Discussion:
Board Member Knowledge, Skills, and Expertise Board Governance & Volunteer Management
Complete in a 2 page and use APA format:
The most effective boards have diversity and balance in the knowledge, skills, and experience they bring to the organization. One member may have experience in accounting, law, or business, and another might have knowledge and training in fundraising, ethical compliance, or strategic planning. The ultimate goal is to plan and create a board that can appropriately and effectively govern an organization. To this end, there is no magic formula in determining the balance of membership regarding knowledge, skills, and experience; considerations should be made regarding specific board and organizational needs.
Discussion:
• Select a nonprofit organization to use for this assignment. This could be the one you selected for your Final Project (Boys Scouts of America), or a different one in which you are interested.
• Review the assigned pages in the course text, Extraordinary Board Leadership. Consider how the mission and strategic plans of nonprofit organizations might influence which areas of knowledge, skills, and expertise are required of board members. Reflect on the mission and strategic plan of the organization you selected and consider the areas of knowledge, skills, and expertise you might look for in a board member.
• Review The High-Performance Board, paying particular attention to examples of new board member screening and selection criteria. Reflect on the selection criteria you might use when recruiting new board members for the organization you selected.
• Review the Web site, "Sample Policy for Developing the Optimum Board of Directors." As you review this sample board policy, consider what aspects might be important to an organization you might run.
• Review the article, "The Exceptional Board." Consider the areas of knowledge, skills, and expertise of people that might make up an "exceptional" board. Think about which areas of knowledge, skills, and expertise you might require to compose an "exceptional" board.
• Identify at least three areas of knowledge, skills, and/or expertise you might look for in a potential board member of the organization you chose. Think about how each might be important to the board and the organization.
With these thoughts in mind:
Description of at least three areas of knowledge, skills, and/or expertise you might require of a potential member of the board of directors of the organization you chose and explain why. Be sure to note why each area of knowledge, skill, or expertise might be important to both the board and the organization. Be specific.
Readings
• Course Text: Extraordinary Board Leadership
o Chapter 4, "Board Self-Management" (pp. 65-96)
• Course Text: The High-Performance Board
o Chapter 6, "Composition" (pp. 97-115)
• Article: Radtke, D. (2008). The exceptional board. Credit Union Magazine, 74(9), 40-44.
Web Sites
• Joyaux, S. (n.d.). Sample Policy Related to Composition of the Board
• Joyaux, S. (n.d.). Sample Recruitment Process and Procedures and Screening Interview.