Nonprofit Board Recruitment: Can Google’s Process Apply to NFPs?
By: Eugene Fram Free Digital Image
Following are Google’s hiring attributes that might be helpful to consider, if applied to nonprofit board recruitment as well as employee recruitment. * Nonprofits should especially consider them for board recruitment. Although nonprofits traditionally use an attribute matrix emphasizing skills such as finance, marketing and accounting, here are some others to consider. (more…)
The Fantasy Nonprofit—Who Works There?
By: Eugene Fram Free Digital Photo
After three decades of immersion in the nonprofit culture, I occasionally allow myself to imagine what it would be like to start all over again. Assuming I were in the process of founding a new nonprofit I would have the authority to choose my own team! In this hypothetical, I could shape the mode of governance and select the participants I think would interface most effectively!
Here are some of the decisions I might make based on current realities: (more…)
Anticipating Tomorrow’s Nonprofit Crises Today
By: Eugene Fram
In the decades in which I have been a nonprofit/business board member or consultant, I fortunately have only been in the mire of a crisis situation twice. In both cases, the board was totally unprepared to take appropriate actions to minimize the turmoil that followed.
Following some guidelines that nonprofit boards can use to plan to respond effectively to crises in the 21st century: * (more…)
Nonprofit Chief Executives Should Have Title: President/CEO, Updated and Expanded
By Eugene Fram
This post, over several years, has developed a record of continued viewing interest. Rarely a day passes with the post’s count isn’t one to five views. On a recent day there were 18 views. Since originally published in 2013 , this post has had a total of about 1400 views. The year-to-date August 2017 total is 508 views and counting, predicting another record year Perhaps the controversial nature of topic causes the longevity of interest?
When nonprofit organizations reach a budget level of over $1 million and have about 10 staff members it is time to offer the chief operating officer the title of PRESIDENT/CEO. In addition, the title of the senior board volunteer should become CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD, and the title of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR needs to be eliminated. Experience has shown that with a reasonably talented PRESIDENT/CEO at the helm, he/she can provide the following benefits: (more…)
Are Nonprofit Boards Capable of Evaluating Themselves?
By: Eugene Fram
A recent study of business boards by Stanford University yielded the following results:
Given that many of these business boards have the financial power to employ legal counsel or consultants to conduct a rigorous impartial evaluation, what can a nonprofit board, with limited financial resources, do to make sure that the board and its members are being fairly evaluated to drive change? (more…)
Business Board Experts Offer Nonprofit Board Gems!!
By: Eugene Fram Free Digital Image
The wise person learns from his/h own experiences. The wiser person learns from the experiences of others
The CEO Forum published an article covering the governance views of five business board members, known for their wisdom and vision. Following are some of topics in the article that relate to nonprofit boards. * (more…)
Wanted: Nonprofit CEOs with Entrepreneurial People Skills
By: Eugene Fram Free Digital Image
Viewer Favorite—Revised and Updated
The need for superior leadership skills is as critical to CEOs in nonprofits as it is in the entrepreneurial world. * Following are four such skills and the unique challenges they bring when employed in the nonprofit environment. (more…)
A Nonprofit Board’s Best Friend: A Robust Business Plan
By Eugene Fram Free Digital mage
Viewer Favorite—Updated and Revised
In 2014 after a 70-year run and a terminal struggle to keep it alive, the 70-years old New York Opera declared bankruptcy. At the time, Anthony Tommasini noted critic for The New York Times summarily commented, “In short, artistic excellence isn’t enough.” Mayor Bloomberg, observed that the opera’s “business model doesn’t seem to work.” *
The opera’s demise is a classic reminder that all nonprofits, even those offering quality services, need to do deep-dive reviews of their business plans every three to five years. Following are some alternatives that can be developed if changes are needed. (more…)
Beyond the Bylaws: A Clarification of Nonprofit Board Responsibilities
Viewer Favorite–Revised and Updated
By: Eugene Fram
A nonprofit director’s duties may be much more difficult than those of a for-profit board member. Both types of directors have the same basic duties: fiduciary responsibilities; establishing, with staff input, mission vision and values; setting policies/strategies; over-viewing outcomes/impacts and conducting annual meetings.
I suggest nonprofit directors may not be fully addressing some duties specified in the bylaws and some that are culturally driven. This latter group might be called “latent duties.” (more…)
(Free Digital Image)
More Than Passion Needed in Prospective Nonprofit Directors
By: Eugene Fram
What nonprofit selection committee would reject a candidate who demonstrates passion for the organization’s mission? I can attest to the fact that in many recruitment processes, an interviewee who shows strong empathy for the cause is a “shoe-in” for the director position regardless of any obvious weakness in other skill areas. By contrast, one who appears ambivalent about the organization’s mission can be overlooked or even eliminated from the list. (more…)
Nonprofit Management 