Rethinking the Executive Committee
The Board’s Relationship with the Chief Executive: Three Best Practices
The most important relationship in any nonprofit organization is the relationship between the board and chief executive. The resulting constructive partnership moves the mission forward. Few responsibilities of a nonprofit board have more long-term impact than building a strong and effective partnership with the organization’s chief executive. When this relationship is grounded in trust, clarity, and mutual accountability, it becomes a driving […]
Rethinking the Executive Committee: Myths, Realities, and a Better Approach
During your onboarding call, the Mollard team likely asked whether your nonprofit has a Governance or Nominating Committee. The reason for this question is complex, but ultimately, it’s because a Governance Committee is preferred to an Executive Committee. This resource explains why. The Myth of the Executive Committee Many nonprofit boards operate under a long-held […]
The Glass Cliff: What Nonprofits Need to Know
What Is the Glass Cliff? The Building Movement Project conducted an important study in 2019 called “Trading Glass Ceilings for Glass Cliffs: A Race to Lead Report on Nonprofit Executives of Color.” The study confirmed what many nonprofit leaders of color already know from lived experience – advancing to a leadership role, such as Executive […]
The Glass Cliff: What Board Members Need to Know
What Is the Glass Cliff? The Building Movement Project conducted an important study in 2019 called “Trading Glass Ceilings for Glass Cliffs: A Race to Lead Report on Nonprofit Executives of Color.” The study confirmed what many nonprofit leaders of color already know from lived experience – advancing to a leadership role, such as Executive […]
Write It Right: Mission, Vision, and Values Statements
What is 141 words long (1,031 characters with spaces), was approved by the board after months of painful wrangling, and has not been read in its entirety since then? A worst-case nonprofit mission statement. (Although the word count is from an actual client!) While the excessive number of words is clearly one problem, another is […]
Mission, Vision, and Values Statements Video
The Power of Effective Onboarding
Now that your organization has identified a board member match through Board Building, a critical next step is supporting new board members through onboarding and orientation. This is where engagement and connection truly begin. Thoughtful onboarding sets the tone for a healthy, productive board culture — and it’s one of the most overlooked opportunities in nonprofit […]
Doing Board Mentorship Right
The first year of board service is a critical time for new board members. They are learning about the organization and its mission and impact at the same time they are learning about the board and its culture and people. If board processes are opaque or board dynamics limit the participation of new members, those […]
Pre-Read for Creating a Board Posting
Below are the questions and response options that will appear in Board Building when you build your board posting. Use this guide to collaborate with others and to make decisions on your board’s needs prior to entering the information online. Remember, this posting is how you will highlight the skills, experiences, and demographics of an […]