Strategic Support for Governing Boards
Realize your organization’s true potential with an engaged, efficient and effective governing board.
A Combination of People and Process
A high-performing board of directors is an organization’s greatest asset, yet not all boards can independently maintain optimum performance. Following periods of significant growth or change, boards can lose clarity around governance responsibilities versus management responsibilities, feel stagnancy in the process of recruiting new members, or continue to operate under a governance structure that no longer aligns with the organization’s strategic priorities.
When that happens, a third-party board consultant is often uniquely able to bring things back into alignment by partnering with board and executive leadership to conduct a comprehensive governance assessment. Objective, knowledgeable and experienced, professional board consultants help directors and staff alike gain a fresh perspective and re-engage with one another, the organization and the mission.
Transform Governance works with organizations to maximize board performance by conducting comprehensive governance assessments and providing strategic counsel.
Could Your Board Perform better?
Governing boards don’t become less effective because their members don’t care about the mission or don’t want to do good work. In some cases, board members — and even executive leadership — may simply not have had the opportunity to see what a strong, healthy board operating at full capacity looks like. In other cases, the board’s culture may have changed so gradually that members aren’t even aware it has happened. Consider the following questions:
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A governance assessment can help to identify the real issues causing boards to micromanage. Additionally, a well-planned retreat that includes board continuing education can serve as a platform to educate or re-educate board and staff on the separation of roles and responsibilities.
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Form follows function. If your board has established committees that have not met in more than six months, this is a sign that the committee structure no longer aligns with the organization’s priorities, or the board needs to re-evaluate and clarify the committees’ primary scope of responsibility. An assessment can bring a fresh and objective perspective to evaluating and restructuring your committees for better engagement and effectiveness.
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This is one of the greatest challenges for nonprofit organizations. There is no one-size-fits-all model for engaging the board in fundraising, but there are fundamentals that boards should understand regarding the process. By understanding the fundraising process, board members will have more clarity around how they personally can best engage.
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Conducting a comprehensive governance assessment can help align the board and staff, setting a framework for accountability, and positioning the organization for success in developing or refreshing its strategic plan.
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An assessment addresses how well the board is carrying out its fiduciary oversight and provides best practice standards to ensure Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty and Duty of Obedience are top-of-mind in the boardroom.
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An assessment can reveal areas for strategic board member recruitment, but first focuses the conversation on process and what the board must first address before approaching new board candidates.
Our Process
Assess
Understand from board and executive leadership the issues and opportunities the organization is facing.
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Facilitate
Prepare a comprehensive report and moderate dialogue regarding findings and next steps
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3
Implement
Partner with board and executive leadership to implement consensus recommendations
Charged to Transform
In multiple conversations throughout my career, a chief executive or board chair has come to me with the charge to transform governance of the organization they lead. I’ve worked with boards in both a professional and volunteer capacity to transform their governance practices, boost their members’ engagement and optimize their performance systematically and strategically.
What I love most about working with boards is that it’s a combination of people and process. To build a high-performing board, you need someone who not only understands the structural elements of board governance, but also someone who can take in multiple perspectives and synthesize the information in a way that will bring the board and staff together.
I would love to transform governance for your board.
—Karen Monteleone, Principal Consultant
Ready to Transform Your Board’s Governance?
We would love to first learn about your mission and how we can best serve your board! Please complete our brief intake form and a consultant will follow up within 24 hours to schedule a free 30-minute virtual consultation.