1. Building Successful and Engaging Boards The “Effectiveness Spectrum”
Gina M. Fromer, MS
Executive Coach & Organizational Consultant

2. The Effectiveness Spectrum - Board
Highly Effective
Baseline Effective
Not Effective
(functioning)
Strategic Focus and Direction – understands vision
Culture of self evaluation and accountability
Healthy Attention to board development and recuitment
Exceeds fundraising goals (100% board giving)
High Participation levels
Board governance
Understands mission of the organization
Minimal participation
Meets fundraising goals, or not
Some board members understand their roles others don’t
Meet the requirements of an organizational board
Coming to board meeting with no strategic direction
Lack of use of the strengths of board members
No fundraising or personal gifts by board members
A “Yes –board”
Board not bringing in new board members

3. Successful Board = Organizational Success
Community Engagement – they are involved in the community
Mission Movement - they understand the mission of the organization
Capacity Building – looking for ways to build the organization
Excitement for the Organization – They share stories
Partnership with Leadership – In it together approach

4. Staff Leadership & The Board (The Partnership)
Understand roles and responsibilities – by-laws
Be a working board – effective committee structure
Career matrix – know their strengths
Board training – fundraising and governance
Board recruitment - Onboarding new board members

5. Building a AAA Board
What is a AAA Board? A board with this rating is one where every member is motivated to be an: Ambassador Advocate Asker AAA is a tool, ensuring follow through by staff and board leaders

6. Board “Ambassadors”
Every board member needs to be an Ambassador: to make friends and build relationships – with and for the organization
Ambassadors know the history of the organization and the elevator pitch
Ambassadors understand organizational impact “stories”
They are critical in cultivating new donors and interest in the organization

7. Board “Advocates”
Advocates are constantly making the case (formal and informal) for the organization’s mission, and are key to recruitment of other volunteers
They work to attain an outcome: very strategic in their information sharing; strong board recruiters
They will go out and speak on your behalf in formal and informal settings, write letters, and act as sounding boards for your mission in the community
Advocates are well coached on the impact of the organization

8. Board “Askers”
Askers like making “the Ask” and can be viewed as front- line fundraisers
Enjoy – and thrive on - asking others for time, treasure, and talent to support the organizational mission
Askers like to be paired up with the leadership and/or other board members to solicit gifts
Askers benefit from the work of the Ambassadors and the Advocates

9. The AAA Board- How do you know?
Board members excel and begin to feel confident
The board becomes a ”Working Board” where everyone is able to feel valued and see that things are getting done
As Kay Sprinkel Grace notes in her book – The AAA Way to Fundraising and Maximizing Involvement - “As motivation increases, you may find them moving among the roles – even the Asker”!
No one wants a “yes-board.” Leadership wants partners and thought leaders

10. As leaders, we grapple with these issues – quotes from actual ED’s
Can’t find good board members
Board doesn’t show up to meetings
Can’t get them to donate, let alone ask for donations
Some of the board members have been on too long; what do we do?
They never ask questions, only agree with everything
They joined the board for the ED, not the mission
They don’t even know what we do
How do I get millenials on the board?
Not diverse enough
They only come for the food

11. Take 10 minutes to talk to your neighbors and discuss solutions

12. What can you do? Emeritus board for long-term board members
Strong board committee structure (where the work happens)
Constant communication with the board leadership – prioritize time
ED’s arrange monthly lunch or coffee with board members
Offer training to them on “the Ask” – and seek out training yourself!
Together, set your vision for the organization - understand mission to get you there
Get together as a board - celebrate impact
Make sure the board understands their roles and responsibilities
Have fun! You are doing great work in and for communities

13. Thank you
Resources: Kay Sprinkel Grace – The AAA Way to Fundraising Success: Maximum Involvement, Maximum Results BoardSource: Boardsource.org Compass Point: Compasspoint.org