chair
Crisis management
- Board discipline
- Legal challenges
- Operational crisis
- Termination of organization leadership
Board meetings
Board self-assessment
- Human capital
- Social capital
- Governance
- Organizational Performance
Strategic planning and allocation of resources and investments
- Techniques for strategic planning
Outcomes
Building a healthy engaged Board and Staff Leadership
- Human capital
- Social capital
- Governance
- Organizational performance
Understanding individual roles relating to organizational governance
- CEO and staff leadership
- Board chairs
- Board members
Understanding the staff - volunteer leadership relationship
- Communication
- Boundaries
- Power and decision-making
- Trust
Understanding how to benefit from diversity and board culture
- Setting tone and example of the mission-driven purpose
- Creating an open and inclusive culture that flows into the organization
Taking advantage of key opportunities
- Board meetings
- Community impact
- Board self-assessment
- Crisis management/response
- Strategic planning
Frequently asked questions
Participants must be able to attend all five sessions. The program is quite interactive and requires the attendance and participation of all members to achieve the best outcomes for all.
Registering through the website is all that is required. We will follow-up with further instructions and details as the start of the program approaches.
It is, only if the person you are transferring it to is another executive leadership member/board member within your same organization or has these roles in a different organization.
The cost of the program is $1200 down from its original price of $2500 thanks to the generous support of the Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund.
Contact bradley@caravanseraiproject.org. Happy to help!
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