Board Development Training and Consultation

Your link to a stronger, more effective board.

Behind every successful nonprofit organization, is a strong, effective board of directors. FIRSTLINK can increase the productivity of your board by providing professional training and consultation services on a wide variety of topics. Utilized as an orientation for new board members, retreat training, presentation at a professional association, or facilitation of a planning session, FIRSTLINK can help your organization meet its mission. FIRSTLINK can lead your board to a greater realization of their own significance to the success of the organization.

Essentials to Successful Boards

identifies the core responsibilities of a volunteer board and assists the board and its individual members in the development of skills required to guide their organization. The session discussion includes:

• Types of boards
• Board structure
• Fiduciary duties
• Primary responsibilities
• Personal commitment
• Leadership roles and development

Operational Strategies for Boards

builds the understanding of the activities that enable boards to fulfill their functions. Such activities include:

• Team building
• Improving communication styles for organizational leadership
• Meeting management
• Instruction in parliamentary procedure
• Board/staff relationships
• Evaluation

Building a Strong Board

presents strategies for engaging board members and increasing the capacity of your organization through effective board recruitment and education. Strategy development exploration includes:

• Assessing current board membership
• Clarifying organization needs and goals
• Designing an effective board recruitment and retention process
• Promoting board development and good governance practices
• Exploring innovative board structure

Financial Decision-Making

defines the financial responsibilities of a nonprofit board and outlines ways that members can fulfill their legal duties related to fiscal and human resources management. The session emphasizes:

• Principles of sound financial practice
• Preparing board members to be fiscal managers
• Financial sustainability
• Good employment practices
• Developing sound policies and procedures
• Checks and balances to evaluate processes

Risk Management

explores the legal liabilities and prudent risk management actions that boards can take to protect the organization. Discussion will include:

• Circumstances surrounding risk management
• Risk management assessment process
• Ways to manage risk and transfer liability
• Effective Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
• Other types of insurance

Fundraising

discusses the importance of diversified funding, fundraising options, strategies and techniques that include:

• Defining board and staff roles in fundraising
• Goal setting
• Constructing a development plan
• Designing a case statement
• Targeting diversified funding
• Establishing donor relations

Public and Community Relations

provides a framework for action through which an organization can communicate and work effectively within the community. Areas explored include:

• Networking effectively
• Developing public relations techniques
• Receiving recognition in the community

Strategic Planning

emphasizes how the planning process is critical to ensuring a nonprofit organization's short and long term viability. The session can be train-the-trainer or first hand facilitation that will take your board through the planning process of:

• Steps to successful planning
• Identifying stakeholders
• Determining your organization's values
• Reviewing the mission
• Conducting a SWOPT analysis
• Identifying goals and objectives

FIRSTLINK will customize any of the above topics to meet the needs and schedule requirements of your organization.

For information on consulting and training sessions or fees contact Beth Eck at beck@firstlink.org or call 221-6766 ext. 126 or Joanna Huffer at training@firstlink.org or call 221-6766 ext. 119.