where’s waldo? finding (and keeping) multigenerational board members

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WHERE’S WALDO? FINDING (AND KEEPING) MULTIGENERATIONAL BOARD MEMBERS

Habitat for Humanity of Colorado Camp Colorado: Sustainability Save the Day!

June 4, 2014

Emily Davis, MNM, CGT Emily Davis Consulting

#habitatforhumanity #governance #nextgendonors


TURN ON YOUR TECH

Follow the conversation… @AskEmilyD #habitatforhumanity #governance #nonprofit #nextgendonors



WHO ARE THE GENERATIONS?

GENERATION TRADITIONALISTS (1900-1945)

BOOMERS (1946-1964)

GEN XERS (1965-1980)

MILLENIALS (1981-1999)

ALSO KNOWN AS…

Veterans, Silent Generation, WWII

Generation

Baby Boomers Xers Gen Y, Nexters, Nintendo

Generation

INFLUENCERS World wars, The Depression

Television, Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movements

Internet, Madonna, Bill

Gates, Friends, Rodney King

Social media, iPods, 9/11,

American Idol

MARKETING Conservative imagery, legacy,

family, well-known brands

Healthy lifestyle, hard work, team

work

Inclusive, straight talk, environment

images, multi-channel

Multi-ethnic, green, sexier,

celebrity



TURN TO YOUR LEFT

1.  Name and generation you are.

2.  What were two social/economic/political/world experiences that influenced you?

3.  How did one of those experiences shape your professional life?



WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

•  Next leaders •  Build loyalty to org •  Transfer of wealth •  Diversity •  New perspectives •  Incredible networks •  Time, talent,

treasure & ties #habitatforhumanity #governance #nextgendonors


LET’S TAKE A POLL

How many generations are involved in your organization?

q One? q Two? q Three? q Four?





NEXT GENERATION


FINDING SUCCESS

Success!

Joyful leadership

Accountability

Expectations

Art Science



ESSENTIALS OF BOARD LEADERSHIP

•  Mission comes first •  Greater responsibility •  Know the

responsibilities •  Use committees •  Board terms •  Assessment •  Strategic plan •  Invest in learning



10 BASIC BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

1.  Determine mission & purpose

2.  Select the chief executive 3.  Support & evaluate the

chief executive 4.  Ensure effective planning 5.  Monitor & strengthen

programs & services

6.  Ensure adequate financial resources

7.  Protect assets & provide financial oversight

8.  Build a competent board 9.  Ensure legal & ethical

integrity 10.  Enhance the

organization’s public standing



ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Set organizational direction –  Long-term –  Not tactical

•  Provide oversight –  Evaluation –  Financial & legal –  Policies

•  Ensure resources –  Financial –  Human –  How resources are

acquired



THE HATS WE WEAR

Legal Hat

Ambassador Hat

Volunteer Hat



Board Leads

Shares values thru policies that put mission into action

Hires, supports, assesses ED

Opens funding resources in community

Oversees financial due diligence

Recruits & retains new board members

ED Leads

Develops/ Proposes policy questions

Hires, supervises, motivates staff

Develops & implements programs

Shared Leadership

Strategic plan

Fundraising plan & strategies

Evaluations

Prep board meetings

SHARED LEADERSHIP



WHAT DOES NOT WORK?

•  Unclear expectations •  Lack of commitment •  Low engagement •  Work load issues •  Under valued •  Under utilized



WHAT DOES WORK?

•  Commit adequate resources

•  Adopt a mutually-beneficial mindset

•  Conduct assessments •  Provide regular and

appropriate recognition •  Understand diversity



BOARD CULTURE

•  How would someone new experience your board culture?

•  What do you want your board culture to be?

•  How can you model great leadership?

•  Do others inside and outside of the organization see great leadership?



RECRUITMENT PLAN

•  Process & timeline •  Board member

leads •  Job descriptions •  Board self-eval •  Application •  Interviews •  Notification



BOARD ASSESSMENTS

•  Skills & expertise •  Demographics – age,

ethnicity, gender •  Networks •  Wealth & access to wealth •  Relationship to mission



APPLICATION ELEMENTS

•  Contact info •  Professional role(s) •  Education •  Nonprofit experiences •  Skills, background, expertise •  Interest in the org •  Leadership role(s) •  Committee interests •  Board leadership knowledge •  Motivation(s) for joining



REACH OUT

•  Current & past board members’ networks

•  Committees •  Staff •  Volunteers •  Donors •  Online networks, social media •  Universities •  Young professionals groups



CREATE A PIPELINE




CANDIDATE DUE DILIGENCE

•  Use interviews •  Match candidate with assessment •  Discuss with board development

committee / entire board •  Learn about work ethic, past work •  Trust your gut! •  Invite final candidate(s) to a

board meeting. •  Seek complete board approval •  Don’t tokenize!



EVALUATION

•  Feedback from board candidates

•  Debrief among entire board

•  Debrief in board development committee

•  Make necessary revisions / improvements



WHAT MAKES ‘EM TICK*

• Always YES • Wants to help everyone & everything

• Caution!

OVER-COMMITTED

• Need lots to stay engaged

• Don’t let them sit around

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

• Verbal & print

• Use titles & acknowledgment

LIKES RECOGNITION

• Stays focused & on track • Great for events • May get discouraged by others’ lack of support

ORGANIZER

• Lots of ideas for improvement

• Pair with an Organizer to keep things moving

CREATIVE

*Abigail Harmon



GREAT RETENTION = GREAT ORIENTATION

•  Overview & History •  Philosophy & Values •  Programs & Resources •  Fundraising Overview •  Board Structure & Resources

–  Description & Expectations –  Communications –  Board manual

•  Letter of commitment •  Committees •  Board Buddies!!



KEY TO GREAT MEETINGS

•  Time to socialize – have fun!

•  Mission moments •  Board reports & consent

agendas •  Rotating responsibilities •  Financial & volunteer

accountability •  Follow up action plans



BOARD REPORTS

•  Keep focus on governance

•  Save meeting time •  Share planning

responsibilities •  Committee & project

reports one week in advance

•  Committee name & month

•  Necessary votes, board discussion items

•  Goal progress related to strategic plan

•  Summary of meeting discussion

•  Timeline & important dates

•  Next meeting #habitatforhumanity #governance #nextgendonors


SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Roberta’s Rules

•  Mission moment

•  Facilitation, time keeper

•  Minutes

•  Devil’s advocate

•  Other? #habitatforhumanity #governance #nextgendonors



PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

•  Critical for success •  In-services or required professional development

•  Hire outside facilitator

•  Examples: o  Financial management

o  Communications o  Fundraising

o  Leadership




GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

•  Improve the overall quality of board service & experience

•  Recruitment process

•  Professional development •  Manage strategic planning •  Organize social activities

•  Evaluate #habitatforhumanity #governance #nextgendonors



RECOGNIZE!

•  Share successes •  Connect successes to

board efforts •  Highlight individual

board member accomplishments

•  Proper recognition at term’s end

•  Stay connected #habitatforhumanity #governance #nextgendonors


10 WAYS TO WORK WITH EVERY GENERATION

1.  Know each gen’s value 2.  Recruit & retain

emerging leaders 3.  Learn individual &

generational motivations

4.  Be flexible with work/life balance

5.  Encourage peer learning

6.  Invest in talent development

7.  Develop trust to advance the work

8.  Encourage emotional connection & intelligence

9.  Communicate what accountability looks like

10. Understand & communicate work’s relevance



NEXT STEP?




ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?

How many of you feel ready to take

the first step toward meaningful

next gen board engagement?




RESOURCES

•  BoardSource •  4Good •  David LaPiana •  The Policy Governance

Model (Carver) •  Council of Nonprofits

•  Fundraising and the Next Generation

•  Next Gen Donors Report •  Millenial Donor Impact

Report •  Roberta’s Rules of Order •  A Fundraising Guide for

Nonprofit Board Members



BOOK GIVE AWAY!

Books for sale & signing with a 30% discount:

$34.95 for nonprofits

Credit card & check



Emily Davis, MNM Emily Davis Consulting

(720) 515-0581 [email protected]

emilydavisconsulting.com emilydavisconsulting.com/blog


where’s waldo? finding (and keeping) multigenerational board members

Government & Nonprofit