You know your nonprofit needs a governing board--one with directors who are committed to the mission and willing to offer their expertise and good judgment. But how do you find them, prep them for board service, and keep things running smoothly? I offer 3 tools that can help.

Board Recruitment

When you're ready to create, rebuild, or grow your board, consider my Board Development Project.

Elements include...

• Assessing the kind of directors your board needs
• Creating & implementing a board recruitment strategy,
• Training prospective and existing directors on board duties and roles, and
• Establishing committees for effective governance.

________________

Board Training

Board Basics: Fundamentals for Nonprofit Boards, a 90-minute, interactive, virtual class teaches directors their legal duties and responsibilities, discusses some of the different ways boards support their organizations, and offers practical tips for effective governance.

________________

Board Coaching

Life is good when all is well with your board--when everyone is showing up, getting along, and getting the job done. But what if that's not happening?

Good people often leave troubled boards, and too much trouble can halt your board's progress. A Board Coaching engagement might be the answer.

Together, we'll clarify your goals for improved board operations. Then I'll work to diagnose the trouble, draft a plan for resolving it, help you with implementation if needed, and check in regularly for added accountability. 

If you'd like to discuss a board development engagement, book a free 20-minute Exploratory call today.

When consulting, training, and coaching won't give you the results you need, maybe hands-on help will.

I’ve taken on some unique and rewarding projects over the past decade:

• Managed a 9-month community outreach program for a grassroots healthcare initiative,
• Researched and created a healthcare services manual for use by Resident Services coordinators,
• Served as the temporary executive director of a nonprofit that serves formerly homeless women,
• Designed community-informed Resident Services programs and related funding proposals for an affordable housing nonprofit.
• Developed a “last-minute” federally-compliant contracting and procurement policy.

So if you have a project in mind that’s not so easily defined, I may be able to help. And I adore variety!

If you'd like to explore the possibilities, use the button below and schedule a free Exploratory Call. I'm excited to hear what you have in mind!

Avoid The Cash Crunch

Have you run out of cash, even with a balanced budget?  Avoid The Cash Crunch can help you stay out of the red.

While it's not a magic wand, the class offers a simple, easy-to-use way to predict cash in and out of your organization. There's no accounting involved; so it’s perfect for non-financial staff.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How to predict cash shortages in time,
• How cash flow can affect fundraising,
• How cash flow informs your budget, and
• How not to be fooled by “restricted funds"

Fundraising ABCs

Every nonprofit leader would love a visit from the fundraising fairy. Sadly, nobody's spotted one yet. So we work with what we have, starting with the fundamentals. Yes, there's an art to successful fundraising, but it's built on basics. This course addresses the basics of organizational fundraising. It does NOT delve into specific campaign types and fundraising techniques but addresses the fundamentals.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How fundraising fits into your operation,
• A review of common fundraising activities
• Special considerations for government funds
• The board of directors' role in fundraising

Your First Grant Proposal

Would you like to attract tens of thousands of recurring dollars to your organization? I know; dumb question. Who wouldn't? One approach is to add grants to your fundraising mix. Your First Grant Proposal introduces you to the ABCs of grantmaking and walks you through the creation of your first proposal.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Different types and sources of grant funds
• How grants fit into your fundraising strategy
• The structure and elements of a typical proposal
• Common mistakes that can sabotage your proposal

To request a private delivery of one of these classes, please schedule a free 20-minute Exploratory Session to discuss it.

Any project that takes more than a handful of people working more than a handful of weeks and costing more than a handful of dollars needs a plan!

So you need a plan for achieving your organization's Big Vision. In fact, you need PLANS--plural.

And here's a great place to start: Get crystal clear about the results you want to create in the next few years and how you'll mobilize your resources to do it.

That calls for a strategic planning process. (Which, by the way, is just as important as the resulting plan!)

Did I Lose You?

If you're a Visionary, your eyes glazed over as soon as you read the word "process." Who are we kidding, I almost lost you with the word "plan," right? I understand that you want things done NOW. The RIGHT way. And you DON'T want to spend the next millennium TALKING about it!

I'm with you, and that's why I created a planning system that helps us stay laser-focused so our conversations are intentional and our work sessions productive.

By the end, you'll have a clear plan of action for delivering the benefits you want for the people you serve.

How The Project Works

I work with your leadership team to customize my standard strategic planning process so that it works for your organization.

Typically we work together on five components:

• Defining your intended outcomes for the plan and the process we'll use to get you there,
• Conducting a "mini-assessment" of your organization to learn what's working well and what's not,
• Understanding what's happening in your industry, including opportunities, challenges, and trends,
• Having targeted conversations to hammer out a strategy for reaching the goals you've set for the future, and
• Drafting a written document that describes your goals and the way you intend to achieve them.

We'll move thoughtfully through the planning process, making course corrections when we need to. I'll draft a written strategic plan, along with an Action Plan to keep all our work from getting dusty on your shelf! And we'll discuss ways you can track your progress and pivot when you need to over the next few years.

What's Next?

The next move is yours. Are you ready to commit your leadership team to at least 90 days of focused effort? If so, and if you have questions about my Strategic Planning Project or want to request a proposal, use the button below to schedule a conversation with me.

If you'd like to discuss a potential strategic planning engagement, book a free 20-minute Exploratory call.

Are You A Visionary?

If so, I think I know a little something about you. You're ready to serve more hurting people NOW. And you have ZERO patience with planning, "process," and paperwork. Even though you know you'll have to face them to start and run a nonprofit.

I created a digital program to lend you my strengths as you navigate the details of creating and establishing a brand new charitable nonprofit.

To learn more about the classes, coaching and membership for aspiring and new nonprofit founders, please visit Nonprofit Startup Academy.