Board Member Recruitment, Orientation and Development
Getting the best possible board members takes time and effort. Keeping them and getting the best out of them also requires focus on proper oreintation of new members and providing development opportunities for keeping the board sharp. These sites cover all aspects of getting the ideal composition of members on your board and making sure they are ready for the job.
-
This is part of the CICA's very useful "20 Questions" series covering many issues facing boards. Scroll down on this page to the list headed "Not for profit 20 questions series" and look for the title dealing with board recruitment. Be sure to check out the excellent sample assessment questionnaires.Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants -
It is important for all board members to be clear about their responsibilities. One way to make this happen is to have new members sign a "contract" that states what their duties are and what the organization's obligations are to them. For a sample of a board member contract see this one from Board Cafe.Compass Point Nonprofit Services -
This tool for assessing board performance is more detailed, thus providing a clearer picture of where board development is needed. Scroll down to "Board Self Assessment Questionnaire.doc" to access the tool.Prof. Vic Murray, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria -
To successfully develop a board, you have to find out which areas need improvement. All boards should engage in regular assessments of their own performance. Here is one example of how to do that from Carter McNamara.Authenticity Consulting -
A short, but very useful, discussion of what can be done when an individual board member consistently misses meetings or agrees to do something but fails to carry out the obligation.Blue Avocado -
This article by Canadian non profit consultant Cynthia Armour provides a quick reminder of how to get the best people on boards.Charity Village -
The ever provocative Hildy Gottlieb, head of www.helpfornonprofits.com, suggests here that seeking to increase ethnic, gender and other forms of diversity on the board might not be the main issue. Read her analysis of what is really needed for effective board recruitment.Help for Nonprofits -
See this guideline from Carter McNamara and check out the sample board recruitment grid and board member application form.Authenticity Consulting -
Another of the excellent booklets offered by the Alberta Department of Culture and Community Spirit, this resource covers all aspects of deciding who you should get on your board, how to find such people and how to get the best out of them.Government of Alberta Department of Culture and Community Spirit