March 10th Program Summary: Discussion and Committee Report

The SCNY ED Group program meeting was held on Tuesday, March 10th and was hosted by the Jewish Community Center. Thirty-one directors attended the program that featured Teri Goodall Komar facilitating a discussion about the relationship between the executive director and board of directors. The program focused on positive examples and input from directors. The conversation covered a number of topics, which will be highlighted here.

The discussion first started with the role of the ED and the board. Directors discussed how to define the role or expectations of the board. A few organizations have developed a board expectation document (click here for example) that they give to new board members. By-laws also help set expectations by outlining attendance policies and committee participation.

The Group next discussed board involvement in fundraising. The consensus among the EDs was that they would like the board engaged and concerned about raising funds. The board needs to recognize this role, but EDs also would like to put the right board members in the correct roles for fund development activities. Not every board member can effectively ask for a donation. Carole Coppens from YWCA remarked that a fund development committee and plan have given clear direction to her board. As a part of this discussion, the Group addressed the question of having board giving requirements. EDS agreed that there should be 100% giving, but most nonprofits don't set a number. They expect board members to give to their best ability or personal significance. By setting a specific goal for each board member, many times a board member won't give above this number and may even think they have fulfilled their responsibility.

The program conversation moved to board engagement and recognition. The main point related was that the board must be given the opportunity to solve problems. Asking board members to just write checks is a quick way to lose their involvement.

The last portion of the program discussion was about how EDs educate their boards. The following were examples from the Group:

• Give board info (board manual, minutes, financials, etc) upfront and set expectations
• Ask each board member to chair committee
• Periodically send them to training
• Try to have a mini-retreat
• Invite board to come and work in the office
• Board orientation
• Board web page or blog (American Red Cross and BCCC Foundation both have blogs in place for their boards)
• E-mail communication (Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park uses e-mail to educate board by sending trivia and animal updates)
• Require potential board members to attend 1 to 3 meetings before joining the board
• Having staff present to board about programs and activities

SCNY ED Group Special Projects Committee Update

The second portion of the ED program featured an overview of the Special Projects Committee's efforts by the chair, Dr. Joseph Sellepack. The Committee is proposing a multi-year economic impact study (overview) of nonprofits in the region. The ED Group will partner with Binghamton University for assistance and development of this study. The Group discussed the need to get broad engagement and some ideas of what the study would cover. The Group also discussed what the uses for the study info could be. Overall, the study will show the economic impact of nonprofits on the community; change perceptions; and show what the cost would be if the city or county had to provide services covered by nonprofits. The next Special Projects Committee is set for 10:30am on April 8th at Broome County Council of Churches.

Jewish Community Center Introduction

The program ended with a presentation by Sheryl Brumer about her agency, the Jewish Community Center. She related that there are many misconceptions about the JCC. The agency serves everybody and has been around for over 80 years.

Next program meeting is set for June 9th.