Strong Nonprofit Leader-Board Relationships Set the Stage for Success

The most successful nonprofits share a fundamental trait. At the heart of each organization, the leader (president, CEO or executive director) and governing board have worked hard to cultivate and maintain a supportive, productive relationship.

There are, of course, other measures of success – a high-performing team, significant community impact. But a constructive nonprofit leader-board relationship sets the foundation for your organization. When these parties move in sync, your agenda moves forward. But if relationships sour, your nonprofit will likely struggle to thrive – or even survive – in the communities it serves.

If either of these scenarios sounds familiar or your nonprofit is stuck somewhere in between, a look at best practices will help you determine whether you’re on the right track or a course correction is needed.

Four Signs Your Nonprofit Leader-Board Relationship Is Working

1. Everyone’s Rowing in the Same Direction

Simply put, when nonprofit leaders and board members agree on direction, things get done. Strategic planning plays an important role here. By developing a 2- to 3-year strategic plan and revisiting it annually, you establish a solid roadmap for your organization and reaffirm it – and everyone’s commitment – along the way.

Open, honest communication is essential. Nonprofit leaders and boards must be transparent about the organization’s fiscal health and changing needs, and open to resolving conflicts constructively. That requires good listening skills, and a willingness to accept criticism and initiate difficult conversations when needed.

2. Mutual Respect, Mutual Support

Nonprofit leaders and board members are very busy people! Often, presidents or CEOs wear multiple hats, and board members typically have demanding full-time careers outside the nonprofit they serve. To keep things moving forward requires a strong support system: an engaged board chair, a solid board committee structure and a nonprofit leader who proactively manages board relations.

Good things happen when the nonprofit leader and board chair build a strong relationship based on mutual support and respect. Leaders need a board chair who advocates for them and motivates fellow board and committee members to complete assignments. They need a board chair who solves issues, tracks board goals (such as fundraising) and helps them make informed decisions about new board and staff members, potential funders and partners.

At the same time, board chairs and members need an engaged nonprofit leader (or staff member at larger nonprofits) who manages board relations, attends board meetings, sets up committee meetings and provides administrative support to board members who need assistance to complete their assignments.

3. The Right Board Members in the Right Seats

To help set the direction for a nonprofit, a governing board requires members who will actively participate and bring the right resources to the table. Here’s where an engaged leader can really make a difference.

A strong president or CEO gets to know each board member professionally and personally. The leader assesses the value each member brings to the organization, identifies gaps and works with the board’s nominating committee to fill those holes with the talent needed to move the nonprofit forward.

Board members add value in different ways. Some have critical professional skillsets – finance, legal, HR. Others raise significant money through their high-profile connections. Others may possess needed personal skills – good listener, good negotiator, well respected.

No matter what, board members need to participate. If they’re not adding value and not showing up, it’s time for replacement. Just as important, the president or CEO must set clear expectations for board members before they join: number of meetings and events to attend each year, amount expected to donate, quantity of introductions to facilitate, term limits and more.

4. Accountability Is Valued

Your nonprofit can do everything right – the president or CEO and board agree with the direction of the organization, the leader and board chair have a strong, supportive relationship, engaged board members are adding value – but it’s all for nothing if you don’t hold each other accountable.

As your organization and board set short-term and long-term goals, they must also assign responsibility, track progress and report results. The buck has to stop somewhere. When you value accountability, your organization becomes better positioned to make meaningful progress and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of the communities you serve.

Need Help?

If your nonprofit needs more strategic guidance, The Vella Group can help. For more information, contact info@vellagroup.com.