trustee governance

Nonprofit Organization Mergers: What to Do.

Nonprofit Organization Mergers: What to Do.

By Eugene Fram

A Fast Company article by Alice Korngold about nonprofit mergers lists seven steps for a successful nonprofit merger. * Korngold used these steps to describe nonprofit merger activity with which she had been involved.

In October 1998, Family Service America (FSA) merged with the National Associations of Homes and Services to Children (NAHSC) to form the Alliance for Children & Families. I chaired the FSA investigating committee in the merger process and later served as co-chair of the Alliance board during a two-year transition period. This article adds another experience example to the model described by Alice Korngold. (more…)

Nonprofit Board Responsibilty for Social Media – What Needs To Be Done?

Nonprofit Board Responsibility Social Media – What Needs To Be Done?

By: Eugene Fram

Nonprofit boards, for several years, have been struggling to find proper uses for social media. Many of the decisions on this issue will become strategic board decisions because they will require using alternative promotional strategies, experimental trials and infusion of capital and human resources. The December 8, 2012 issue of the NACD Directorship* cites a Stanford study concludes for-profit boards should develop a better understanding of this new phenomenon. Following are how I think the steps should be applied to smaller and medium sized nonprofit board decisions: (more…)

The truth is that ALL nonprofits are actually businesses. And–they need to.be run like a business.

Sylvia Helper of Launching Lives commented to one of my recent blogs tilted : “What’s in a Name? Benefits of the Nonprofit President/CEO Title”    

“While this irritates and offends many nonprofit senior staff, the truth is that ALL nonprofits are actually businesses. And–they need to.be run like a business.”

Sylvia: I strongly agree with your statement. Too many board and staff members in the nonprofit environment ……

Do not realize that a nonprofit can focus even more effectively on “caring” missions, visions and values while operating under a business model.

Mistakenly conclude that using business titles (such as CEO) appears more prestigious than is merited. This mistaken attitude persists in organizations with well over 15 employees and budgets well over $1 million!

Associate business boards with financial disasters such as Enron and Tyco, while failing to perceive the business board model’s benefits, such as having only a few standing board committees.

Fail to appreciate  that today’s nonprofit managers must have the tools of professional executives to lead their organizations towards accomplishment.

Choose to continue to implement the 20th century governance practices in which staff members, often without the requisite managerial expertise, are promoted to chief executive positions.  A few succeed by growing into the job but  most continue on to do little more than “mind the store.” Truly, this can result in a significant waste of board and staff resources.

After many years of participating in nonprofit activities as a volunteer director, consultant and author, I recognized how the adaptation of a business model will positively impact the governance of a nonprofit. This prompted me to write “Policy vs. Paper Clips” which, based on sales of the first two editions, has influenced thousands of nonprofits to convert their governing structure to the model described in the book. The third updated and expanded edition was published in 2011 http://amzn.to/eu7nQl     .

My blog site http://bit.ly/yfRZpz  now contains over 100 blogs on nonprofit governance.

In summary, many nonprofit boards, managers and staff figuratively stand ten feet tall for what they accomplish.  They deserve to have the better aspects of business boards and business venues to do their jobs. 

 

Identify Nonprofit Staff Groups To Help Drive Organizational Change

Identify Nonprofit Staff Groups To Help Drive Organizational Change

By Eugene Fram

Nonprofit executive directors tend to think of the staff professionals as individual contributors. These individuals are persons who mainly work on their own and not as team players – for instance, counselors, health care professionals, curators and university faculty. However, many executive directors fail to recognize that these individual contributors can be grouped according to identifiable types, with differing work value outlooks. Each group needs to be managed differently to drive change in today’s fast moving social, political and technological environments. (more…)

Reissue: Nonprofit chief executives should have a title, PRESIDENT/CEO

The overwhelming international response that I have had to my blog, “What’s in a name? Benefits of the President/CEO Title,” has motivated me to reissue this blog, which originally appeared in March, 2012

Nonprofit chief executives should have a title, PRESIDENT/CEO

By Eugene Fram

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…)

How Can Nonprofit Boards More Clearly Define Operational Responsibilities?

How Can Nonprofit Boards More Clearly Define Operational Responsibilities?

By Eugene Fram

My experience shows that well functioning nonprofit boards establish and monitor the organization’s policies. The board operates through the president/CEO. In turn, the CEO executes policy and is responsible for the prudent and creative operations of the organization. In this role, the CEO exercises leadership resulting in the effective and efficient use of board and of other volunteer time.

Although defining what are policy issues and what are operation issues is not always clear, for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, following is a useful set of guidelines (more…)

Some Nonprofit Directors Never Attend Meetings! What to do?

These absent directors can offer valuable support, and the other directors want more involvement, not their resignation. One approach is to consider moving from a board format requiring director operational involvement to one that focuses (more…)

Nonprofit & Trustee Director’s Alert! Watch your organization’s reputation.

Nonprofit & Trustee Directors Alert!  Watch your organization’s reputation.

In contrast to business firms, nonprofit and trustee boards can be against a brick wall when the reputations of their organizations go south.   In the commercial environment, (more…)

What can a nonprofit board of directors do about “displaced directors”?

What can a nonprofit board of directors do about “displaced directors”?

Displaced directors are board members who can’t adapt to a more modern board model or a new CEO and management group.  Traditionally, they want to be involved in operations, a few, at the extreme, want to micromanage the CEO.

Obviously, some of these people will resign,   but what can a CEO or board chair do (more…)

Crisis Management – What is the proper role for a nonprofit’s board of directors?

Crisis Management – What is the proper role for a nonprofit’s board of directors? 

Changes buffeting nonprofit boards of directors are increasing substantially.  At the top are the widespread budget cuts from foundations and governmental organizations, along with many individual donors reducing their traditional gifts. In addition, a sudden social change, reputation decline, or a fire/flood are events, which may change a board’s engagement style with management, staff and other stakeholders. 

A board’s style in such situations will depend on its seriousness.  (more…)