What about Boards?

 

In the Spring of 2015, Sage Advancement Group asked a group of New England-based nonprofit professionals for feedback about their organizations’ boards.  Here is what they had to say.

 

Boards greatest strengths lie in the areas relative to general support of the organization.

 

• A strong majority (75%) agree that board members bring the right skills to their organization

• Virtually all (87%) indicate that board members have a good understanding of the mission of their organization

• Two thirds (63%) agree that board members are actively engaged with their organization and attend events sponsored by their organization

 

Financial support and participation in fundraising are areas of weakness for most boards.

 

• The vast majority of nonprofit professionals (87%) say that 10% or LESS of annual revenue comes from board members

• Half (50%) say they have NO give or get policy for board members; when there is a give or get policy, the amount required is small ($2,500 or less)

• 85% of respondents say that their board does not participates in fundraising activities

• 88%  of respondents say that board members DO NOT make significant financial contributions to their organization

 

“Our biggest challenge is a lack of board leadership in philanthropy - both giving and being engaged.”

 

“There are virtually no significant donors on our board, which creates a challenge in working with major philanthropists in the community.”

 

“We need to help board members understand their fundraising responsibility.”

 

Board organization and recruitment could be improved.

 

• Half of respondents say they have NO term limits

• Most indicate that their board fails to recruit high quality candidates to join the board

• About half say they don’t have an effective process for on boarding new members

• Board members could be doing a better job actively promoting their organization

 

“We need to have some long term members who are in leadership positions retire with grace.”

 

“Our organization needs to expand the board with additional skill sets and diversity relative to race and gender.”