How to choose the perfect board – Keynotes #85

Hello Reader!

Welcome back to another Keynotes edition!

Today we’re exploring the tricky subject of board members.

As usual, we’ll have a great tool to showcase and a highlight from the world of nonprofits to inspire our own programs and actions.

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

📬 Summary

This week, we’re covering:

🕵️‍♂️ One Problem – Picking the perfect board
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🚀 One Tool – Google Ads Grant
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🌟 One Highlight – Melinda French Gates is giving people $20m

🔍 One Problem – Choosing the perfect board members

Boards. Brilliant and a battle. We know we need to have a great board on our side when we make our nonprofit but there are so many nuances it’s tough to know the best way forward. How do we make a good board? What do we look for in a good board member? Should they have financial goals?

We’re leaning on the expertise presented by the Facebook group discussion in Your Thriving Nonprofit.

David asked “What’s the best of building a solid board of directors? Thank you in advance!”

The responses that came in were fantastic. Gail gave a great breakdown of six key steps to undertake:

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Multiple people suggested taking time and being slow and deliberate with the decisions:

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And the comment that generated the most discussion was an interesting one:

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Reading through the entire discussion and researching the topic gave us some additional suggestions:

1. Mission Alignment: Select members who are passionate about and aligned with your organization’s mission and vision, ensuring their decisions support your goals.
2. Diverse Expertise: Choose individuals with a mix of skills and backgrounds to bring varied perspectives and enhance decision-making.
3. Availability and Commitment: Ensure candidates have the time and willingness to actively participate in meetings, events, and strategic activities.
4. Networking Ability: Opt for members who can leverage their networks for fundraising and partnerships, boosting your nonprofit’s reach and resources.

Point four ties into the most talked about comment, creating financial structures within your board. The downside to this is potentially alienating good board members and restricting the skillsets of low-income and otherwise valuable members.

Overall, we learnt a ton from the discussion and recommend reading it here​

🛠️ One Tool – $10,000/m free! Google Ads Grant​

The Google Ad Grant offers an incredible opportunity for nonprofits to elevate their missions and expand their reach. By providing eligible organizations with $10,000 in monthly ad credits, this program empowers nonprofits to boost website traffic and enhance digital conversions, connecting with more donors, volunteers, and advocates. This strategic support not only amplifies your marketing efforts but also strengthens your fundraising capabilities, ensuring that your message resonates far and wide. Apply for your $10k here →

🏅 One Highlight – Melinda French Gates is giving people $20m​

Following on from the game-changing philanthropy methodology of MacKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates is taking some novel approaches to her own philanthropic giving.

One tactic she’s trying is giving 12 ‘smart people’ $20m each to see how they can positively impact the world. Unrestricted giving is rare and giving without a clear plan would have been a hard no until MacKenzie Scott started her philanthropy journey after her divorce from Jeff Bezos.

In a New York Times essay, French Gates says “I’m eager to see the landscape of funding opportunities through their eyes.”

We love seeing an innovative approach to philanthropy. Are there any interesting ideas you can get from the Scott’s and French Gates’ way of giving?

🌎 Good News From Around The Web

​Dog gives horse a massage​

​Two barbers save a child from running into traffic​

​High school student saves sea turtles in Hawaii​

Thanks for tuning in this week, crew!

Remember, we’re all in this to be the helpers, and it’s your collective efforts that truly make the difference.

Keep up the great work!

Until next week, Trash panda salutes.

Key Your friendly neighbourhood raccoon