It is not enough to understand what makes a board of directors successful. You also must understand how to build your board to become and remain a strong, effective group that can fulfill its governance and support responsibilities.
The job of building a board is much more than just filling slots. Gone are the days where we went out and recruited our friends and neighbors to fill empty chairs with folks who want “just to do something good”. Today it is about finding leaders who have the skill sets and perspectives that align with your agency’s mission, goals, and needs — and not just now, but in the future as well. In addition, finding one great recruit isn’t enough. You want to find the right blend of skills, expertise, community connections, diverse perspectives and racial identities, and spheres of influence across the board as a whole. The right mix of people and skills is the key to success, which requires structure and planning. And once you have the right mix of people, it is also vital that you work to keep board members engaged, educated and motivated.
The resources provided here will help get you started on the path to building the board that you need to steer your organization forward in a manner that will assure you are able to continue to meet your mission.