Board Fundamentals
TOPIC: HOLDING THE COURSE TIME: 1 HOUR
The elements of a mission statement as framed and owned by the organization. This session includes the basics of defining a concise and clear statement guiding the organization. The charitable context related to the organization’s core purpose and social objective is outlined and defined. In addition, the mission statement serves as the primary factor in aligning the organization’s external message, primary goals and resource allocation. The session will include a basic review of the organization’s mission.
TOPIC: THE “I DOS” TIME: 45 MINUTES
The national (American Bar Association) and the state guidelines (Alabama) defining the requirements of service on a nonprofit board will be summarized in this session. The presentation will include specific legal duties of directors related to the primary obligations of care and loyalty will be defined and discussed. Also, the social and civic requirement to “hold in trust” public assets will be outlined.
TOPIC: GENUS & SPECIES TIME: 1 HOUR
There are several forms of nonprofit organizations that are all categorized under the IRS 501(c)(3) designation. Every organization should understand its status and defined role granted by the IRS. Also, there are other forms such as the trust form and the qualified public charity, with each having various levels of accountability. Directors and trustees will learn their specific responsibilities under the federal and state regulations. In addition, the session will cover the meaning of tax exemption and the terms “qualified,” “public” and “charity,” which imparts specific legal definitions separating what donors may and may not rely upon when making tax deductible contributions.
TOPIC: DOES ANYONE HAVE A COPY OF THE BYLAWS? TIME: 1 HOUR
The primary provisions and powers of organizational bylaws are presented. There is an evaluation of the client’s bylaws and a discussion of how to improve or expand them to address best practices in nonprofit governance. Topics will include director terms, meetings, attendance, committee structure, staff roles and dissolution provisions. Legal requirements of amending bylaws and notifications will be addressed.
TOPIC: WE’RE VOLUNTEERS, WE CAN’T BE SUED! TIME: 45 MINUTES
This discussion will center on the “Good Samaritan Law” enacted by state legislation and the actual limitations of the legal protection. There will be an overview of Directors & Officer’s insurance and the various levels of coverage that an organization should maintain. The session will briefly address liability insurance, maintaining an employee fidelity bond, providing life insurance on key personnel and selecting legal counsel and basic elements of nonprofit legal standards.
TOPIC: WE JUST MEET 4 TIMES A YEAR. TIME: 90 MINUTES
Establishing a board profile or matrix of skills and backgrounds will be demonstrated. The session will include a basic template on drafting a director or trustee position description. The presentation will also work through the process to identify nominees for board vacancies, followed by candidate interviews and how to conduct a prospective director orientation process including a board binder and the primary items to be included and discussed. The session will offer recommendations on having a mentor for new directors and how to develop a leadership development process for the board.
TOPIC: WHICH OF YOU IS THE CPA TIME: 45 MINUTES
The session will address basic financial accountability and the use of cash or accrual budgets. How an organization outlines a budget based on mission goals and the annual operating plan, reviewing statements and having basic cash management processes in place. There will an overview of board disclosure and engagement on all levels of finance and how to calculate the IRS annual support test and reporting administrative costs.
Intermediate Best Practices
TOPIC: OUR MEETINGS ONLY LAST ONE HOUR! TIME: 90 MINUTES
The use of time, planning, location and how to conduct an engaging board meeting is the primary focus of this presentation. Framing the agenda based on the appropriate roles of governance and operations will be defined and illustrated. Discussion will address the issues related to board authority, especially when an organization has more than one body identified as a “board” such as advisory, honorary or executive board. The session will provide sample board minutes and tools to enhance discussion, end laborious reports, ensure that action items are captured and assign responsibilities to execute decisions.
TOPIC: ESTABLISHING A DONOR CENTERED PHILOSOPHY TIME: 90 MINUTES
The session will address the reasons donors donate to organization and the primary components in promoting sustained and long-term giving. The presenter will highlight the issues that motivate annual, major and planned giving responses. Information will center on fundraising from the donor’s perspective rather than the professional techniques, which have become routine and impersonal. The session will provide inexpensive yet effective relationship building tools to both strengthen a development program and engage donors of various means.
TOPIC: BUT WE’RE ALL FRIENDS TIME: 1 HOUR
This is a session that most boards believe that they understand but nonetheless may not grasp. It will cover the IRS and corporate demands associated with identifying and dealing with conflicts of interest. The presenter will define bias and conflicted situations, clarify the rules on Disqualified Persons, disclosure rules, sample policies and forms. Attendees will understand the duty to disclose conflicts, how to deliberate these issues effectively, what remedy measures are possible, and the procedures to document the process.
TOPIC: SORRY, YOU WERE OUT VOTED TIME: 1 HOUR
This session will include an overview of Roger Fisher’s groundbreaking work on negotiations and organizational deliberation. The presenter will offer tools to help the board capture missing and valuable information and how to use objections to strengthen a final decision. The session goes beyond consensus and voting, which alienate board members and weaken commitment and engagement. This process strengthens communications while making hard decisions to reach the best achievable outcome.
TOPIC: RUMORS & LEAKS TIME: 45 MINUTES
Confidentiality of board discussion and information is outlined along with the various requirements of public disclosure, access to information and identifying the person(s) to speak on behalf of the institution. What to do in the case of a person or group harassing an organization. The session will deal with the “parking lot” board meeting and how to handle the trustee who does not support the final outcome of a deliberation.
TOPIC: GEARS & WHEELS TIME: 45 MINUTES
This session will address various ways to organize the work of the board by defining such subgroups as standing committees, ad hoc committees and taskforces. Samples of committee guidelines, timelines, position descriptions for members (both directors and non-directors), committee reports and recommended action items will be provided. Discussion will include ways to confer authority in the entire board while empowering committees.
TOPIC: THE EFFICIENT FRONTIER TIME: 90 MINUTES
This session will stress the value of informing and training all board members on fiscal accountability and investment policies. The basics of short and long-term investments, banking and brokerage fees, and socially responsible investing will be presented. The session will include sample Request for Proposals (RFP) for various accounting and financial services, and how to evaluate returns and advisor services.
TOPIC: MEASURING LEADS TO INVESTING TIME: 1 HOUR
The presentation will address various types of evaluations including: board (annual), directors, meetings, executive director, staff. Sample documents and forms will be provided that can be revised and customized to the organization’s needs. These tools provide a framework to develop the annual operating plan. The integrated process enables the organization to regularly measure specific objectives that are aligned to the mission and primary goals.
Advanced Best Practices
TOPIC: THE SEAL OF APPROVAL TIME: 1 HOUR
There is a great deal of misunderstanding on charitable gifts and tax deductibility of contributions. This seminar will summarize the IRS guidelines on charitable gifts, sample gift acknowledgment polices and donor correspondence. The role of the board will be discussed along with the ability to be creative in recognizing donors. There will be a presentation on gift acceptance policies specifically related to the needs of the organization.
TOPIC: MORE MATH & NUMBERS TIME: 1 HOUR
It is inevitable that the Sarbanes Oxley Legislation will be applied to all nonprofit organizations. This session will focus on the primary accountability provisions of the law. Information will include: securing a firm that has expertise in nonprofit tax law, types of financial audits, establishing an Audit Committee, participating in the audit review and presentation and dealing with defects.
TOPIC: STATE OF THE UNION TIME: 45 MINUTES
The annual report is an import document for a nonprofit organization. This presentation will highlight the various ways an organization can communicate their public stewardship of assets. There will be an evaluation of the rationale for the annual report, the target audience, the message being communicated, key components based on client needs, and various distribution options. The climate of information today will be contrast with younger donors and their communication needs.
TOPIC: THANK YOU, THANK YOU TIME: 1 HOUR
This seminar deals with a simple social protocol that is invaluable to a charitable organization’s survival. The presenter will cover issues related to recognizing donors and volunteers, including board members, presenting awards, plaques and other special acknowledgments, and hosting socials or dinners. The session will also address naming opportunities in honor of donors and steps in protecting the organization’s reputation.
TOPIC: ARE WE THERE YET TIME: 1 HOUR
Utilizing techniques from the William Bridges transition model, the session will assist clients in managing change. As organizations progress they deal with growth and change. This can cause uncertainty, tension and chaos with an organization. This presentation will address the various components of transition and the valuable opportunities that can be missed in the movement from one state to arriving at a new juncture. The “in-between” process is critical to the organization’s successful arrival to a new plateau.
TOPIC: GOING FROM PREACHING TO MEDDLING TIME: 1 HOUR
The presenter will address the appropriate role of lobbying by nonprofit organizations and the meaning of advocacy within the organization’s mission. To achieve the defined mission, many pubic charities work to shape police or long-term social change to assist their clients. The session will outline democratic principles of deliberation and the importance in nonprofit institutions in helping to name issues and to shape public engagement.