The Board Building Cycle
EVALUATE
+ info
IDENTIFY
CELEBRATE
+ info
+ info
Start Here
+ info
RECRUIT
ENGAGE
+ info
+ info
ORIENT
+ info
The Board Building Cycle
How to use this infographic: There are six stages to the Board Building Cycle. To use this tool, you can click on the circle that represents the stage in the cycle you want to learn about. There is an "Info" icon in each circle, and if you click or tap on that you will get a short description of that stage. The first stage is "Evaluate" and unless you have a specific need, we encourage you to start there and scroll through the whole presentation by clicking or tapping the arrow on the right of your screen. Have fun, and we hope you will learn something that helps.
Back
EVALUATE
How did the board do this past year? What/Who do we need?
Think About:
- The place to start the board building cycle is by looking back at how the board has done this past year.
- The next step is to look forward and decide what you need on the board in order to accomplish goals for this coming year.
- Ask yourself how you want to build the right board that can be a true partner for your organization. Should the board reflect the demographics of the community you serve, or should your recruitment focus on the skills and attributes you need?
- Click on the "Tips" button to get some more thoughts about evaluation. Click on "Tools" to get access to the tools you can use to do evaluation.
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
EVALUATE: Tips
- Take some time to review the board's effectiveness as a group, and each director individually.
- Self-assessment can work, but facilitated assessment can be more revealing.
- Is the board providing the right amount of leadership, oversight, and support as they take the organization in their care? There is no rubric to measure this other than what your organization needs.
- Take your strategic and/or business plan and measure success against that.
- Use the plan(s) to look ahead - what are the next things the organization is going to do, and how does the board add to that?
- Do you have the right skills, attributes, and demographics on the board to achieve the goals?
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
EVALUATE: Tools
- Use UEDA/NAWi's BoardGPS self-assessment tool to evaluate your board's effectiveness.
- Look at descriptions of board effectiveness to better understand what is expected of a board. BoardSource and the Standards for Excellence are good sources.
- Use a board grid to assess the skills, attributes, and demographics that you have on the board compared to what you will need.
- In the "More Resources" section, you will find a Board Service Agreement template. Use it at the start of each year to have directors make a commitment and then use it again at the end of the year to work with each director, individually, on how they did.
- Click any of these buttons to access a resource:
BoardSource
Board Grid
BoardGPS
Standards for Excellence
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
Back toThe Cycle
IDENTIFY
Be intentional about the process to find people to serve.
Think About:
Tools and Tips:
- Remember that a candiate for your board is someone who has interest in service, has the attributes you are looking for, and knows about your organization.
- Have you heard about someone in the community you serve that has the right stuff to be on the board?
- If you diversify the demographics of your board, are the current directors ready to hear those new voices?
- Draft and share a recruitment policy to outline the steps the process will take
- Don't wait until the end of the year to recruit - it should be a year-round process.
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
IDENTIFY: Tips
- Develop a policy for how candidates are to be nominated: don't let people run off to a firend/colleague and ask them to serve without going through the process.
- Talk to your current board directors, the staff, and your partners - they may have ideas you haven't thought of.
- Who is going to lead the process? Commission a Governance Committee to implement the recruitment and orientation process.
- Host information sessions for potential candidates. One hour long, sharing good information, with no pressure or expectations.
- Invite some good candidates to serve on a committee to see if there is a good fit before recruiting them to the board.
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
IDENTIFY: Tools
- Talk to HR or corporate social responsibility departments at local businesses to see if they have a program encouraging board service.
- Provide easy access to a nomination form for people who have a candidate in mind.
- In Wisconsin, you can post opportunities on JobsThatHelp
- Click any of these buttons to access a resource:
JobsThatHelp
Recruitment Policy
Nomination Form
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
RECRUIT
Getting the right people on your bus is delicate work
Think About:
- Why do people join a board? It could be altruism, the desire to build their career, or a connection to the mission. But the number 1 reason they join is that someone asked them to.
- Do you have a board position description or another document that will accurately describe the expectations you have of a board director?
- What should a candidate know about your organization that will excite them?
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
RECRUIT: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
RECRUIT: Tools
- Click any of these buttons to access a resource:
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
ORIENT
Once they are on your board, help them get a running start
Think About:
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
ORIENT: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
ORIENT: Tools
- Click any of these buttons to access a resource:
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
ENGAGE
Now is the time foryour board directors to give, get, and do
Think About:
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
ENGAGE: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
ENGAGE: Tools
- Click any of these buttons to access a resource:
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
CELEBRATE
Thank the ones leaving the board Call out the ones who did good work
Think About:
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
CELEBRATE: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
CELEBRATE: Tools
- Click any of these buttons to access a resource:
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
The Basics of Good Governance Governance in the nonprofit sector involves
taking an organization in your care
by providing a combination of
leadership, oversight, and support. Care Nurture the organization as a gardener nurtures the garden. Guard the mission. Represent the community. Make tough decisions when the need arises Leadership Offer direction and goals for the organization. Adopt plans for the staff to follow. Evaluate the Chief Staff Officer, providing clear expectations for the year. Set and track compliance with policies that reflect the organization’s values OversightProtect the community’s investment. Oversee the financial condition of the organization. Measure the impact on the people being served. Ensure the organization is in compliance with internal and external laws. Support Secure the resources the organization needs to fulfill the mission. Motivate and thank staff, volunteers, and donors. Serve as the organization’s ambassador in the community. Be available to answer questions or make connections when asked.
BOARD BUILDING CYCLE
Robert Meiksins
Created on April 24, 2024
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Transcript
The Board Building Cycle
EVALUATE
+ info
IDENTIFY
CELEBRATE
+ info
+ info
Start Here
+ info
RECRUIT
ENGAGE
+ info
+ info
ORIENT
+ info
The Board Building Cycle
How to use this infographic: There are six stages to the Board Building Cycle. To use this tool, you can click on the circle that represents the stage in the cycle you want to learn about. There is an "Info" icon in each circle, and if you click or tap on that you will get a short description of that stage. The first stage is "Evaluate" and unless you have a specific need, we encourage you to start there and scroll through the whole presentation by clicking or tapping the arrow on the right of your screen. Have fun, and we hope you will learn something that helps.
Back
EVALUATE
How did the board do this past year? What/Who do we need?
Think About:
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
EVALUATE: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
EVALUATE: Tools
BoardSource
Board Grid
BoardGPS
Standards for Excellence
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
Back toThe Cycle
IDENTIFY
Be intentional about the process to find people to serve.
Think About:
Tools and Tips:
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
IDENTIFY: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
IDENTIFY: Tools
JobsThatHelp
Recruitment Policy
Nomination Form
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
RECRUIT
Getting the right people on your bus is delicate work
Think About:
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
RECRUIT: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
RECRUIT: Tools
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
ORIENT
Once they are on your board, help them get a running start
Think About:
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
ORIENT: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
ORIENT: Tools
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
ENGAGE
Now is the time foryour board directors to give, get, and do
Think About:
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
ENGAGE: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
ENGAGE: Tools
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
CELEBRATE
Thank the ones leaving the board Call out the ones who did good work
Think About:
TOOLS
TIPS
CONTACT US
Short Video
More Resources
THE CYCLE
CELEBRATE: Tips
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
CELEBRATE: Tools
CONTACT US
Back to The Cycle
Short Video
More Resources
The Basics of Good Governance Governance in the nonprofit sector involves taking an organization in your care by providing a combination of leadership, oversight, and support. Care Nurture the organization as a gardener nurtures the garden. Guard the mission. Represent the community. Make tough decisions when the need arises Leadership Offer direction and goals for the organization. Adopt plans for the staff to follow. Evaluate the Chief Staff Officer, providing clear expectations for the year. Set and track compliance with policies that reflect the organization’s values OversightProtect the community’s investment. Oversee the financial condition of the organization. Measure the impact on the people being served. Ensure the organization is in compliance with internal and external laws. Support Secure the resources the organization needs to fulfill the mission. Motivate and thank staff, volunteers, and donors. Serve as the organization’s ambassador in the community. Be available to answer questions or make connections when asked.