Board Development Recruiting an Effective Board Joey Wallace RESNA/NATTAP December 11, 2007

Board Development is a Moving Target Your Board is your Board Your Board is your Board We are all in a different place and phase: We are all in a different place and phase: (Start up, operational, growth) Try to pick the priorities and areas most relevant and return with several objectives to work on Try to pick the priorities and areas most relevant and return with several objectives to work on

Board/Committee Comparison Governing Boards are : fv Required by statute to discharge legal and ethical responsibilities that cannot be delegated Required by statute to discharge legal and ethical responsibilities that cannot be delegated Typically governing incorporated entities Typically governing incorporated entities Made up of members legally charged with responsibility Made up of members legally charged with responsibility Accountable to multiple stakeholders including the public interest Accountable to multiple stakeholders including the public interest Decision making bodies Decision making bodies Advisory Committees are: Established by government or by an organization Typically subgroups of incorporated entities, reporting to governing boards or CEO Made up of members who typically serve as advisors to supplement work of board, staff or others Made up of members who are accountable to the organization they advise, external agencies that authorize the Committee, or other parties as specified Advisory bodies

What are our Program Strengths to recruit Potential Board Members? Clear mission Clear mission Specific target population Specific target population Statewide outreach Statewide outreach Little competition Little competition Few if any Board requirements (membership, tenure, etc.) Few if any Board requirements (membership, tenure, etc.)

What are our program barriers? Limited funds Limited funds Invisible clientele Invisible clientele Program Restraints Program Restraints Low Visibility Low Visibility

Recruitment How can a Board member influence these barriers? What expectations should we hold for Board members ?

Key functions that influence short and long term Board performance? Disability representation Fundraising capacity Marketing expertise Legal perspectives Legislative influence Accounting/Audit awareness Vendor contacts

Define a “Dream Team” Pursue with deliberation people who share the organization’s: Motivations Motivations Values Values Experiences Experiences Skills to help the organization reach the desired level of excellence Skills to help the organization reach the desired level of excellence

Board Member Profile Desired Characteristics Current Members Prospective Members All Members should have: Demonstrated interest before nomination Willingness to serve as Ambassador Experience with assistive technology Previous Board service Able to attend meetings Known as a good decision maker

All Members should have one or more of these: Sensitivity to disability Knowledge of non-profit Board protocol Specialized knowledge of a component of program mission Helps balance the Board by disability representation Helps balance the Board by geographic representation Helps balance the Board by ethnicity Helps balance the Board by lifespan representation Experience in Marketing Has network of donor prospects Leadership in another organization important to our mission

Board Recruitment Define the job Define the job Agree on the profile of the future Board Agree on the profile of the future Board Develop qualifications for serving Develop qualifications for serving Adopt a plan to identify and nurture future prospects Adopt a plan to identify and nurture future prospects.

Homework Challenge each Board member to come up with 3 personal indicators of success for your Board.