How To Be A Great Nonprofit Board Member, Especially Now

Alice Korngold — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:31:31 -0500

Answer: Bear Witness. Tell the Story. Take Action.

This has been my advice to board members whom I have trained and placed on nonprofit boards for many years, but it takes on greater importance in today's environment for two reasons: first, the tough economy which makes fundraising more challenging for nonprofits, and second, the increasing demand from funders for nonprofits to measure their impact in serving the community.

Moody's Mega Math Challenge: Wall Street's Strategic Philanthropy

Alice Korngold — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:38:07 -0500

The Rich Palette of Nonprofits

Alice Korngold — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:38:18 -0400

When people think about joining nonprofit boards, they often think in general terms: arts, education, healthcare, etc. In fact, the nonprofit sector has such a multitude of widely diverse and differentiated organizations. The key is finding the board that will meet your unique set of interests, so that you will be passionate and do a terrific job.

How to Build A Better Nonprofit Board: It's About the Board Chair

Alice Korngold — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:35:24 -0400

Yes, positioning the right person as the board chair is key. Because the chair has the greatest influence on how the board uses its time in meetings and in between meetings, who will be on the board, and who will be groomed for future leadership.

I have seen organizations rise or fall, depending on the board chair's effectiveness. Even the most extraordinary nonprofit CEO cannot achieve the enterprise's fullest potential without a good board chair.

Here's how an effective chair uses her time for the greatest benefit to the nonprofit:

Motivating or Crushing Team Spirit: What We Can Learn from Nonprofit Boards

Alice Korngold — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:34:55 -0400

In training and placing business executives and professionals on nonprofit boards, I see which board environments motivate people to perform their best, and which environments crush the spirit right out of well-meaning, enthusiastic, and generous board members.

You see, nonprofit boards are revealing environments because people are there voluntarily. Board members don't have to be there nor do their best in order to earn a living. They are there primarily to serve their communities, to learn, for the psychic reward, and perhaps somewhat to build their professional networks.

When It Comes to Boards, Are For-profits Just Catching Up to Nonprofits?

Alice Korngold — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:34:58 -0400

Once I started training and placing business executives on nonprofit boards sixteen years ago, they began asking me to help their boards to become more effective; moreover, simply "training" them was not sufficient. Neither was board "self-assessment." So, I developed a board assessment and development model and mentored others how to do conduct the process as well.

Smart Giving: Look Who's on the Board

Alice Korngold — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:35:31 -0400

Whether you're an individual, company or foundation, making a significant contribution, you can get a good idea of an organization's vitality and prospects for success by taking a look at who's on the board.

Philanthropy and Service: Getting the Best Return on Your Investment

Alice Korngold — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:14:29 -0400

One year ago, I wrote a post here on "Building Your Nonprofit Investment Portfolio: Leveraging Your Impact." In the post, I recommended how to decide where to make your personal contributions in order to make a difference on the issues that matter to you most.

Moody's and Kiva at CGI: Rating Credit Risks for a Hand in the Future of Micro-lending Banks

Alice Korngold — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:58:30 -0400

While it's a thrill for me to help engage companies in strategic philanthropy, corporate social responsibility (CSR), skilled volunteering, and other forms of giving and service, I've always believed that corporate initiatives are only sustainable if there's a solid business case to be made. So after my initial excitement about a terrific new corporate-nonprofit partnership, my next question is: "How did you sell it to the board?"

How to Lead a Great Panel Discussion

Alice Korngold — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:37:51 -0400

In my work in training and preparing business executives and professionals for service on nonprofit boards of directors, I facilitate panel discussions. The panelists include corporate leaders who chair and serve on NGO boards, and CEOs of global, national, and regional nonprofits. I've always said that the best panel discussions are more like Broadway shows. You get across the vital learning content--but with spontaneous drama, engaging the audience in the personalities and dynamics of the panelists and the stories and experiences they are conveying.