Board Development Workshop
Consulting Process
 

It is critical that a nonprofit organization has an informed and involved board of directors who accepts responsibility for the organization. An ESC Board Development Workshop includes such topics as: Board formation and recruitment, Board orientation, Board member responsibilities, Board committees, Board/Staff relationships, and the conduct of Board meetings. These are examples drawn down from a much longer list of potential topics with a goal of designing a more effective governance team. The actual content of the Board Development Workshop will be determined in consultation with the client.

1. Consultants will meet with Board of Directors leadership to discuss the organization’s mission, goals and objectives, and priority needs of the Board. It is strongly recommended that the Executive Director of the organization participate in this meeting. Consultants will receive relevant documents and materials about the organization. 

2. Consultants may develop a Board Survey instrument, with input from Board leadership, designed to identify knowledge levels of Board members pertaining to their duties, responsibilities, and involvement. The survey form will be distributed by your organization to the Board members to complete and return.  
 

3. Consultants will receive, review, and analyze surveys to identify Board members’ knowledge and understanding levels, and will design a Board Development Workshop agenda.

4. Consultants will facilitate an approximately four hour Board Development Workshop on a date mutually agreed upon by the Consultants and the organization. It is strongly recommended that all Board members participate in the Workshop.  

    5.   Consultants will provide a written report consisting of a summary of the main issues covered in the Workshop.

         Additionally, the identification of any issues that the Board needs to resolve going forward, and any copies of tools that

         would be useful to the Board as it continues the development process, will be included in the report.  

6. Consultants will follow-up with the Board of Directors a few months after the Board Development Workshop. The purpose of the follow-up meeting is to determine the progress in key board development areas and to provide assistance for the continued development and growth of the Board.