Boyd's Blog - Board of Directors

Board Members as Ambassadors

Boyd Bailey — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:00:00 GMT

This excerpt is from a helpful fundraising blog on ways board members can share enthusiasm and become more enthusiastic: Task them—once a month, once a quarter, once a year—with something specific: •Introduce one colleague to the organization •Invite a friend to have breakfast with the CEO •Host an intimate event where at least 75% of the attendees are their contacts. •Give a talk about the organization (or arrange for you to give the talk) at their service or professional club. Whatever it is, keep it simple; simple enough that they will feel it is something they can (and therefore will) do and can be easily tracked by you.

Boards and Fundraising

Boyd Bailey — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:00:00 GMT

When Mike Kendrick, Eric Swartz, and I founded Ministry Ventures in 1999, we based it on generosity. We wanted to support ministries that needed help getting started. So we provided money, mentoring, and a facility. As an expression of that generous giving spirit, our board decided from the very beginning to be responsible for 20% of our annual operating budget. Today each of our board members gives, raises, or does a combination of both to provide $20,000 each. This generous giving is invaluable for the sustainability of the ministry, but it also sends a positive message to givers and foundations we approach as candidates for support. How much cash does your board give to the ministry? What percentage of the budget does your board support? Foundations ask these questions. This 10-minute video contains tips for involving your board in fundraising.

An Engaging Board Agenda

Boyd Bailey — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:00:00 GMT

Our standard meeting agenda begins with prayer and reading one of our six values. We have a devotional and then approve the minutes from the last meeting. Over the next two and a half hours we discuss progress in the following areas: marketing/sales, program, finances, partnerships, and governance. These five priorities make up the template for our meetings. Then we add these questions: Marketing/Sales • Do we have the necessary collateral to communicate our message clearly? • What does our field staff need to be successful? • What results has the field staff accomplished? • How are the Internet and our website supporting our marketing strategy? Programs • What do ministries like best about our training and coaching? • What do ministries want improved in our training and coaching? • Do the coaches have what they need to be successful? • What do our surveys say about the coaches’ effectiveness? Finances • Is our budget-to-actual tracking? ...

The Secret to a Great Board of Directors

Boyd Bailey — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 10:00:00 GMT

The board chair is the most important position on the board, and it should be filled by a seasoned ministry board member. He or she becomes your go-to person for ministry questions. Your board chair should be available for phone consultations, encouragement over a cup of coffee, or financial accountability. The two of you will collaborate on the board agenda and brainstorm on strategy and implementation. The board chair is a player/coach, available to lick stamps or accompany the ministry leader on a fundraising visit. As the leader of the ministry, you are accountable to the board of directors, and your board chair represents them in demanding that accountability. It’s a big mistake for you to serve simultaneously as board chair and ministry leader. Having both jobs does not work well in either the for-profit or nonprofit world. This mixing of roles dilutes accountability; in some cases, accountability even ceases to exist. The proverbial fox is keeping an eye on the hen house! Therefore, praye ...

A Quality Board of Directors

Boyd Bailey — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:00:00 GMT

The quality of the ministry does not rise any higher than the quality of its board of directors. Said another way, the quality of your board determines the quality of your ministry. Your board is a reflection of the ministry, and the ministry is a reflection of the board. With this in mind, may I gently ask, “How’s your board doing?” Are they engaged and enthusiastic, or are they serving only because they feel obligated? Do they give generously? Are they ”evangelizing” for your mission in the community? And does your board step up to validate the ministry strategy and hold the executive director accountable? Active boards are interested and involved. The board of directors gives the ministry and its leadership credibility. When people associate a respected board member with a ministry, they instinctively assign respect to the ministry. This is a good “guilt by association” that gives the ministry a reputation of good standing in the community. See our Best Practices in your board development and ...

New Board Members

Cindy Lowry — Wed, 26 May 2010 10:00:00 GMT

New board members bring fresh perspective and energy to board meetings. They don’t know any better than to ask questions that may be the very thing needed to break up a logjam in thinking. For example, recently one of our new board members asked whether our field staff financial model was the same for full-time and part-time contractors. It was an honest question that caused us to modify our schedule to be more in line with what’s fair for all parties. So, where do you find new board members? Day in and day out pray for the Holy Spirit to direct you to someone who may have a passion for your calling. It may be a new acquaintance who is looking for significance in his or her new season of work, or it may be an old friend who has come back into your life and is looking to serve. Pray and look for divine appointments since God has His agents everywhere. Last, perhaps you draft a spreadsheet similar to the one we use called, Ministry Ventures Board Candidates. This is a document you ...

Advisory Board

Cindy Lowry — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:00:00 GMT

An advisory board for business or ministry is a must for those whose desire is to make the best decisions. My friend Adam Strange—out of necessity—has created a really cool process he follows in filling his advisory board roles.

I shared Adam’s one pager recently with a group of 70 businessmen in Wichita, Kansas, and it was well received. It may help you.

Not a Bored Board

Cindy Lowry — Thu, 06 May 2010 10:00:00 GMT

Our Ministry Ventures’ board has its own quirks and dysfunctions, but one thing we’re not is boring. We are a broadly gifted group of highly motivated, type-A leaders. None of us lacks an opinion or confidence. Fortunately we all are accountable to check our egos at the door and begin our board meetings in humble prayer and dependence on the Lord. All this being said, make sure you are not overly harmonious, or you will run off good, bored board members. Patrick Lencioni in his excellent book, Death By Meeting, describes how the most effective meetings resemble a good movie; they’re full of conflict. I think he is right, and applied in the ministry world we have to be more intentional and invite healthy debate. Perhaps you add, “Bang the Table” as a board agenda item, but place it strategically after your prayer time. Conflict keeps people awake. Board members who are not bored show up on time for board meetings, and they bring energy and enthusiasm with them. They feel valued when they are able ...